Multiple sclerosis is the most common disabling neurological disease in young adults, usually striking between ages 20 and 40, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Nearly one million people in the United States are living with MS, per the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS), as are more than 2.3 million people worldwide. The good news: Most MS symptoms can usually be managed successfully, says Anthony Reder, MD, a multiple sclerosis specialist and professor of neurology at the University of Chicago. “Symptom management gets better every year with new drugs, techniques, and lifestyle information,” he explains. If you’ve been newly diagnosed with MS, these tips can help you manage the disease. MS is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the central nervous system. It occurs when the immune system causes inflammation that damages myelin — the protective insulation covering nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord — as well as the nerve fibers themselves and the cells that make myelin, according to the NMSS. This damage to the myelin or nerve fibers is what causes MS symptoms to occur. But MS is very rarely fatal, notes the NMSS, and it is possible to live a fulfilling life with the disease. Your doctor can help you understand more about MS and stay up to date on new treatments and lifestyle tips, including the importance of a healthy diet, establishing and maintaining a healthy weight, exercise, and quitting smoking if you have MS.
2. Be Sure Your MS Diagnosis Is Definitive
Various strategies are used to make a diagnosis of MS, including a neurological exam, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), spinal fluid analysis (spinal tap), and blood tests to rule out other conditions, according to the NMSS. In some cases, getting a definitive MS diagnosis can take quite some time, partly because other causes of neurological symptoms must also be ruled out. According to the latest criteria, your physician must do all the following to make an MS diagnosis:
Find evidence of damage in two separate areas of the central nervous systemFind evidence that the incidents of damage occurred at different points in timeRule out all other possible diseases and diagnoses
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3. Understand That MS Symptoms Can Be Unpredictable
No two people have exactly the same MS symptoms, and you may have different symptoms from time to time, per the NMSS. Common MS symptoms include numbness or tingling, spasticity, vision problems, walking difficulties, weakness, slurred speech, fatigue, bladder dysfunction, cognitive changes, and more. But these symptoms can be unpredictable. “Over the course of the disease, some MS symptoms will come and go, while others may be long-lasting,” Dr. Reder says. “All disease-modifying therapies for MS may reduce chances of the disease becoming progressive,” says Reder. There are quite a few FDA-approved disease-modifying therapies for MS that have been found to reduce the number of relapses, slow the progression of disability, and limit new disease activity, according to the NMSS. These medications for MS include injectable medications, oral medications, and infused medications. Other medications are also used to treat MS symptoms including bladder and bowel symptoms, depression, dizziness and vertigo, emotional changes, fatigue, itching, pain, sexual changes, spasticity, tremors, and walking (gait) difficulties. RELATED: Multiple Sclerosis Treatment
5. Track Your MS Symptoms
Keeping a record of your MS symptoms and how you are feeling can help you update your doctor on your progress. Tracking your symptoms can also help you prepare a claim for disability benefits, if necessary, notes the NMSS. It can also help you stay on top of your symptoms if you’re experiencing memory problems or having trouble making connections, says Reder. The NMSS suggests using this form or something similar.
6. Avoid MS Symptom Triggers
Certain triggers, like stress, lack of sleep, infections, viruses, and hot baths or anything else that can lead to overheating, can cause a temporary worsening of MS symptoms, says Reder. Drinking alcohol in excess is discouraged for people with MS because intoxication causes poor coordination and slurred speech, which can compound existing MS symptoms, he adds.
7. Find the Right Doctor for You
MS is a lifelong disease, so it’s important to be under the care of an MS specialist who is a good match for you. The neurologist who provided your initial MS diagnosis may not be the specialist you want to stick with for life. The NMSS Partners in MS Care program can help you locate neurologists in your area (within the United States) with expertise in treating MS. Support groups for people with MS (available through hospitals and the NMSS) are also helpful for getting doctor referrals.
8. Consider Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)
In addition to taking medication to control your MS symptoms, you may want to consider complementary and alternative treatments. Research is beginning to support the role of some CAM treatments in comprehensive MS care, including vitamin D, exercise, acupuncture, and cooling strategies, notes the NMSS. Most people who have MS use some form of CAM as part of their MS management plan, adds the NMSS. Acupuncture may provide relief for some MS-related symptoms, including pain, spasticity, numbness and tingling, bladder problems, and depression, and a few small studies suggest that it may help with fatigue, pain, mood, and quality of life, per the NMSS. Medical cannabis, or “medical marijuana,” may also help alleviate certain MS symptoms, says the NMSS. Reviews of published studies have mostly shown that synthetic cannabinoids have a positive effect on pain and spasticity. Many people with MS also use massage to prevent or relieve spasticity, pain, poor circulation, and pressure sores, notes the NMSS.
9. Think About Whom You’ll Tell
You may be concerned that telling your employer that you have MS could affect your job security, employment options, and career path. Before disclosing the disease at your workplace, learn about your rights under the Americans With Disabilities Act. You’ll likely want to tell your closest family members and friends, particularly those who know you well enough to notice any changes. But you are not obligated to share news of your MS diagnosis with everyone in your life. Instead, pick the people who will be most supportive and helpful as you learn to live with the disease.
10. Don’t Give Up Hope
Depression is one of the most common symptoms of MS, according to the NMSS. If you’re struggling with depression or other mood changes, ask your doctor for a referral to a mental health professional who understands the challenges you are facing with MS and can help. Although there currently is no cure for MS, newer treatments can slow the progression of the disease, improving your quality of life and helping to prevent disability. And research is ongoing, with the goal of developing even better treatments in the near future that will stop progression and even restore functions and abilities that have been lost.
