Multiple Sclerosis (MS): Care Instructions
Overview
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease that affects the central nervous system—the brain and spinal cord. It also affects the nerves to the eyes. Symptoms vary from person to person. It can cause problems with muscle strength, vision, balance, mood, and thinking. And it may cause fatigue, pain, muscle spasms, and numbness and tingling.
Your nerve cells have a protective covering called myelin. Without myelin, the brain and spinal cord can't communicate with the nerves in the rest of your body. MS causes areas in the brain and spinal cord to get inflamed. It slowly damages the myelin and nerves in patches. These patches of damage are called lesions.
MS tends to get worse over time. But usually this happens slowly. It's hard to predict how MS will affect you. MS is different for each person. Some people's lives won't change much when they have MS. They may function well for a long time. But others may lose the ability to walk or do everyday tasks as the disease gets worse.
There is no cure for MS. But medicines and other treatments might help slow its progression and treat your symptoms.
Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse advice line (811 in most provinces and territories) if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.
How can you care for yourself at home?
General care
- Be safe with medicines. Take your medicines exactly as prescribed. Call your doctor or nurse advice line if you think you are having a problem with your medicine.
- Use a cane, walker, or scooter if your doctor suggests it.
- Keep doing your normal activities as much as you can.
- Try to stay active mentally. Read or do things like crossword puzzles if you enjoy doing them.
- Keep cool. For many people, MS symptoms get worse when they are even a little bit hotter. This could be from the weather, a hot shower, exercise, or a fever. Cooling vests, neck wraps, cool cloths, air conditioning and cool showers after exercise can help. So can avoiding hot tubs and saunas.
- Seek connections. Spend time with friends, family, and others. Joining a support group for people with MS may help.
- Tell your doctor if you feel sad, depressed, or hopeless. Also tell your doctor if you have lost interest in things you usually enjoy. Counselling and medicine can help.
- If you smoke, try to quit. Smoking may increase problems caused by MS. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor about stop-smoking programs and medicines. These can increase your chances of quitting for good.
- Try to cut down on stress. Calm yourself or release tension by doing an activity you enjoy, such as reading a book, listening to music, or gardening.
Diet and exercise
- Talk to your doctor about your diet and any natural health products you take.
- Tell your doctor if you're having problems chewing or swallowing. Your doctor or a speech therapist may recommend changes to your diet to help make it easier to swallow. You may need to avoid certain foods or liquids. You also may need to change the thickness of foods or liquids in your diet.
- If you get full quickly or get tired easily when you eat, try eating smaller meals more often. You can also try a liquid meal replacement such as Ensure or Boost.
- Get exercise and physical activity on most days. Exercise can be safe even if your symptoms are severe. A physiotherapist can help you find the best way to be active. Physical activity and exercise can reduce many of the symptoms of MS. Exercise might also reduce attacks (relapses).
- Ask your doctor about taking vitamin D. The doctor may suggest taking it and can suggest a dose. Low vitamin D levels may be linked to MS.
When should you call for help?
Call your doctor or nurse advice line now or seek immediate medical care if:
- You think you are having an attack (relapse).
- You fall or have another injury.
- You have new vision problems or eye pain.
- You have symptoms of a urinary infection. For example:
- You have blood or pus in your urine.
- You have pain in your back just below your rib cage. This is called flank pain.
- You have a fever, chills, or body aches.
- It hurts to urinate.
- You have groin or belly pain.
Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse advice line if:
- You want more information about MS or medicines.
- You feel sad or hopeless, or you don't enjoy things like you once did. You may be depressed.
- You have new or worse symptoms.
- You are worried about falling.
- You have questions about alternative treatments. Do not use any other treatments without talking to your doctor first.
Where can you learn more?
Go to https://www.healthwise.net/patientEd
Enter D913 in the search box to learn more about "Multiple Sclerosis (MS): Care Instructions".
Current as of: December 20, 2023
Author: Healthwise Staff
Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.
