Living With MS
Do I Need to Change my Lifestyle if I have Multiple Sclerosis?
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The Internet, along with books, patient support groups and other sources of information, can be a tremendous help for people affected by diseases such as MS. There is a vast amount of information and support out there: from scientific papers to personal stories, from virtual communities to information on drugs. Help and advice on subjects as diverse as complementary therapies, pregnancy and drug treatments are now widely available.
Arm yourself with as much information as you can. Then you’ll be in a better position to decide what changes, if any, you need to make to your lifestyle.
But one word of warning, Keep in mind that everybody’s experience of MS is different. The unpredictable nature of the disease means that your symptoms will not be the same as other people’s . The other side of this coin is that what works for others may not work for you. Sadly, there are also many unscrupulous people who won’t hesitate to take advantage of vulnerable people. So, please be sure to season everything you read with a healthy pinch of salt. And please check with your MS Nurse Specialist, GP or neurologist before trying out a new idea or therapy.
That being said, there is a wealth of inspiring tales and people with MS out there. And what comes across strongly in many people’s stories is the value of staying positive and learning as much as you can about your disease. Knowledge really is power - that's the message. Indeed, the impact that taking control of your life and your disease can have is increasingly being recognised by many bodies. One such body is the Government, which has set up the Expert Patients Programme to help people learn skills for managing their long-term illnesses.
The information that follows provides some general advice about living life with MS. Please remember to discuss any proposed change to your lifestyle with your MS Nurse Specialist, GP or neurologist.
Take Enough Exercise and Rest
Respect your body’s limits. It may sound obvious, but too many people with MS try to keep going even when they know they’ll have to pay for it later. If you start to feel fatigued, take a break.
On the other hand, physical activity is good for people with MS. Although it cannot reverse or prevent the processes that cause MS, it can improve your ability to function because it strengthens muscles and helps build stamina. But it is important to try to balance moderate physical activity with periods of rest.
Aim to exercise three times a week, choosing activities that will strengthen your muscles, such as resistance training or swimming. Always talk to your MS Nurse Specialist, GP or neurologist before you start making major changes to your exercise regimen, as they may be able to offer you useful advice or refer you to a local physiotherapist who has specialist expertise in exercise programmes for people with MS. Sometimes exercise will feel like the last thing you want to do, but try to choose activities you enjoy, set realistic goals and make exercise as social an activity as you can.
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Healthy Living with MS, including
exercise and MS.
Manage Your Fatigue
Many people know that fatigue is the most common problem of MS. But they may find it hard to understand how something as simple as ‘being tired’ can affect your daily life.
The truth is that fatigue is much more than ‘being tired’. It can be completely exhausting and play havoc with your life - disrupting sleep, stopping you from carrying out routine tasks and interfering with your relationships with friends and loved ones.
The good news is that there are steps you can take to help prevent fatigue, and these can be very simple. The most vital thing to remember is that prevention is better than cure. Once you’re tired, the only way out of it is rest. If you can learn to anticipate what you’re going to encounter over the course of a day, you’ll be better prepared to avoid wearing yourself out. Try to balance and prioritise daily tasks, rather than rushing to complete everything in one go. Listen to your body and, if you do start to get tired, take some time out to rest.
Try to Get Enough Sleep
Sleep disruption is common in MS. This can be due to physical symptoms such as bladder or bowel problems, or underlying disease processes such as lesions that affect brain areas associated with sleep. Depression and fatigue, stress and/or other common symptoms of MS can also affect sleep.
To help overcome these problems, make sure you spend some time winding down in the evenings. Try reading or listening to relaxing music before you go to bed, or practice relaxation exercises like deep breathing. If you’re having bladder or other problems with bodily functions at night, ask your MS Nurse Specialist, GP or neurologist about ways to manage them.
Try Not to Get Stressed
Stress can be mentally exhausting, and it can keep you awake at night worrying about things. It can also affect your daily routine and, in extreme cases, may make your symptoms worse or even bring on relapses.
The unpredictable nature of MS can be frustrating. People might be fine for months on end, and then find they can’t get out of bed even though they’ve got an important appointment. This can be very difficult to deal with, causing a great deal of stress not only to the person with MS but also to their loved ones.
It’s important to try to keep stress at low levels. Try to manage your life so that you get enough sleep. And try to stay relaxed as you go about your daily activities. Don’t let people or circumstances wind you up, and remember to take time to appreciate small pleasures. You probably won’t be able to achieve a state of Zen-like tranquillity, but try not to waste energy on little annoyances that really won’t matter in the long run.
Exercise is one good way of reducing your stress.You might want to consider some form of gentle
activity, such as yoga or ta'i chi.