Barbara Giesser

Whether you've recently been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) or you've been living with this chronic illness for years, you want to live your life as fully and comfortably as possible. The good news is that you can! The symptoms of MS are manageable with medications, and rehabilitation strategies and treatments can reduce disease activity and slow progression.

Children have a difficult time understanding symptoms they can’t see, such as those you might have with multiple sclerosis (MS). They can see that you trip or lose your balance and need a cane or scooter to help you walk. And they can see (and probably think that it’s funny) that you drop things a lot. But kids have a much harder time getting a handle on fatigue, cognitive, or vision problems or other invisible symptom.

Your health is about more than just your multiple sclerosis (MS). So, as you develop your master plan for the future, remember to take into account your overall health and fitness as well as what’s going on with your MS. For example, ask yourself if you’re up-to-date with the health screening exams for people your age.

A diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) means developing a strong relationship with your doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. They can work with you to manage your symptoms, slow the disease course, and cope with day-to-day challenges. The following are the important members of your healthcare team: Neurologist (or in some situations it may be a nurse practitioner or physician assistant): Diagnoses and treats MS and other neurologic diseases.

Some days you may feel pretty lousy when you have multiple sclerosis (MS). Other days you may feel okay or just so-so. If you’re oh-so-tired of feeling way below par, not to worry. You can improve the way you feel. These helpful tips can start you on your way to feeling healthy and well in spite of MS. Talk with your neurologist — as early in the disease process as you can — about treatment with one of the approved disease-modifying therapies to slow disease activity and progression and reduce further nerve damage as much as possible.

Your neurologist is the key member of your healthcare team. As a specialist in diseases of the nervous system, he or she provides treatment options to manage your MS and the symptoms it can cause. The neurologist can also help you engage other healthcare professionals on your team — the nurse, rehabilitation professionals, and mental health experts who can work with you to optimize your health, daily functioning, and quality of life.

When you have multiple sclerosis (MS), your energy may be in very short supply. Some days you feel like taking on the world and other days you feel like taking to your bed. You’re not alone. When you experience energy ups and downs, you can be proactive and manage your energy bank in the following ways to help you get through each day: Set priorities to ensure the best use of your daily energy supply.

Well over a decade ago, a group of multiple sclerosis (MS) specialists — researchers and clinicians — got together to develop a common language for talking about MS. The group identified the following four disease courses, as illustrated in the figure: Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS): MS begins as a relapsing-remitting disease about 85 percent of the time.

Because multiple sclerosis (MS) is so complex, treatment involves several different strategies. Here are snapshots of several steps you can take to feel and function up to snuff: Use disease-modifying therapy. Your doctor will discuss with you whether you’re a candidate for treatment with one of the disease-modifying therapies.