Can Do MS

The easier it is to move around, the better your quality of life. However, many people with MS have issues that affect their functional mobility, which is the ability to go where you want, when you want. Here are a few suggestions to improve your functional mobility through assistive devices.

When one person is diagnosed with MS, many other people are involved and affected. And the changes brought about by MS can have an impact on those important relationships.

“What foods should I be avoiding because of MS? “

“What foods should I be eating because of MS?”

As a registered dietitian living with MS and helping people with MS navigate their unique nutrition challenges, these are the two most frequently asked questions that I encounter, by far.

I would like to take this opportunity to answer these questions here and now. A healthy eating pattern is no different for someone living with MS than someone who does not have MS. Really!

People with MS experience symptoms that may not be adequately controlled with FDA-approved medications. Some people with MS have tried cannabis products to relieve these symptoms. Although cannabis has been legalized for recreational and/or medical use in a growing number of states, its use remains prohibited by federal laws. The legal status of cannabis is in flux. The use of cannabis to treat MS symptoms remains controversial. Patients are encouraged to discuss these issues with their health care providers.

Gather information about how progressive MS is diagnosed and managed and the important role of overall health and wellness through a variety of articles, booklets, webpages, and videos from Can Do Multiple Sclerosis and the National MS Society.

Symptoms of MS, especially cognitive changes and spasticity, can affect driving performance and increase a risk of a car crash. In fact, persons with MS are three times more likely to have a car accident, putting themselves and others at risk. While there are many modifications and adaptations that can assist with driving, loses in driving skills are common. At some point, it is time for all of us, with or without MS, to hang up the car keys. For loved ones, bringing this up can usually be unpleasant, emotional, and relationship-straining. Many families, including mine, go through similar struggles with their aging parents.

A cure for multiple sclerosis. That is what we all want, correct? While we have not reached the cure yet, we are getting closer. When we think about a cure for multiple sclerosis, that term may mean different things to different people. To those who are newly diagnosed, a cure might mean a completely effective therapy that would completely eliminate any risk of relapses, new lesions on MRI, or progression of disability. For those who have been dealing with multiple sclerosis for a while and may have accumulated some disability, the cure would mean stopping any further progression and erasing any disability. Admittedly, we have come a long way since 1992 when there were no FDA approved treatment options for multiple sclerosis. So where are we right now with current research in multiple sclerosis?

Cognitive changes are a common symptom in MS. Up to 65% of people who have a diagnosis of MS also experience cognitive changes. In some cases people may identify cognitive changes as some of the earliest symptoms of MS they noticed.

Discovering yourself and what feels right to you is a life-long process, one that does not have a final conclusion. Keep an open mind while learning about yourself and begin your journey to knowing the sexual person that you are!

The positive effects of exercise on our bodies are widely known - improved muscular strength, weight management, balance, cardiovascular health, and reduced risk for some cancers and type 2 diabetes, just to name a few. These measurable physical changes are often the focus of goals and intended outcomes for exercise. An often overlooked advantage to exercise is the benefit that exercise may have on our minds - the most magnificent “muscle” of all.