Feeling Unbalanced

Multiple Sclerosis is a progressive disease that attacks patients in different ways. The symptoms that are experienced and the degrees to which they are felt will vary, but there are some common problems that many MS patients will encounter. One of these issues is a difficulty with balance.

Even in regards to balance, the effects can be felt differently. Some people become unsteady on their feet over a long period of time, while others find themselves experience unbalance quite suddenly. The lack of balance can be one of the key ways in which patients will need to rely on friends and family for help. You will need to be aware of your loved one's shakiness on his or her feet, be there to offer a steadying arm, or allow them to stay seated on bad days.

There are also other ways in which you can encourage your loved one to have more independence even when balance issues become a problem. You will want to identify what is causing the balance problems, and have the patient talk with his or her doctor about their symptoms. Sometimes unbalance that is triggered by a numbness in the legs can be best handled by prescription medications. Other times finding a walking aide can make life easier as well. Find a cane or a walker that feels the most comfortable. Other times an Ankle-Foot Orthotic can help a patient become more steady on his or her feet. The Orthotic is a light-weight brace that fits easily underneath pants and can help improve balance. If you notice that your loved one is becoming particularly weak and unbalanced, the problem may be exhaustion. Encourage your loved one to rest and balance problems may improve as well.

Working with Multiple Sclerosis

One of the biggest issues that arises when someone is diagnosed with multiple sclerosis is what to do about employment. Doctors and family members may pressure the person to quit their job. The person may feel that they can no longer live up to their work responsibilities. People with MS looking for jobs may fear that their condition will cost them a prospective job.

Studies show that over 43% of patients with MS, and perhaps more, hold down jobs successfully. Keeping busy with a productive activity like work can help alleviate stress and feelings of shame and guilt. The problem with working with MS is the unforeseen. Should you disclose your disability to your employer? And if so, how will it affect your job? Is it even worth the potential pain and accommodations that you'll need to get by?

Working with MS can be very rewarding, and your employer doesn't even have to know all the facts. By law, you aren't required to disclose anything, so if your condition is minor you may be able to continue working without any hitches at all. If you are easily fatigued, need shorter days or other special accommodations, then your employer is required to help you as long the accommodations aren't a hamper to the operations of the company. You don't even have to tell them you have MS - a "medical condition" will suffice.

If you are unsure of how to approach your employer or prospective employer, or are looking for a job that fits your skills and accommodates your disability, then counseling services and vocational rehabilitation services can help you along the way. Working with MS can lift your spirits and keep you positively focused on the future.

What is Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease. Normally, the immune system attacks what is foreign to the body like bacteria. Autoimmune disease is where the immune system attacks good cells. In the case of multiple sclerosis, it attacks the spine, brain and optical nerves.

More specifically, this disease attacks the myelin around the nerves in the nervous system. Myelin is the white matter or fatty tissue that protects the nerves and allows electrical signals to pass to and from the nerves. As the myelin is destroyed, scars and plaque is formed thus causing disruptions in those electrical pulses to go where they need to. In other cases, those pulses are halted altogether.

Multiple Sclerosis is usually first detected in young adults as early as teens all the way to fifty years of age. Also, this disease is two to three times more common in females than males. The diagnosis in older adults decreases drastically after age fifty. There are currently about 400,000 Americans suffering from this disease.

There are many symptoms and they vary greatly in those diagnosed with the disease. The symptoms range from muscle weakness to blurred or double vision. As the disease progresses these symptoms increase including pain and difficulty controlling the bladder.

Even though myelin is destroyed with Multiple Sclerosis, it does grow back. However, the rate of growth may not be enough to compensate for the rate of degradation. The re-growth is hindered by the severity of the disease and also the location of the scar tissue.

Helping Parents With MS

A diagnosis of multiple sclerosis has implications for the patient's entire circle of friends and family, as well as for themselves. Oftentimes other family members can be uncertain as to the best way to help and to support a person who has is struggling with MS, and because the condition is presently incurable, there will necessarily be permanent adjustments that are made in relationships and lifestyles. Just what these adjustments will entail will depend largely on the individual and their unique needs, but there are some things that friends and family should be aware of when they are supporting a patient with MS.

While all patients with MS will face obstacles, parents with young children have mountains to move. Because preschool-aged children and younger simply don't understand the implications of MS, it can be very difficult to keep up with them. They have enormous amounts of energy, are far from independent, and are unable to register the pain that MS can cause. Friends and family members of a parent with MS should be aware of particularly bad spells, and know that their help may be needed for childcare issues. Parents themselves can help the situation by having backup plans around. When the symptoms flare, it is okay to tell a child "no." Saying "I can't go outside and throw the ball right now. How about reading a book instead?" Or have the child choose another activity, such as "Would you like to play with Play Dough or do a puzzle?"

Realize that MS patients will need to maintain their energy levels as much as possible, so friends and family should always do the lifting and running around whenever they are around. Even simple tasks such as carrying groceries or lifting a child out of a car seat can be difficult, so friends and family should always be on the lookout for ways to help the MS patient cope and hang on to feeling better.

How Can You Help?

When someone you love is diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, it can be very difficult to know what to do to help them. In most instances, you cannot help at all ... but you can be supportive. If you are trying to find ways to lend your help and support, here are some suggestions.

One of the worst things that you can do is to ignore the disease completely. Although it may be uncomfortable to talk about MS, if someone is going through this disease they will feel isolate – refusing to talk about the condition will only worsen the overall feeling of isolation. Instead, ask your loved one how they are feeling on a day to day basis, and listen if they want to talk about their physical or mental health. Another thing that you can do to help a person with MS is to talk to their whole family. If you are a friend observing someone suffering from MS, make sure that the entire family is coping adequately with this disease. Believe it or not, a caretaker may be having a difficult time helping the person afflicted with MS, and the simple satisfaction of knowing that someone else is there for support will help a lot.

As with any other disease, it is important to educate yourself regarding MS before you decide to help someone battling it. Why? The more you know about MS, the more you will be able to understand what a person may be going through. This way, you can easily ask pertinent questions, and you can also try and help in many ways. MS is not an easy disease for any to deal with, but simply acting as a shoulder to lean on is far more important than you may think.

Coping With MS

Multiple sclerosis, abbreviated as MS, is a debilitating disease which affects the central nervous system. MS damages the neurons in the body's "white matter", portions of the brain and spinal column that are responsible for transmitting signals from the brain to the body. Characterized by a sometimes gradual, sometimes sudden loss in sensory perception, muscle control, and/or cognitive ability, MS can be a devastating illness to cope with.

There are a number of subtypes of multiple sclerosis, generally categorized by the severity of attacks as well as the speed of the disease's progression. While the general trend is one toward increased disability, some courses of the disease tend to move in fits and starts, while others follow a slower, more constant trend. Therapy and treatment will mostly depend on the speed and severity of the disease's course.

While there is currently no cure for MS, a number of therapies have been developed to mitigate the disease. Corticosteroids can help with acute attacks, while longer-term therapies involving interferon are being examined as possible counters to the disease. Unfortunately, while in many cases the lifespan of a MS patient is comparable to that of a healthy person, the disability caused by the disease will require mobility assistance and/or managed care for the sufferer.

Coping with MS is about managing the symptoms, getting the best medical care possible, and trying to remain upbeat and positive. Advancements in medicine have gone a long way toward slowing the progression of MS, and many sufferers manage to have a relatively normal life well into old age. Physical therapy, as well, has shown substantial promise for staving off the physiological effects of the disease.

One Day at a Time

Overcoming and persevering with multiple sclerosis can be a challenge. Since every sufferer has different symptoms and the times between recovery and remission vary, it's difficult to plan ahead. The debilitating effects of MS usually lead to depression and low-esteem, as the sufferer may feel guilty for the burden they place on those around them. To overcome the whirlwind of emotions associated with MS, one must put things into perspective realistically.

Rather than think of the big picture and all the things that you can no longer accomplish due to MS, focus on the things that you can do. Keep busy with hobbies that are within the realm of your ability. Constant contact with friends and family will provide a social support system. Recognize that MS is a mysterious disease with no known cause, therefore the symptoms are out of your control. Initially guilt and depression over your illness is to be expected, but once you start living one day at a time you can overcome these negative emotions. Learning to enjoy the small moments, the tiny victories, and the good things about life can nourish hope and appreciation.

Friends and family members should approach MS in the same mindset. Many sufferers will have moments where they are perfectly able to do anything, and a feeling of guilt over their previous disabilities often accompanies it. Help them during these times to get the most of life that they can before another remission. Try to keep their minds off a possible attack - rather keep standing by their side and don't expect them to instantly be able to become a productive person once again. During the down times, understand that their symptoms are beyond their control and keep supporting them towards recovery. Emotions can run wild, so it's important to keep busy and active and know that the person has MS, MS doesn't have them.

News For Those Suffering From MS

Some sufferers may already know that there are great strides being made in helping those struggling with the disease of Multiple Sclerosis. However, for those who are not aware, this information may become life-changing.

It has been proven in many ways that the body truly can heal itself, with the proper help. Unfortunately, the modern diets we have all fallen in line with today rob our bodies of many important nutrients. These nutrients are a necessary part of our autoimmune system which directly affects how our body attacks germs, diseases and such.

We can all keep our bodies tuned to their peak, if we are aware of what it needs. For those with MS, there is a definite lack of certain nutrients which affect the number of T-Cells that attack the autoimmune system. It has been found that with the intake of increased amounts of this nutrient that it rebuilds the autoimmune system, therefore, fighting off bad cells that attack the nerves and muscles in MS patients.

It is extremely important to keep on a very healthy diet, along with these extra nutrients, to keep the body and brain strong. It is also important to maintain a consistent level of exercise to keep the nerves and muscles active and receptive. Since stress is a major factor contributing to the destruction of the autoimmune system, it is a must to stay away from negative things and negative people. Work on keeping things in your life as positive as possible, including the fact that you can get well! With the combination of diet, nutrients, exercise, and positive attitude there are great possibilities of you rising to levels you thought were long gone.

Alternative Therapies and You

With a diagnosis of MS comes fear and anxiety. These fears and anxieties are mostly about what comes next. Until a few years ago there were very few treatment options and even fewer choices that could be made by the patient.

For many people, the thought of medications, strenuous physical therapies and even chemo or radiation therapy, are truly a source of concern. Life goes from normal to chaotic in a moment, but there are alternatives to these mainstream forms of therapy. As further research is done on alternative therapies, the possibilities for applying them to MS treatment and symptom management increases.

No one can afford to be passive about the medical care that they receive now that the diagnosis has been made and there is no time to waste in choosing a form of therapy. You must actively participate in the research and choosing of what is best for your situation. Be sure to get as much information as possible from as many sources as possible and then scrutinize all the information found.

Alternative therapies can be just as dangerous, if not more so, than traditional therapies. This is why you must do thorough research when looking into them. There are a few things that you should be aware of while researching alternative therapies. Keeping these things in mind can help you make a more educated decision and help keep you safe.

1. Does the therapist work with conventional doctors? Thoroughly investigate the background of these therapists.

2. Talk to other people who have used a particular form of alternative therapy.

3. Do not abandon your traditional treatment and always keep your doctor informed.

4. Be wary of any alternative clinic that requests an inpatient stay.

5. Keep a journal to document your experiences. This can be beneficial for a number of reasons.

Coping With Multiple Sclerosis

When you are ill with the flu or a cold you know that you will eventually feel better, you will recover and life will continue as normal. When you are dealing with MS, there will be no more "normal", everything will change. This is merely a fact; however, it is not hopeless. There are many ways that you can cope with this disease and many, many ways that you can feel better on a day-to-day basis.

The most important thing to remember straight out of the gate is that this is not going to go away and agonizing over it will only intensify your discomfort. Stress is the number one killer of perfectly healthy people, what do you think it will do to you? Taking up yoga, meditation and/or developing a closer relationship with God, (the Creative Source, the Universe or what ever you choose to call it) will be beyond helpful. When your symptoms flare, combat them with relaxation exercises that work for you. Being stress free, or as close as possible, will go a long way in pain management.

Next, you will want to join a support group. This will help you make connections with other people who are experiencing the same things that you are, including family issues. The relationships that you form in support groups will go a very long way in helping you deal with MS. You can share coping techniques, diet and exercise plans and it is a safe environment in which to vent all your feelings and frustrations. Maybe the most important benefit of joining a support group is that you will discover that you are not alone.

If you are having an extremely difficult time coping with MS, you may want to seek individual counseling. There is no shame in this; many people find it extremely helpful to address their concerns and feelings in a private one-on-one setting.

Answering Children's Questions About MS

Children are very intuitive and, depending on their age, they are not going to accept watered down or sugar coated explanations about your disease. They are going to have questions and they want real answers. While you may not want to get to clinical or overwhelm them with information, you do want to address their concerns in an honest and comforting way.

When answering their many questions, you should always take into account their age and maturity level. You do not want to instill a deeper fear or increase their anxiety. This is a very delicate topic but it is not one that should be danced around. If there is more than one child in the home or who has to face this with you, you may want to talk to them individually at first to address their specific concerns. Once you have done that, then you must use an entire family approach. This will affect the entire family as well as their individual lives.

Ask them how they want to learn more about MS, maybe they want to research on their own, maybe watching a video together or even going to doctor's visits with you will help them. Keep an open mind about just how smart and sensitive children can be. You should also keep an open door policy because they will inevitably have more questions as things progress. Gone are the days when "dumbing down" information for the sake of the children was the norm.

Your child will experience many emotions as time goes on. It is not uncommon for children to develop depression, anger issues and to act out in negative ways as their lives change because of MS. Respect the fact that your children are going through this as much as you are.