What is living with MS like?

Symptoms of MS are unpredictable and vary greatly from person to person, and from time to time in the same person. Multiple Sclerosis can cause symptoms such as extreme fatigue, lack of coordination, weakness, tingling, impaired sensation, vision problems, bladder problems, cognitive impairment and mood changes.

How does MS affect daily living?

More than 50% reported limitations in daily activities due to fatigue, physical weakness, problems with balance/coordination, heat/cold sensitivity, memory problems, numbness/tingling, trouble concentrating, impaired movement/muscle stiffness, and impaired sleeping.

Can you live a normal life with MS?

You may have to adapt your daily life if you're diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), but with the right care and support many people can lead long, active and healthy lives.

What can I expect living with MS?

The symptoms of MS can cause constant discomfort and disability that limit a person's ability to go about daily activities. People with MS may have to attend medical appointments very regularly. They also live with the uncertainty of when the next attack of symptoms may happen.

Is it hard living with MS?

Life after a diagnosis of MS can be overwhelming. Some days, your symptoms might prevent you from doing what you love or leave you feeling emotionally drained. While some days may be difficult, it's still possible to live well with MS by implementing some of the above changes into your life.

Living with multiple sclerosis: facing unpredictability head on

What should you not do if you have MS?

Is MS classed as a disability?

MS is considered a disability by the Social Security Administration (SSA). Someone with MS can qualify for disability benefits if it is severe enough to prevent them from being able to work full time. For the SSA to consider MS a disability, you will need to meet the SSA's Blue Book listing 11.09.

Will I end up in a wheelchair with MS?

MS is different for everybody and not every person diagnosed with MS will end up in a wheelchair. 80% of people with MS don't consider themselves as having severe symptoms or disabilities.

Can MS be mild forever?

After the first round of symptoms, multiple sclerosis can stay mild without causing major problems for decades, a 30-year British study indicates.

What is the best diet for MS patients?

Eating plenty of fruit, vegetables, grains, and fish may help with managing MS symptoms. A person with MS may eat red meat and dairy in moderation, as current research on their effects is mixed.

Can I drink alcohol with multiple sclerosis?

Alcohol's Effect on MS Symptoms

Even one drink can make issues like unsteadiness worse. “If you have a lot of trouble with balance, thinking, or memory symptoms from MS, it may be better to avoid alcohol altogether,” says Graves. Alcohol can also lead to sleep problems and worsen bladder symptoms.

Can people with MS drive?

Many people with MS can drive normally, but others may need adaptive equipment. Some people with multiple sclerosis may have to stop driving altogether for safety concerns. The best way to find out if it's safe for you to drive is to get evaluated by a driving rehabilitation specialist.

Can you have MS for years and not know it?

Benign MS can't be identified at the time of initial diagnosis; it can take as long as 15 years to diagnose. The course of MS is unpredictable, and having benign MS doesn't mean that it can't progress into a more severe form of MS.

Does MS change your personality?

While many with MS will experience depression or anxiety at some point, more rarely, some people experience changes to their emotions or behaviour that don't seem to make sense, or that they aren't able to control.

What it feels like to have MS?

MS affects each person differently.

This may block or slow down the communication between your brain and spine with the rest of the body. You can have numbness and tingling, balance problems, dizziness, vision issues, fatigue, or other things including problems with sex or your bladder and bowel.

What were your first signs of MS?

How many lesions is alot for MS?

According to the team, patients with a combination of more than 13 lesions, with a maximal lesion diameter greater than 0.75 cm, and lesions perpendicular to the corpus callosum, had a 19 times greater chance of progressing to MS during the following year.

Do MS lesions go away?

Can Lesions Heal Once They Appear? “Absolutely,” says Dr. Hua. “It's not specific to MS, but in any process where there's some sort of brain injury, there will always be healing, as well.

When should you stop working with MS?

Overview. People living with MS often continue working long after their diagnosis. On the flip side, some people with MS decide to leave their jobs when they are first diagnosed or experience their first major exacerbation, often at the suggestion of their family or doctor.

Does walking help MS?

Research tells us exercise can help you manage multiple sclerosis symptoms, including fatigue, and problems with balance and walking. Exercising can also: improve your mood.

Is MS always debilitating?

Although MS can sometimes be a debilitating disease, the majority of people who have it don't become severely disabled, according to the National MS Society.

Is MS on the vulnerable list?

Some people with MS are considered "extremely clinically vulnerable" or in the "highest risk" group for COVID-19.

Do you have to tell your employer you have MS?

Reasonable adjustments

If your MS is making it harder for you to do your job, there is support available. To access this support, you need to have told your employer about your MS. If you haven't, this will limit the amount of support you can get.

Can you get a mortgage if you have MS?

The good news is that MS shouldn't impact too heavily on getting the insurance required for a mortgage. It all depends on the stability of your disease so it is worth chatting to an insurance provider to find out where you stand.

Can you get a mobility car with MS?

Some people with MS are eligible for a car, scooter or powered wheelchair. You qualify if you're on the higher rate mobility component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or the enhanced rate mobility component of Personal Independence Payment (PIP).