Can Do MS

Fatigue is a reality when you live with MS, but there are ways to solve the puzzle! You can reduce that fatigue, manage the energy you have more effectively, and get the things done that matter to you.

You’ve probably heard it before, but let’s say it again: exercise and physical activity are very beneficial for people with MS! If you want to try an exercise program that is accessible, adaptable, on-demand in your own home, fun, and accountable, check out MS Moves With Mandy!

You might already have success with certain aspects of a healthy diet, but often, there are still some specific areas that we can improve upon. Your doctor might have identified these focus areas for you, or they may be based on how different foods make you feel. Whether it’s achieving a healthy BMI, lowering your cholesterol, getting enough nutritious food for your activity level, or any other go...

Researchers are working to learn more about virtually every aspect of MS care and management. While more is learned every day about treatments to manage the MS disease process, other research efforts look at ways to improve a person’s wellbeing and quality of life.

Depression and anxiety are very common symptoms that people living with MS can experience. 20% of those with MS experience these symptoms as compared to 5% of the general population. Meanwhile, living with MS is stressful. All of these factors can make it difficult to stay in a good mood. Thankfully, exercise is a proven way to feel better, boost your mood and combat depression and anxiety!

Have you felt stretched, tired, and exhausted trying to adjust to the changing landscape of work and life since the COVID-19 pandemic began? If so, you might not be alone. Here are some tips and tricks to deal with stress, and strategies for unwinding and recharging.

As we head into the winter months, it’s important to consider how the changes to the outside environment may impact your activities and personal wellbeing. Remember that maintaining a consistent schedule with nutritious meals, exercise, social engagement, and sleep is important to overall health.

MS often leads to changes in mood, cognition, and physical functioning, which can have a profound effect on your employment, vocation, and finances. This article provides tips for: - Proactive financial and vocational planning - Job accommodations and ways to maintain working even with symptoms - When and how to transition out of the workplace - Tips for going on disability

What is comprehensive care? Because multiple sclerosis changes over time and affects so many areas of a person’s health, getting the right healthcare treatment means creating a whole team to treat the whole person.

Can MS be invisible? With symptoms like fatigue, depression, and cognitive dysfunction, many people with MS are fighting battles that others can’t see.

As more people receive the COVID vaccine, we can begin to think about travel once again! Hear how Ed, who has been living with MS for more than 40 years, has been able to travel all over the world even as his disability has progressed.

Approximately 50% of people with MS experience changes in mood, including depression and anxiety. At the same time, about two-thirds of people experience changes in cognition, such as “Cog fog” and executive functions. In this article we will explore what types of treatments are there for mood and cognition changes. You and your health care providers will explore what type of psychological or beha...

There is no “one size fits all” set of recommendations of responding to challenges with Growth, Resilience, or Harm. But there is evidence that the suggestions can help during tough times. In addition, check out all the wonderful resources at the Can Do MS popular topics and resources page! www.cando-ms.org

One of the many challenges with managing your health and wellness is that MS affects you in unique and personal ways. Combine this with an overwhelming amount of information and tips from your doctors, friends, family, and the internet, and you may find yourself in “analysis paralysis” – making a decision becomes a daunting task.

The term “resilient” has become increasingly more a part of our mainstream and popular culture vernacular. It is a term that conjures up ideas such as determination, strength, and fortitude. But, when it comes to living with a chronic condition such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS), what does resilient really mean? The purpose of this article is to help better understand resilience, how it relates to li...

Our relationships, connections, and social activity impact our overall wellness-affecting our physical, work, emotional, spiritual, and intellectual wellness and can positively or negatively affect our health and well-being.

Life after diagnosis with multiple sclerosis (MS) can be overwhelming because symptoms vary from person to person. Remember, there is a lot of information out there that may be misleading. Rely on healthcare providers and valid organizations to provide factual information.

Living with MS can bring many challenges that most people never even consider; however, having MS has also helped many people learn resilience and resourcefulness. As we have learned over the past year, MS impacts many areas of life and function including fatigue, motor coordination, sensory function, heat tolerance, cognition, relationships, emotions, bowel and bladder, pain, sleep and more.

Integrative Medicine uses conventional medicine along with complementary and alternative medicine that is evidence-based to address a persons’ health and any symptoms they may have.

Bowel and bladder changes are common challenges that many people with MS face. Your healthcare team can help you navigate these challenges!

Pain is one of the most common “invisible” symptoms of MS, affecting approximately two-thirds of people living with MS.

Up to 80% of people living with MS will experience a sexual challenge throughout their lifetime. However, sexual challenges are not just experienced by people living with MS. Approximately 35-40% of people in the general population also experience sexual difficulties. So, what gets in the way?

Among the most common symptoms in multiple sclerosis are the sensory symptoms. They are often the first symptoms of MS and while invisible to the naked eye, can be among the most bothersome. The list is long and may involve every inch of the human body. While ever present, these symptoms usually do not predict a poor prognosis. Nonetheless they are important to understand and manage as best as pos...

When we want to make a movement, we need motor commands to be sent down to the body, but we also need to feed back information about whether or not those motor commands achieved the right task. This communication can be impaired by MS symptoms, including gait dysfunction, spasticity, tremors, ataxia, and weakness. These are some general tips for endurance and resistance exercise.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) can cause a wide range of symptoms that may impact a person’s activities in the workplace, including fatigue, changes in thinking and memory, mood changes, visual problems, reduced mobility, balance, and strength, and bladder or bowel difficulties. Depending on the severity of the symptoms and type of work one does, a person’s ability to work may be unaffected or severely l...