Can Do MS

Mood changes are very common in people with MS and there are several healthcare team members that can help you manage these symptoms so you can live your best life. An occupational therapist (PT) can offer strategies to adapt your environment and lifestyle to conserve energy, which can impact your mood.

Pediatric-Onset MS is defined as having an onset of MS symptoms prior to the age of 18 years. MS, which affects about 2.5 million people worldwide, is the most common cause of non-traumatic neurologic disability in young adults. It is estimated that there are about 2,000-4,000 cases of pediatric-onset MS worldwide, however, about 10% of people with MS recall in hindsight that their first symptoms...

Leisure is a domain of life that is very important, particularly for people with neurological disorders. It's important to understand that leisure does not equal laziness- leisure can improve your physical, emotional, cognitive, social, and spiritual wellness. Learn about the research being done on the impacts of leisure on MS, as well as resources to understand more about the benefits of leisure...

Approximately 65% of individuals living with multiple sclerosis (MS) will experience cognitive change. This change can occur anytime in the disease. Approximately one-third of individuals experience cognitive difficulties even before they are officially diagnosed. Below we will highlight the domains most commonly impacted by MS, how they can impact relationships, and a few tips for improvement.

With spring in the air, it’s time to think about getting out and being active! We all know that physical activity and exercise will improve our health, but incorporating them into our daily lives can be difficult. This article will help you individualize an exercise plan to start making changes today.

People with MS may have difficulty with cooking meals for themselves and their families/friends. Their meal preparation skills can be impacted by a variety of factors that can include some or all of the following deficit areas: Fatigue, Strength, Balance, Cognition, Fine motor skills, Sensation How have these issues impacted your abilities to plan and cook meals? There are a number of ways to incr...

Bowel and bladder dysfunction can significantly impact daily life, compromise health, and impair one’s quality of life. However, instead of just enduring or passively compromising, you can take control through lifestyle modifications and medical management.

The start of a new year is an opportune time to identify a new goal, or two, that will help you live well; to thrive! What is wellness? Wellness can take many forms: emotional well-being, cognitive well-being, home life, work life, nutrition, exercise, health behaviors, relationships, and spirituality. What does wellness look like to you?

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 differ...

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...

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...

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 pro...

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 o...

New Year’s resolutions often involve aspirations to improve wellness. While wellness is frequently thought to include just diet and exercise, it includes many more dimensions. Can Do MS and the National MS Society recognize six dimensions of wellness: 1) Diet, Exercise, and Healthy Behaviors, 2) Relationships, 3) Work and Home, 4) Emotional Wellbeing, 5) Spirituality, and 6) Cognitive Well Being....

Cognitive changes are common among individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS), affecting 40-60% of the MS population. Much like physical MS symptoms, cognitive changes vary widely from person to person. Whereas many individuals with MS experience slowed processing speed as their predominate cognitive difficulty, others may experiences problems across a number of cognitive areas including learning, m...

Over 2.2 million Americans are in the “sandwich generation” – simultaneously providing support to aging parents/in-laws and at least one child under age 18. Providing support has significant positive effects, but also poses financial, emotional, psychological, social, and marital burdens. Caring for yourself and others is a team-effort, so it’s important to work together to maintain a balanced giv...

While no one plans to get sick or hurt, health insurance protects you from unexpected medical costs and offers other benefits like preventative care. We have taken some common questions and offered strategies and solutions to help to navigate this sometimes overwhelming world of health insurance.

We know that people with MS tend to experience other health conditions that precede or coincide with the MS. It’s helpful for people with MS and their families to know where to turn and how best to coordinate their care.

When life feels like it is at its worst, you have the opportunity to be at your best. Receiving a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) represents one of these junctures. What is helpful is recognizing you can shift your mindset and respond with positivity; decreasing your stress and increasing your overall wellness.

Multiple sclerosis can present ongoing changes to the person with MS and support partners. Changes to strength, balance, coordination, dexterity, and other physical abilities are not uncommon. Making intelligent changes to your home to improve environmental accessibility is important to compensate for these changes, while promoting as much independence as possible and, most importantly, ensuring t...