- How to deal with each symptom of Multiple Sclerosis
- 1. Tingling or numbness in the body
- 2. Headache or migraine
- 3. Lack of muscle strength and loss of balance
- 4. Memory lapses and difficulty concentrating
- 5. Urinary or fecal incontinence
- 6. Vision problems
- 7. Excessive tiredness
- 8. Shortness of breath
- 9. Depression
Multiple sclerosis manifests itself through symptoms that become more evident during periods known as crisis or outbreaks of the disease, which appear throughout life, or due to disease progression. Thus, these can be very different, varying from one person to another, and can regress, disappearing completely when carrying out the treatment, or not, leaving some sequelae.
Usually the treatment of multiple sclerosis is done with the use of drugs to slow the progression of the disease, corticosteroids to reduce the intensity and duration of the crises and analgesics or muscle relaxants, as needed. Find out more details of the basics of multiple sclerosis treatment.
How to deal with each symptom of Multiple Sclerosis
Some symptoms that can appear in periods of crisis, or as a way of progressing multiple sclerosis are:
1. Tingling or numbness in the body
This is a common symptom in people diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and can appear anywhere on the body, including the face. It is usually caused by increased heat or excessive activity or physical effort.
How to treat: treatment can be done by increasing the dose of the medication indicated by the neurologist in addition to physical therapy sessions. Stretching exercises, muscle strengthening and specific physiotherapy techniques can be used to normalize body sensation.
2. Headache or migraine
Headache and migraine are very common in people with multiple sclerosis because demyelination especially affects the optic nerve, also causing visual changes. Migraine can be a sign of a multiple sclerosis crisis or not, and can appear unrelated to a crisis.
How to treat it: Neurological remedies prescribed by the neurologist can be used, and techniques such as wiping a pebble of ice wrapped in a napkin sheet can be an easy strategy, which keeps the heat away and reduces the headache in a short time. During this phase, stimulating foods such as coffee and cola should be avoided, and it is recommended to prefer a glass of orange juice. Check out how food can help fight migraine.
3. Lack of muscle strength and loss of balance
Decreased muscle strength, loss of balance and the consequent difficulty in walking are common during a multiple sclerosis crisis. This symptom can occur in an outbreak period, where the person may need to use a cane, crutches or wheelchair, being able to recover after a few weeks or months, or it can be permanent due to muscle paralysis due to the progression of the disease.
How to treat: Exercises that strengthen large muscle groups, physical therapy and maintain an active life by practicing physical activity regularly, such as swimming or clinical Pilates, for example, should be performed. This is able to strengthen the muscles and prevent people from using canes or crutches, recovering completely. However, in the progressive form of the disease, it is less likely that the person will recover completely, becoming dependent on the use of wheelchairs, but even in this case it is necessary to undergo physical therapy to avoid muscle contractures and the sores that may appear on the skin.
4. Memory lapses and difficulty concentrating
People diagnosed with multiple sclerosis many years ago may experience recent memory loss and have more difficulty concentrating, having more difficulty organizing their thoughts, as they did before.
How to treat it: Playing memory games, sudoku and taking remedies and supplements for memory can be useful and recommended by the doctor. Check out foods that can help boost memory.
5. Urinary or fecal incontinence
Another consequence of multiple sclerosis is the loss of total control over urine and feces. This symptom may be mild at first, but if left untreated it tends to get worse, causing embarrassment.
How to treat: Physiotherapy with Kegel exercises should be done to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, exercises such as hypopressive gymnastics to strengthen the abdomen at the same time. Biofeedback and pellet exercises placed inside the vagina can also be indicated to help control urine. In certain cases, surgery to stitch the pelvic floor muscles or the dropped bladder may be necessary. Learn more about urinary incontinence surgery.
See how to do the kegel exercises in this video:
6. Vision problems
Optic neuritis, which is a type of inflammation of the optic nerve, is a frequent change in multiple sclera. This symptom is not always related to a period of outbreak of the disease, being present more frequently throughout life. The person may have blurred or blurred vision and pain in the back of the eye.
How to treat: the doctor may recommend visual examinations, use of eye drops to maintain good lubrication of the eyes, and if necessary, you may need to use glasses and corticosteroids to help speed up recovery, in some cases. Although, in some cases, the recovery is complete, it is possible that some sequelae remain, such as difficulty in differentiating colors, changes in the visual field, sensitivity to light or difficulties in evaluating distances, for example. Learn more about optic neuritis.
7. Excessive tiredness
People with multiple sclera are tired with less physical effort, and this symptom can last for weeks or months, intensifying in the hottest periods of the year. Therefore, climbing a floor of stairs can be more difficult and cause more fatigue during the summer than in the winter. This symptom occurs both in progressive multiple sclerosis and in multiple sclerosis
How to treat: Warm places should be avoided, preferring mild temperatures and avoiding strenuous activities, exercises should be performed slowly and with a longer interval of time, however it is not recommended to stop physical therapy or stop exercising regularly. It is also not recommended to rest for a long time.
8. Shortness of breath
The sensation of shortness of breath is more common in the more advanced stage of the disease, and it especially affects the progressive form of the disease, when the respiratory muscles are affected and does not allow a good intake of air, and also reduces the effectiveness of the cough, which it is no longer able to completely eliminate the airways, becoming weak and inefficient.
How to treat: Respiratory physiotherapy should be performed with exercises and the use of small devices that help to eliminate secretions from the lungs.
9. Depression
Multiple sclerosis is a neurodegenerative disease that can cause major changes and difficulties in the person's daily life, and with that, it can be difficult to deal with emotions and lose interest in life. The person can be sad most of the time and be insecure with fear of tomorrow, being necessary to find a new motivation to live.
How to treat it: the doctor can prescribe antidepressant drugs, but psychology sessions can also be useful for the person to better adapt to their reality and limitations. Group therapies also achieve good results.
These symptoms do not all appear at the same time, but they can decrease the quality of life of the patient with multiple sclerosis, so whenever a symptom arises, the neurologist accompanying the case must be informed in order to adjust the dose and check the need to change the medicine against sclerosis.
