What treatments are there for multiple sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease which can cause a variety of different symptoms for different people, but what is the best way to treat yours? Thankfully, there are a multitude of options available that can make a difference to your life.

Disease modifying therapies (DMT)

Taking these medications help to reduce the number and intensity of relapses. They’re great at minimising the impact MS can have, as well as some being found to delay longer-term progression and reduce the number of lesions forming.

However, DMTs won’t work the same for everyone. Not all side effects are experienced by every user and there’s no ‘silver bullet’ when it comes to which one to take. You might have to try a variety of medications before finding one that works well for you.

Complementary therapies

In addition to medication, it can be beneficial to use other therapies to help cope with MS symptoms. Like the medicines available, there is no one-size-fits-all approach so you should experiment with what options are available. We’ve listed some popular ones below that you should definitely consider!

Acupuncture

This is far more than needles being stuck in the body. It is believed that the practise of stimulating the nervous system this way encourages the release of neurochemicals (or energy know as ‘qi’) which promotes greater physical and emotional wellbeing.

In terms of use for MS patients, the practise is commonly used to promote movement and reduce pain. It is a great way to improve spasticity and may even contribute to reduced fatigue.

Mindfulness

Using this technique allows a person to manage their feelings instead of becoming overwhelmed. Practises like meditation and controlled breathing come under this practice, and the benefits of mindfulness are more often or not positive.

In addition to mental health, there is evidence to suggest that it can be a way to treat fatigue amongst MSers.

Reflexology

Stimulation to the feet, as well as hands, is a form of treatment with the aim of unblocking and balancing the body’s functions back to normal. There is no evidence that it can cure anything, but this relaxing treatment has been shown to help improve bladder issues among other things.

Online Activities

Keeping yourself active and healthy is of course good for anyone, and this is where our online portal service shines!

We offer weekly classes for MSers of all mobilities in a variety of activities, including Chair Yoga, Qi Gong, and our more general exercise classes. Yoga and Qi Gong in particular have been practiced for 100s or years and are shown to improve depression and anxiety as well as reduce MS related fatigue.

If you’re interested in learning more and becoming a frequent attendee, then it’s as simple as clicking the button below. You can sign up to our portal on a pay-as-you-go basis and attend classes that suit your schedule, so what are you waiting for?