Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of multiple sclerosis, occurring in about 80% of people. Fatigue can greatly impact a person’s ability to function at home or work and it’s one of the primary reasons for early departure from the workforce. Although it is a common symptom, the cause of MS fatigue is currently unknown. Out of curiosity and concern, one of the most common questions patients ask is: “What can I do about my fatigue?”
810 MS Speciality Center can help to answer that question. To truly understand MS, it’s important to distinguish the three types of fatigue: physical, mental, and emotional. All three types of fatigue can consume and negatively impact a patient’s day-to-day life. While fatigue can be a stressor for a person with MS, there are beneficial practices patients can implement to improve their symptoms significantly.
MS Fatigue Management
Cardiopulmonary Training
Cardiopulmonary training is an excellent way to decrease both physical and mental fatigue. It’s important to note that this should be initiated with a physical therapy doctor, or an MS specialist. This is the safest way to ensure the person increasing the cardiopulmonary routine’s intensity is trained and understands how to assess symptoms. This will prevent overheating or overexertion, which can cause MS to worsen. If cardiopulmonary training is completed with the guidance of a specialist, fatigue decreases and endurance increases.
Cooling Products
Patients with MS can experience hypersensitivity to temperature changes due to the process of the nerves’ myelin sheath being broken down. It’s common for people with MS to “feel hot” with a slight rise in body temperature that occurs as a reaction to environmental changes—medically referred to as pseudo-exacerbation. Overheating significantly causes fatigue as these disruptive flare-ups occur. Cooling products, especially ice vests, have been known to relieve these flare-ups and make it easier to adjust to environmental changes in temperature. Simply by donning an ice vest before going outside, people with MS can significantly reduce their symptoms and also safely complete tasks and activities.
Transcendental Meditation (TM)
Transcendental meditation (TM) has the unique ability to improve emotional, physical, and mental fatigue. This is a highly effective and practical form of meditation that can be practiced twice daily for 20 minutes to gain full effectiveness. Studies indicate that TM is highly effective at recharging the mind and body. Consider scheduling it into your day, just as any other important task. People with MS soon notice that their fatigue disappears or is significantly reduced throughout the day.
Let’s Find Solutions Together
Learn more about approaches to address MS fatigue. Reach out to our team at 810 MS Specialty Center today. Our team can go over how we assess each patient and determine the level of need and MS holistic care. We’ll discuss best practices of how to manage MS fatigue and create an effective plan for MS fatigue treatment. Contact us today at info@810mscenter.com to get started.