Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a lifelong condition that affects the brain and spinal cord, leaving your loved one with difficulties that require the highest quality of care.
Whilst there are multiple types of MS, it is important you understand which stage of MS your loved one has so you can choose the best care option for them, and their symptoms.
Potential symptoms of MS include:
- Problems with your vision
- Restricted arm or leg movement
- Problems with your balance
There are three types of MS:
- Relapsing remitting
- Primary progressive
- Secondary progressive
There is one universal treatment for all stages of MS, and that is to manage your symptoms.
Lots of exercises for MS symptoms (which include fatigue, muscle spasms, and balance) are available and provides you with the correct treatment so you can manage the symptoms to prevent a worse diagnosis of MS.
Types of MS: Relapsing
Relapsing remitting MS (RRMS) causes MS patients to have attacks of new and old symptoms, affecting around 85 per cent of MS sufferers.
Although this type of MS can’t predict how it will affect you, it can explain and help you to find the best treatments as a carer.
RRMS is a type of MS where your symptoms continue to worsen, which are followed by recovery periods.
You should start treatment as soon as possible to ensure the best life for your loved one.
Treatments include:
- Managing relapses – the treatments for managing relapses include steroids and rehabilitation. These treatments can slow down your relapses, leading to an improved way of living.
- Disease modifying therapies – DMTs can reduce the number of relapses you get and can slow down the rate at which disability happens to you. They work better the earlier you start them so it’s important you understand what the right step is to take.
Primary progressive MS
Primary progressive MS (PPMS) affects approximately 10-15 per cent of MS patients and is usually diagnosed in people in their 40s.
The early symptoms are often subtle and develop over time, with few or no relapses.
However, the disability will gradually increase and there might also be long periods where the symptoms seem to be staying at the same level.
There are lots of different treatments for this type of MS, which include:
- DMTs – HSCT is a stem cell treatment with aims to ‘reboot’ the immune system and is a promising treatment for MS, but it is also very intense. This comes with lots of risks, and we recommend talking to your loved one’s neurologist experts at Almond Care for more information.
- Wellbeing and rehabilitation – it is important for your loved one to eat well and exercise daily as this can ‘self-manage’ the symptoms PPMS create.
Secondary progressive MS
This type of disease is also known as SPMS, and comes after RRMS.
Your loved one is no longer likely to have relapses, and their care plan will need to be changed to meet the needs of their worsening disability.
It can be hard to diagnose this stage of MS, but is important to get help from professionals for your loved one to receive the right care for them.
Your loved one might find it more difficult to get around, or they might find their other symptoms have worsened; this will happen slowly over time.
Understanding that everyone’s MS is different will help you to tailor your loved one’s care plan to ensure their needs are properly met and are specific for their requests which MS bring.
How can Almond Care help?
Due to the variety of symptoms that MS can create, it is important to have a flexible and proactive approach to delivering complex and tailored services.
Our person-centred care plans are tailored around the client and their needs, addressing all physical and mental care requests that might include mobility issues, pain management or feeding management.
We will also know the importance of responding quickly to any condition like MS, as these can change over time and the care plans need to reflect this.
Our carers are highly trained, qualified, and experienced in caring for MS patients, providing your loved one with the highest possible quality of support.
The MS Society offer lots of information about MS, and much more.
If you would like to discuss more treatment options for MS, please click here or call 024 7610 2333.
