Kicking MS to the Curb

Kicking MS to the Curb steps out of the box of multiple sclerosis with determination and humor. The MS journey brings challenges and concerns, stumbles and successes, triumphs and trouncings. We celebrate races run and battles won. And we stumble, reel and rise to try again.

Throughout, the orange thread traces our dogged determination to continue placing one foot in front of the other for as long as possible - until we win, until healing comes, or until the medical miracle is found.

Monday

MS can be a ticket to de-stress

Life with multiple sclerosis can be exhausting. Add the occasional (or frequent) sudden onslaught of MS-related fatigue of biblical proportions, and it’s almost unimaginable.

High-energy people may find it difficult to empathize or understand what the MSer means, when he or she describes a titanic tiredness that saps all strength and sends energy and motivation limping away.

Physicians may call this lassitude, and it's a hallmark of MS. It’s physical and mental weariness, a crippling sluggishness. And it can come on suddenly, seemingly without warning.

One thing we know for sure – MS hits us the most when we are tired and stressed.

Maybe it’s time to let MS be our ticket to de-stress and recharge.

Here are a few strategies for minimizing the stress that can aggravate and increase the fatigue that goes with MS (and that can leave the MSer extra vulnerable to a full-blown flare-up).

Clutter is confusing and chaotic. Simply clearing off a kitchen counter, putting away clean laundry, or tossing out junk mail helps remove stressors.

Multitasking can be unmanageable. Efficiency is lauded as a virtue, but too much multitasking can send our minds awhirl and our energy away.

Tackling to-do lists reduces stress. Sometimes it helps to make to-do lists and then knock off one task at a time. By listing even the smallest chores, we can gain satisfaction with each completion. At the end of the day, we can review what’s done and feel a bit of accomplishment. If MS has us homebound, sidelined, or otherwise restricted, this strategy can be extra important.

Realistic goals are our reality. Sure, we like to stretch ourselves, often past our own limits. But setting more reachable objectives can be rewarding and simplifying. The net result is often less stress. The tricky thing is, MS can change our energy resources spontaneously and unpredictability. (Ever heard of The Spoon Theory? We never know how many we’ll have in a day.)

Learning to say “no” is life-changing. Boundaries can be a new best friend to the MS warrior. They don’t come easily, because we tend to want to volunteer and participate and be active helpers. That’s one way we get worn out extra quickly, so we have to choose carefully when to say “Yes,” if someone asks.

Granting ourselves permission to rest is powerful. Stopping our self-expected activities isn’t easy. Who doesn’t want to feel productive and useful? Yet those living with MS may need more rest than those whose myelin isn’t threatened and compromised? We may need to curl up with a book, stretch out under a blanket, or even catch a catnap to regather ourselves and avoid the overdoing that can invite MS to wreak its havoc on us again.

Self-management is tough, especially with the ever looming challenging that the MS MonSter brings to our lives. And it’s not like we want to cop out of life, escape all responsibilities, and sit idly by. But it’s critical to be deliberate about our mental and physical exertions, if we are to reduce stresses and build ourselves to battle the dreaded beast as best as we can.

Preaching to the mirror here. I know. Remind me again … soon.

Related items:

Image/s: Adapted from public domain image.

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Saturday

MS can do a triple whammy on vision

Any multiple sclerosis battler knows there’s a lot more to MS than meets the eye.

Here’s what the National Multiple Sclerosis Society has to say about MS and vision:

“Vision disorders are the first sign of multiple sclerosis for many people. The 3 most common disorders are optic neuritis, diplopia (double vision) and nystagmus. While these conditions can be frightening and uncomfortable, the prognosis for recovery is good with treatment.”

Here’s a quick peek at each of the most prevalent vision-related issues for those living with MS.

Optic neuritis – Caused by an inflammation of the optic nerve, this can be a painful and troublesome symptom of multiple sclerosis. It usually shows up suddenly as blurred vision (often tunnel-like) or dimmed vision, often with blind spots and blurred colors. Affecting one or both eyes, optic neuritis also may bring sensitivity to bright lights and a flashing sensation with eye movements. Untreated, it can last months, although it may abate sooner for some with steroid treatment.
Dyplopia – Commonly known as double vision, diplopia causes blurriness and decreased depth perception. This can affect one or both eyes, and it can be uncomfortable or even painful. During a bout with this, a person may be extra vulnerable to falling and is unlikely to be able to drive or operate machinery safely.
Nystagmus - This condition is marked by rapid involuntary eye movements, which can be rhythmic and may move up and down, side to side, or round and round. Vision (in one or both eyes) becomes blurred and distorted. This can result in dizziness, a feeling of disorientation, and headaches. Nystagmus may result from issues with the brain, ears, or eyes – all of which can be affected by an MS flare-up.

I’ve had personal experience with all three of those – and sometimes at the same time. Such flare-ups are usually accompanied by vertigo and often a feeling of motion sickness (with nausea), and they generally bring on or aggravate a migraine headache.

What about recovery?

For many MSers, recovery can happen, at least until the next exacerbation or relapse. Then the symptoms (including vision issues) can crop up in the blink of an eye. (Sorry, had to.)

For many, these vision symptoms may clear up on their own in time, at least for the most part. In stubborn cases, doctors may prescribe steroid treatments (intravenous or oral or a series of both), as this has been proven to shorten the vision attacks in plenty of cases. Although these can be helpful, they are not without side effects, so it’s important to discuss this option with the physician before taking such treatments.

MS symptom triggers can beckon back these vision issues, even without a full-blown MS flare-up or new demyelinations/lesions. For example, I almost always experience blurred and bouncing vision when overheated. If I can find a way to cool off, my eyesight improves quite a bit.

Can eyeglasses or corrective lenses help with MS-related vision problems?

Because all of these concerns are neurological in nature, they cannot be eliminated by the wearing of spectacles or contacts.

Occasionally, a doctor will instruct an MSer with vision issues to wear an eye patch over the offending eye for a while, particularly if double vision and/or dizziness are evident.

It’s important for each individual to keep an eye on his or her vision (so to speak). Eye pain and eyesight problems can point to many other health concerns besides an MS exacerbation. If these or other vision-related symptoms arise, it’s time to consult a neurologist, ophthalmologist, or other medical expert.