HealthInfo Canterbury
Self-care for multiple sclerosis (MS)
Tāu ake whakaora i te wharanga uwhi iaia
There are many things you can do to improve and maintain your health if you have MS.
- Read Managing your MS symptoms. It has locally endorsed advice about when you should go to see your general practice team or seek other medical help.
- Follow the six MS brain health guidelines to keep your brain as healthy as possible.
- Keep active. This helps to keep you mobile and reduces your risk of falls.
- Keep your weight under control and look after your physical health by eating well.
- Keep your mind active.
- Stop smoking. Smoking can make MS worse.
- Watch how much alcohol you drink. If you drink alcohol, follow national guidelines on how much to drink safely.
- Continue taking other medicines your doctor has prescribed.
- Avoid getting overheated from the sun, a hot bath or spa or over-exercising. Overheating can cause MS symptoms to come back or get worse.
- If possible, keep working. Work can help your physical and mental wellbeing. But MS symptoms such as fatigue and limited mobility can affect your work. The support organisations listed below might be able to help you plan what to say in a job interview and how to manage health issues.
- Use technology to make life easier. For example, outings and travel can take a lot of planning. Using the internet to research things like parking and toilets before you go somewhere new can help.
- Consider using the MS Energise app to help manage fatigue.
- Join the Cantabrainers Choir, which is a choir for people with neurological conditions to improve and maintain their communication through singing and socialising.
- Find out about financial assistance that you may be able to get.
Support organisations for people with MS
There are several organisations that can provide support and information about MS. Try one of these:
- Multiple Sclerosis Society of New Zealand
The Multiple Sclerosis Society advocates on behalf of people with MS and supports regional MS societies.
- Multiple Sclerosis and Parkinson's Canterbury
Support for people in Canterbury with MS or Parkinson disease.
HealthInfo recommends the following pages
- Aspire Canterbury
Support, advice and resources for everyday living for people with disabilities.
- Firstport – Disability support services in Canterbury
Support services for people in Canterbury with disabilities.
HealthInfo recommends the following apps
- MS Energise
MS Energise is a New Zealand designed app to help you manage fatigue. It's currently only available for Apple devices. The free version of the app lets you use two out of seven modules. You need to pay to get access to the remaining five modules.
Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed November 2022.
Sources
Review key: HIMSC-58142
