Symptom management

Symptom management options

There are treatment and management options available for most MS symptoms. These options may involve medication, lifestyle changes, or therapy. You may also need to make adjustments as your condition changes.  MS Queensland provides resources and information on the management options for common MS symptoms including:

Continence

Many people with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience some form of bladder or bowel issues. Incontinence is the most common symptom for people with MS  and the severity and longevity varies from person to person.

Memory and cognition

About half of all people living with multiple sclerosis experience issues with aspects of thinking or ‘cognition’, such as memory, attention span, planning, decision making, understanding or concentration.

Relapse management

A relapse is a characteristic of the ‘remitting-relapsing’ form of MS where a person may experience new symptoms or a change to existing symptoms.

Fatigue

Fatigue is a common and frustrating symptom of multiple sclerosis (MS). It is not a highly visible symptom and its potential impact on people living with MS can be difficult for others to understand.

Mental health

Depression and mental health concerns are common in multiple sclerosis. About half of people diagnosed will have a depressive episode – three times higher than for the general population.

Sensory symptoms

People living with multiple sclerosis often experience a change in their skin known as sensory symptoms or altered sensations. These altered sensations can be difficult to describe as there are typically no physical symptoms associated with the sensory change.

Heat

Many people living with multiple sclerosis find that heat can make their symptoms worse. While it’s common to experience a flare-up of symptoms when hot, the effect is temporary and should calm down when you’re cool again.

Pain

Approximately 60 percent of people with MS experience pain that troubles them or interferes with their daily activities. Given that most MS-related pain is chronic it is important for people with MS to develop an effective management strategy.

Vision

Visual problems are often the first symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis. More than half of people living with multiple sclerosis will experience at least one issue with vision.

We can also connect you with specialists in your area or you can simply contact us with your questions.

Manage your symptoms effectively with the help of our team.