Library Articles
At Can Do MS, we know that the power of knowledge can transform lives and expand beliefs about what is possible.
These articles are written by our nationwide team of program consultants - renowned healthcare professionals dedicated to educating people living with MS and their support partners. You will find valuable information and approaches covering our Six Dimensions of Wellness- Emotional Well-Being, Cognitive Well-Being; Home & Work; Diet, Exercise & Healthy Behaviors; Relationships; and Spirituality.
These articles are provided as general educational resources and should not be interpreted as diagnoses, prognoses, or treatment suggestions. Information and perspectives represent the views of the individual author(s); Can Do Multiple Sclerosis is not responsible for the accuracy or currency of the responses. Readers should consult with their healthcare team.
Sleep and MS: Strategies for Improving Your Zzz's
By: Written By: Stephanie Buxhoeveden, MSCN, MSN, FNP-BC & Abbey J. Hughes, PhD, Updated September 2022 By: Rosalind Kalb, PhD
Sleep is a surprisingly complex process that is essential to maintaining health and wellness. Unfortunately, problems with sleep quantity and quality and the negative impact of poor sleep on daily functioning are particularly common among people with MS, affecting 50% of the population.
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The Many Faces of MS Pain – Glossary
By: Rosalind Kalb
Like other MS symptoms, pain is different for each person, and each person may experience various types of pain at one time or another. It’s important to know the terms used to describe the types of pain that can occur in MS and be able to describe your pain to your healthcare provider(s).
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Pain in Multiple Sclerosis
By: Abbey Hughes, PhD and Aliza Ben-Zacharia, PhD, DNP, ANP, FAAN, MSCN
Pain is one of the most common “invisible” symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS), affecting approximately two-thirds of people with MS over the course of their lives, and approximately half of people with MS at any given time. Despite the high prevalence of pain in MS, less than one-third of patients report receiving treatment to specifically address their pain. Routine assessment and comprehensive treatment of pain is essential for promoting function and quality of life among people with MS.
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Managing MS Pain
By: Rosalind Kalb, PhD
Managing pain in MS often requires a multi-step approach, involving different types of interventions by a multi-disciplinary team. In other words, it may require time, some patience on your part, and a willingness to advocate for yourself by clearly describing the pain(s) you are experiencing, the timing and intensity of that pain, and any triggers that seem to make your pain worse.
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Tips for Finding the MS Care Provider Who is Right for You
By: Megan Weigel, DNP, ARNP-C, MSCN
We need and want a lot from our healthcare providers. Expertise, a great “bedside manner,” responsiveness, a friendly office staff, convenience, and accessibility in the parking lot, office, and bathroom are all important. But each of us has different priorities – so figuring out what matters most to you will make it easier to find the provider you need.
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Dr. Terry Wahls’ New Study on Diet and Multiple Sclerosis
By: Dr. Terry Wahls, MD, MBA
Could a change in diet make a difference for people with multiple sclerosis (MS)? Could it reduce MS-related fatigue? Could it improve quality of life or reduce the number of enhancing lesions on MRI? Should prescribing a diet for people with MS be part of overall care? These are questions that Dr. Terry Wahls and her team are trying to answer.
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Your Guide to Gadgets and Gizmos for MS
By: Beth Bullard, OTR, Updated by Rosalind Kalb, PhD
Getting through everyday activities can be tiring and frustrating without the right tools and adaptations. Moving around, reaching for things, and manipulating equipment in your home or office can all pose challenges when you have multiple sclerosis.
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Strategies to Improve Visual Problems that Interfere with Daily Functioning with MS
By: Fay Jobe Tripp (2017) , Updated by Rosalind Kalb, PhD (2022)
Visual symptoms are often a person’s first symptom of MS – the one that prompts a visit to the eye doctor or neurologist and, eventually, an MS diagnosis. Learn some visual compensatory strategies to maximize your ability to function independently and safely.
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The Most Common Bowel and Bladder Problems in MS (And What You Can Do to Manage Them)
By: Rosalind Kalb, PhD
MS can take away your sense of personal control -- over your vision, walking ability, thinking and memory. But losing control of your bladder and bowel function -- which you worked hard to master as a very young child -- is tough to take. So learning how MS affects bladder and bowel function -- and what you can do about it -- is the first step toward taking back control.
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MS and Your Mood – Why It Matters & What You Can Do
By: Rosalind Kalb, PhD
Mood changes and MS are intertwined in complex ways. Some changes are caused directly by the MS disease process and related changes in the brain. Others are a reaction to the losses and stresses that are part of life with a chronic, unpredictable illness. And some may be a combination of the two. In this article, we’ll look at the kinds of mood changes that can occur, why they matter, and what can be done to manage them.
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