Back toUpdated on October 22, 2024
Getting proper rest is key to navigating flare-ups caused by multiple sclerosis. Learn why sleep is essential in the battle against MS from Mitzi Joi Williams, MD, who outlines treatment options and talks disease-modifying therapies in this video.
Transcript
[MUSIC PLAYING] All right. Here we go. Hi Dr. Mitzi. I have MS for two year.
And this flare-ups can get really frustrating. [CHIME] What are some good techniques I can use when I'm having
a flare-up? Thank you so much for that question, Gloribel. There are many things that you can do to help yourself when you're having an MS flare-up.
The first thing is to make sure that you let your doctor or your health care providers know that you're having problems.
There are treatments that can be given if flare-ups have happened recently. And there are also things that they may need to assess, such as if you need
to change your MS treatment. Other things that you can do are to make sure that you're getting enough rest so that your body has
time to recover. Sometimes when people aren't feeling well, they try to keep pushing through. They try to keep getting things done.
And with MS, if you overdo it, you may pay for it on the back end. So if you're having a flare-up, make sure that you're getting rest.
And also make sure that you're asking for help if you need it because other people are often willing to help you with some of those daily activities
and tasks that may be preventing you from getting the rest that you need so that you can fully recover. [MUSIC PLAYING]
Preventing flare-ups is one of the goals of the disease-modifying therapies for multiple sclerosis, so the medicines that are given to try to decrease
the immune system's attack on the brain and the spinal cord. Taking those medications on a regular basis and being consistent with the plan that you and your health
care team come up with is extremely important to preventing relapses. The medications that we currently have
are not a cure, so they do not prevent all relapses. But at least, if you're having trouble, your health care team knows that it's
because your medicine is not working and not necessarily because you're not taking it. [MUSIC PLAYING]
