What can I do during an MS flare-up?

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

00:00

[MUSIC PLAYING] All right. Here we go. Hi Dr. Mitzi. I have MS for two year.

00:06

And this flare-ups can get really frustrating. [CHIME] What are some good techniques I can use when I'm having

00:14

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.

00:23

The first thing is to make sure that you let your doctor or your health care providers know that you're having problems.

00:30

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

00:36

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

00:44

time to recover. Sometimes when people aren't feeling well, they try to keep pushing through. They try to keep getting things done.

00:51

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.

00:58

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

01:05

and tasks that may be preventing you from getting the rest that you need so that you can fully recover. [MUSIC PLAYING]

01:12

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

01:20

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

01:29

care team come up with is extremely important to preventing relapses. The medications that we currently have

01:35

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

01:42

because your medicine is not working and not necessarily because you're not taking it. [MUSIC PLAYING]