Cognitive,Mobility Issues suggestions

[caregiver2stepmomwithms]

Well this really isn't a question at all but some information that maybe others who have MS could use. I have been taking care of my stepmother who has MS she has had it for 20 yrs now I recently took over in January of this year after my father passed then. The dx for MS for my stepmother took a long to do but when she was finally dx ith MS, some days she has episodes of depression, that is commonly associated with people who have MS, one of the first things that I have learned after engulfing myself into learning more & more  about MS is that it is a very devastating & debilitating disease that robs you of everything that you once had Independence, Freedom, Muscle Control & Walking and your bladder as she has incontinence very bad with her MS.
It takes a long time for ms to be dx my stepmother wasn't fully diagnosed with her ms until 1992 sometimes the mri's will show the demylenation that goes on in a person who has ms's body but sometimes it takes longer. as for the cognitive issues you might want to talk to your doctor about possibly ordering some physical therapy for your mobility issues to help you walk a lil better or safer and for the cognitive they can have you see a speech therapist that can evaluate and assess and or make referrals to other specialists & how your cognitive abilities are such as memory etc. after my stepmothers last relapse the day after easter, I asked the neurologist and the dr after I had researched rehab places for to go to that specifically specialized in MS therapy and she was sent there to do her rehab she was there two weeks and they worked with her on her writing abilities they made her pen to where she could write with it and her writing has gotten better she does pt and ot three times a week where they work with her on her walking and her cognitive skills such as memory by having her doing activities that involve sequencing, patterns and to help her keep her mobility in her hands and her legs she didn't do any of this type of therapy before she had this relapse she is in a wheelchair most of the time but when she is at therapy she can walk a little bit with her afo on her right foot as she has a drop foot which is most commonly associated with people who have MS.  Another exercise that is good with people who may have MS is pool therapy it helps with keeping the muscle spasicity or as the therapists call it tone under control. She also wears compression stockings during the day to help with her spasicity (tone) in her legs as well. You might want to talk to your doctor and neurologist to see what therapies would be best suited for you as the therapies I talked to about above have helped her with her MS & also with some of her memory & cognitive skills as well  . I think it is also good the keep a journal with things that may be going on with your MS so that when you go to the dr or neurologist and therapists that you can have a list of questions written down so that you can ask the questions while you are there , it helps me & my stepmother out alot so that we don't forget what we want to ask or if there is a specific question we need addressed as well.  Hope this helped .

[supermum_ms]

Hey thats all good stuff that you and your step mum are doing, understanding and dealing with it, is half the battle. I hope you tell your stepmum about us, there is nothing better than speaking freely about what your living with, with others that know exactly what thats all about. :o)

We are a community that are not only supportive, but funny and informative too, making new friends who also like to laugh is never a bad idea in my books.

Cheers..........JJ

[caregiver2stepmomwithms]

we haven't let her forget who she is eventhough she has MS

she still laughs alot and when she is depressed I talk to her about her life with my dad before she had MS & that he would be really proud of her right now and for her continuing to fight this devastating disease that she has we joke around that she has war 3 instead of her body she still has her sense of humor and all at all & she says I will keep fighting this disease to the end!

I have been taking care of her and have learned alot about MS from reading from the information that she had to her medical records & also from going to her appts and therapy sessions with her & also from the information from the National MS Society & also changing her diet as well to where she does not have any processed foods at all in her diet she eats whole grain pastas, lots of fruits &veggies & also a diet in high fiber to help her with he bowels and to avoid having constipation

When she does have the occasional bout with constipation she has a little bit of power pudding which helps her with her constipation.


Thanks for the advice about the articles to the right, I have read those already and when she was in rehab the rehabilitation center had alot of information as did the therapists & the neurologists as well. I have also read alot of the information on the National MS sites as well as Dr. Terry Wahl's book about her own struggle with MS

[supermum_ms]

Hi and welcome to our little corner of the web, you'll find that most of the community are highly educated, not only in all things related to MS but in general. You might like to read our health pages (just to the right of your screen), hopefully you'll find them very helpful in furthering your understanding MS.

I've cut and added spaces to your post because many many people with MS (pwMS) have visual issues and find reading large blocks of print too difficult to read and it can also play havoc with their cognitive issues, if they have any.

"Well this really isn't a question at all but some information that maybe others who have MS could use. I have been taking care of my stepmother who has MS she has had it for 20 yrs now I recently took over in January of this year after my father passed then. The dx for MS for my stepmother took a long to do but when she was finally dx ith MS, some days she has episodes of depression, that is commonly associated with people who have MS.

One of the first things that I have learned after engulfing myself into learning more & more  about MS is that it is a very devastating & debilitating disease that robs you of everything that you once had Independence, Freedom, Muscle Control & Walking and your bladder as she has incontinence very bad with her MS.

It takes a long time for ms to be dx my stepmother wasn't fully diagnosed with her ms until 1992 sometimes the mri's will show the demylenation that goes on in a person who has ms's body but sometimes it takes longer. as for the cognitive issues you might want to talk to your doctor about possibly ordering some physical therapy for your mobility issues to help you walk a lil better or safer and for the cognitive they can have you see a speech therapist that can evaluate and assess and or make referrals to other specialists & how your cognitive abilities are such as memory etc.

After my stepmothers last relapse the day after easter, I asked the neurologist and the dr after I had researched rehab places for to go to that specifically specialized in MS therapy and she was sent there to do her rehab she was there two weeks and they worked with her on her writing abilities they made her pen to where she could write with it and her writing has gotten better.

She does pt and ot three times a week where they work with her on her walking and her cognitive skills such as memory by having her doing activities that involve sequencing, patterns and to help her keep her mobility in her hands and her legs she didn't do any of this type of therapy before she had this relapse she is in a wheelchair most of the time but when she is at therapy she can walk a little bit with her afo on her right foot as she has a drop foot which is most commonly associated with people who have MS.  

Another exercise that is good with people who may have MS is pool therapy it helps with keeping the muscle spasicity or as the therapists call it tone under control. She also wears compression stockings during the day to help with her spasicity (tone) in her legs as well. You might want to talk to your doctor and neurologist to see what therapies would be best suited for you as the therapies I talked to about above have helped her with her MS & also with some of her memory & cognitive skills as well  .

I think it is also good the keep a journal with things that may be going on with your MS so that when you go to the dr or neurologist and therapists that you can have a list of questions written down so that you can ask the questions while you are there , it helps me & my stepmother out alot so that we don't forget what we want to ask or if there is a specific question we need addressed as well.  Hope this helped."

The only advice i'd like to give to you, is that you dont forget who she is inside her failing body, help her find her love of life, laughter, hugs and kisses always last longer the moment!

Cheers...........JJ

[Francyna]

Hats off to you ,how commendable of you,alright for girl power....lol  youre suggestions will be very useful. I will try to implement as many as I can....thank you.