Chronic pain can have many causes, and whilst for some people it might be their primary symptom, for others it can be just one of multiple secondary conditions caused by a primary condition. This week marks Multiple Sclerosis awareness week, so we’re shining a light on this neurological condition.
MS affects the brain and the spinal cord, the coating that protects your nerves, called the myelin, becomes damaged. This can cause a range of symptoms such as fatigue, vision problems, numbness, mobility problems, chronic pain, bladder and bowel problems, speech and swallowing difficulties and more. More than 130,000 people in the UK live with MS, and most people are diagnosed in their thirties, forties or fifties. Like many multisystemic conditions, people often spot their first symptoms years before they receive an official diagnosis. MS also affects almost three times as many women as men.
MS is a chronic, progressive disease, meaning that those living with the condition constantly have to adapt to a ‘new normal’, and therefore a new way of managing symptoms and living with the condition. Tools such as a flare-up plan can be particularly helpful for conditions such as MS, where symptoms often change or worsen. Having a flare-up plan means that you are always prepared and know what to do when a flare-up occurs, it takes away the stress of trying to remember what helps you in the moment.
Here at The Leva Clinic we are all about supporting you to do the things that matter most to you, enabling you to live the best life you can. Our healthcare professionals are ready to help you take the first steps in your chronic pain journey, whether you live with MS or another condition.
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