Dealing with multiple sclerosis (MS) can be tough. As this chronic disease affects the brain and spinal cord, it can be unpredictable and affect people differently. The symptoms you experience might only have a mild impact on your daily life, while the disease might be more severe and have a bigger impact.
With symptoms ranging from dizziness and fatigue to cognitive issues and difficulty walking, it is essential to find strategies to manage multiple sclerosis. This will often begin by practicing self-care and following a balanced diet, but there are other ways to help your symptoms more effectively.
This post has outlined three main ways to cope with multiple sclerosis, ranging from cannabis treatments to water therapy.
Use Medical Marijuana
There are some symptoms of multiple sclerosis that cannot be sufficiently controlled with FDA- approved medications. This is when you and your doctor might discuss the use of medical cannabis for managing symptoms. There have been studies that prove cannabinoids might have an impact in controlling pain and spasticity.
But purchasing marijuana is a sensitive issue. Some states have legalized cannabis for medical use, which means a doctor can approve or certify you for medical marijuana. After this, you will be able to buy it from a dispensary or a medically endorsed pharmacy. Some reputable dispensaries, like NYCBUD in Roosevelt Island, NY, offer delivery services, which can be easier for people with MS to obtain the right products.
Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness is one of the alternative therapies that has been proven to help people with MS cope better. It does this by improving their quality of life and decreasing symptoms like anxiety, depression, pain, and stress. This therapy teaches individuals to focus on emotions, sensations, and thoughts. Simply put, with this meditative technique, people learn to focus on the present with healthy thoughts, instead of worrying about the past or future.
While it is possible to practice mindfulness yourself, there are classes available to help people learn. These classes will usually involve eight to ten classes of guided exercises, which can then be practiced at home. Lessons might be shortened for people with MS as there can be issues, such as fatigue, pain, and spasms, when sitting still for long periods of time. To ease discomfort, you should select a comfortable position when practicing alone and think how you can use mindfulness to address your MS.
Try Water Therapy
Exercise is important for people with multiple sclerosis, although physical activity can be made difficult due to balance issues, muscle weakness, and numbness. However, taking part in an activity like water therapy can reduce these issues. Many people find it easier to stand in water than on land, which can reduce the fear of falling and allow more enjoyment. Hydrotherapy can be more than just exercising or walking in water; it can also include immersion at different temperatures, mineral water baths, and whirlpool baths.
There are a range of benefits to using water therapy, with some research even showing that it can help individuals with MS manage their pain. It has also been said that this type of therapy could delay the progression of MS and make movement easier. Activities in the water, whether that is aquatic aerobics, swimming, or water walking, can alleviate depression, fatigue, and overheating, too.
If you suffer from MS, it can be difficult to maintain a good quality of life. Thankfully, by using the methods discussed in this post, you could see improvements occurring in your mental and physical health.
