managing invisible creating exercise symptoms, part ii
TRANSCRIPT
Creating Exercise Plans That Stick
Managing Invisible Symptoms, Part II: Temperature Sensitivity, Pain, and Vision Problems
GenentechNovartis Pharmaceuticals
Sanofi Genzyme
EMD Serono
Our Plan For Today....
• Overview of key themes for today’s discussion • Introductions• Break-out room session• Break• Break-out room discussion #1• Break-out room discussion #2• Large-group sharing and expert panel Q&A
Tech Support
Morgan TiroffP: 970-926-1293
Your JUMPSTART® Begins Here…
Abbey Hughes, PhDPsychologist
Denise Bruen, ANP-BC, MSN, MSCNNurse Practitioner
Linda Walls, OTROccupational Therapist
Temperature Matters
• Sensitivity to heat and humidity is common• Even a slight elevation in body temperature
can cause symptoms to worsen temporarily (fever, ambient temperature, physical activity)
• Not all people with MS are heat sensitive• Although less common, sensitivity to cold can
occur as well• Maintaining a comfortable body temperature is
key:• What you wear• Use of cooling devices• How and where you exercise• Requesting a cool workspace is typically a
reasonable accommodation in your workplace
Pain in MS is Common
• Identifying the source(s) of pain is the first step• Neurogenic (nerve) pain – caused by MS lesions
• Facial pain• Electrical sensation down the spine and into
the legs• “MS hug”
• Pain caused by spasticity/spasms• Orthopedic pain in the back or hips caused by
changes in gait
• Managing the sources of pain• Medications• Rehabilitation• Cognitive behavior therapy• Meditation
Visual Symptoms Make Everything Harder
• Vision has two major components:• Creating an accurate image of what you’re
looking at• Coordinating the eye muscles so you’re eyes
work together
• Either one or both can be affected by MS• Optic neuritis – washed out vision, loss of vision,
holes in the visual field, pain• Double vision, eye-jerkiness (nystagmus)
• Strategies to manage vision changes include:• Medications• Low vision strategies for daily activities
How You React to Pain or Discomfort Affects How You Feel
• In addition to medication and rehabilitation strategies to manage uncomfortable symptoms, tweaking your attitudes and responses can help as well
• Mental health professionals can offer strategies to help you feel more comfortable
Creating Exercise Plans That Stick
Managing Invisible Symptoms, Part II: Temperature Sensitivity, Pain, and Vision Problems
Topics to Avoid in Groups and Chat
Sharing medication experiences is OK; recommending medications or interventions to others is not.
Can Do MS endorses early treatment, but does not endorse any specific medications.
Get To Know Your Group
Today’s Format:• Same small breakout groups• Remember to respect
confidentiality• Allow everyone the
opportunity to share
Introduce Yourself • First name• Where from• Years living with MS• Person with MS or support partner• What is ONE WORD to describe
what your MS symptoms feel like
Have fun and enjoy one another!
Group Discussion #1
How do you respond when your body or mind start to feel uncomfortable?
Group Discussion #2
What strategies have you used to manage your uncomfortable MS symptoms and what members of the healthcare team have been most helpful?
Key Take-Aways• Sensitivity to heat and/or cold is
very common • A slight elevation in core body
temperature can temporarily worsen MS symptoms
• MS vision problems can affect clarity of vision and eye coordination
• Pain in MS can be caused by nerve damage and or orthopedic changes
• How you react to discomfort can impact how it feels
JUMPSTART – July 10Managing Invisible Symptoms, Part I: Sleep &
Fatigue
COACHING – July 14Caring For Your Energy
JUMPSTART – July 22Managing Invisible Symptoms, Part II:
Temperature Sensitivity, Pain, and Vision Problems
COACHING – July 27Your Questions, Answered: Invisible Symptoms
JULYPROGRAMS
CanDo-MS.org