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