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The ability to get from one place to another is a primary concern for people living with multiple sclerosis (MS). While MS can present obstacles to mobility, there are tools that can help you adjust and keep you moving.
The Landscape of Mobility Issues
A recent survey of 1,011 people with MS and 317 caregivers shows the breadth and depth of mobility issues in the lives of people affected by MS. Among the people polled with MS:
- 64% reported trouble walking, the inability to walk, or loss of balance at least twice a week.
- 94% of those with trouble walking said the issue was at least somewhat disruptive to their daily lives.
- 70% of those who had trouble walking said it was the most challenging aspect of having MS.
Despite their limitations and concerns, 39% of people with MS and 49% of caregivers surveyed said they rarely or never discuss mobility issues with their doctor!
Yet, if left untreated, mobility issues can have a far-reaching impact on quality of life. They may greatly interfere with employment and careers, as some people may have to take days off from work or reduce their work hours. The ability to drive a car may be affected as well. Driving offers a level of independence and freedom that most people take for granted. Loss of this independence may be one of the hardest changes to confront for anyone, and certainly for anyone also coping with mobility issues.
Signs and Symptoms
Mobility issues arise from the effects of MS on the brain or spinal cord. The disease attacks the myelin sheath around nerve cells, leaving scar tissue, or "plaques," in its wake. These plaques interrupt communications from the brain that enable physical function, along with thinking, and emotions.
Often the first indication of mobility issues is fatigue and tiring after routine activities. But mobility limitations can eventually result from MS-related spasticity, tremor, weakness, numbness, poor balance, lack of coordination, vision problems, sensory losses, and depression.
Your physician is the first person you should talk to about mobility issues. The doctor can determine which of your symptoms are contributing to the issues and can outline a management plan, which may include physical or occupational therapy professionals, who can help you find the right assistive or adaptive devices.
Your own description is as important as the doctor’s assessments in arriving at a diagnosis of mobility limitations. You might describe a dragging foot, frequent falls, or the loss of ability to walk when you are hot and tired. These descriptions and the doctor’s examination and direct observations will help pinpoint underlying causes. Expect questions about many daily activities—but if you are not asked, bring them up and be ready with details about when and under what circumstances your problems occur.
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