Skip to main content
Logo for WebMD
Logo for WebMD
  • Coronavirus Update
  • Check Your Symptoms
  • Find A Doctor
  • Find A Dentist
  • Connect to Care
  • Find Lowest Drug Prices
  • Health
    A-Z
    Health A-Z
    Health A-Z
    Common Conditions
    • ADD/ADHD
    • Allergies
    • Arthritis
    • Cancer
    • Coronavirus (COVID-19)
    • Depression
    • Diabetes
    • Eye Health
    • Heart Disease
    • Lung Disease
    • Orthopedics
    • Pain Management
    • Sexual Conditions
    • Skin Problems
    • Sleep Disorders
    • View All
    Resources
    • Symptom Checker
    • WebMD Blogs
    • Podcasts
    • Newsletters
    • Questions & Answers
    • Insurance Guide
    • Find a Doctor
    • Children's Conditions A-Z
    • Surgeries and Procedures A-Z
    • Featured Topics
    • woman experiencing chest discomfort Symptom Checker COVID-19: Check Your Symptoms Now
    • photo of migraine Slideshow Get Help for Migraine Relief
  • Drugs &
    Supplements
    Drugs & Supplements
    Drugs & Supplements
    Find & Review
    • Drugs
    • Supplements
    Drug Basics & Safety
    • Commonly Abused Drugs
    • Taking Meds When Pregnant
    Tools
    • Manage Your Medications
    • Pill Identifier
    • Check for Interactions
    • Drug Comparison Tool
    • Featured Topics
    • assorted vitamins Slideshow Vitamins You Need as You Age
    • berry and yogurt on spoon Slideshow Supplements for Better Digestion
  • Living
    Healthy
    Living Healthy
    Living Healthy
    Diet, Food & Fitness
    • Diet & Weight Management
    • Weight Loss & Obesity
    • Food & Recipes
    • Fitness & Exercise
    Beauty & Balance
    • Healthy Beauty
    • Health & Balance
    • Sex & Relationships
    • Oral Care
    Living Well
    • Women's Health
    • Men's Health
    • Aging Well
    • Healthy Sleep
    • Healthy Teens
    • Featured Topics
    • grocery cart Article Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes
    • walking sneakers Quiz Do You Know the Benefits of Walking?
  • Family &
    Pregnancy
    Family & Pregnancy
    Family & Pregnancy
    All About Pregnancy
    • Getting Pregnant
    • First Trimester
    • Second Trimester
    • Third Trimester
    • View All
    Parenting Guide
    • Newborn & Baby
    • Children's Health
    • Children's Vaccines
    • Raising Fit Kids
    • View All
    Pet Care Essentials
    • Healthy Cats
    • Healthy Dogs
    • View All
    • Featured Topics
    • apple slices and peanut butter Slideshow Smart Snacks When You're Pregnant
    • photo of dogs kissing Slideshow Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats
  • News &
    Experts
    News & Experts
    News & Experts
    Health News
    • Coronavirus News & Updates
    • COVID-19 Vaccines -- Latest Updates Here
    • COVID-19: Check Your Symptoms Now
    • Coronavirus in Context: Interviews With Experts
    • Social Distancing, Quarantine Explained
    Experts & Community
    • WebMD Blogs
    • News Center
    • Featured Topics
    • photo of coronavirus cell WebMD News Get the Latest COVID-19 News Here
    • photo of person typing Newsletters Sign Up to Receive Our Free Coroanvirus Newsletter
  • Mobile Apps
  • Subscriptions
  • Sign In
  • Subscribe
  • My Profile
    • My Tools
    • My WebMD Pages
    • My Account
    • Sign Out
    Skip to main content

    Multiple Sclerosis


    Living a Full Life

    Multiple Sclerosis

    Manage Your Symptoms

    Reviewed by Michael Smith on December 07, 2020

    Video Transcript

    [MUSIC PLAYING] DOUGLAS S. STUART, MD: When we talk about symptom management in multiple sclerosis, we're really talking about the bulk of what we address in the course of a visit to our MS center. Yeah, we do talk a lot about medicines that treat the disease specifically. But mostly, patients have a variety of troubling symptoms that they want to control.

    No two MS patients are the same. MS can get into virtually any part of our physical being. It can cause pain. It can cause memory problems. It can cause spasms or weakness or numbness. It can cause bladder problems. It can cause fatigue. And all of these are treated differently.

    So when we say that no two MS patients are the same, it's really true. And that's the challenging part of treating this disease-- is trying to figure out the recipe that best helps to manage your symptoms.

    We have medications that can treat many of our symptoms. We have medicines for bladder function. We have medicines for fatigue. But we also have a number of things that you can do that are more holistic that address the disease without medication, including exercise and appropriate diet and weight loss. Quitting smoking, for instance, is very important for MS patients.

    Surrounding yourself with an appropriate care community, friends and family that understand things that you might need help with, people that you can talk to about concerns, anxieties that will surely emerge as you worry about where this disease is headed-- your physician can address many of these. But you need to develop the kind of relationships that you can count on over the long haul to deal with this.

    MS affects more than just you, the patient. It affects all of the people who matter to you and who are part of your family and social unit.

    EXPLORE MORE

    Common Symptoms

    Some people have just one or two signs of MS. Others have several. From numbness to vision problems, here’s what to look for.

    How Is It Diagnosed?

    Best Foods for MS

    Do Vitamins Help?

    Yoga for Flexibility and Balance

    MS and Your Sex Life

    Find WebMD on:

    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Pintrest
    AdChoices AdChoices
    • About WebMD
    • Advertise With Us
    • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy
    • Editorial Policy
    • Contact Us
    • TRUSTe Privacy Certification
    • TAG Registered Seal
    • HONcode Seal

    ©2005-2019 WebMD LLC. All rights reserved.

    WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
    See additional information.