Multiple Sclerosis Treatment Checkup Guide
Health Tool
Take charge of your MS Treatment

Optimal treatment can reduce the frequency of relapses and slow disease progression. Assess your symptoms and personal journey as a step in guiding your care.

Leading a healthy lifestyle can help you balance MS with your busy life.

Nutrition
A healthy diet for someone with MS follows Canada's Food Guide . A few tips:

  • Avoid foods that are high in sugar or animal fats.
  • Eat oily fish (salmon, mackerel, or tuna) 2 or 3 times a week.
  • Switch to whole-grain bread, pasta, and cereal.
  • Select low-fat dairy products.
  • Get more fruits and vegetables in your diet (e.g., put berries on your cereal, have veggies and dip as a snack, buy bagged salad greens and put some on your plate at lunch and dinner, or put an apple in your lunch).
  • Read MS and Nutrition for more nutrition tips.

Exercise

  • Check with your neurologist before starting to get active.
  • Plan your workout for a time of day when you have the most energy (for many people, this is in the morning).
  • If you decide to go to a gym, choose one with staff who understand MS. Make sure the gym has many different options (classes, equipment) for people of different fitness levels and abilities.
  • If your symptoms make it a challenge to use certain exercise equipment at your gym, ask a trainer or staff member to suggest assistive devices such as a grip cuff or hook, or to suggest an alternate exercise that does not use this equipment.
  • Read MS: Exercise Tips to learn more about exercising with MS.

Managing stress

  • Learn to recognize your signs of stress (e.g., tense muscles, sweaty hands, shallow breathing, irritability, nightmares, constipation or diarrhea, difficulty making decisions).
  • Identify unhelpful thought patterns that may be adding to your stress (e.g., being too hard on yourself, thinking you're responsible for everything, "black and white" thinking).
  • Talk to friends and family about how you're feeling.
  • Think of ways friends and family could help, and make requests for help that are very specific.
  • Read MS: Managing stress for more tips on managing stress.
Multple Sclerosis Doctor Discussion Guide
Health Tool
Make the most of time with your neurologist

Create a personalized Doctor Discussion Guide to help ensure you are getting optimal treatment in managing your MS.