JANET CLARKSON, RN: These are all symptoms that can be the electrical misfiring, and your brain not interpreting what that is. And it's hard sometimes for patients to actually explain it to the doctor. I'll tell them, "Get a journal. When you have these symptoms write then down. Try to put a word to it, so that the doctor can understand what it is that you're feeling."
ANNOUNCER: There are many options available to help manage painful symptoms. Medication is sometimes helpful. But it's especially important to describe sensations accurately, so health care providers can identify the treatment options that will work best in individual cases.
JANET CLARKSON, RN: Fatigue was probably one of my biggest symptoms. That was one of the first things I presented with. I call it an MS wall. I can be going along having a wonderful day and it just hits me. The wall just comes up. I can't stay awake. I just want to take a nap and lay down.
ANNOUNCER: Prescription medication can help. But so can some changes in daily routine.
JANET CLARKSON, RN: So what I do is power napping. If I'm working an eight hour day, maybe one or two hours into my day I put my head down on my desk, or I go to my car and lay down. It really sort of regenerates me so I can go on with my day.
FAITH REILLY, RN: Energy conservation. And that's a pretty broad term meaning a lot of different things. But it means paying attention to what you're doing and cutting out of your life those things that you don't have to waste your energy on.
ANNOUNCER: Tracy Halmos is a physical therapist with MS. She helps many patients develop techniques to help with ambulatory problems.
