‘I Connect, We Connect’

Today we celebrate World MS Day and we want to join the global MS community in raising awareness on how this disease affects millions of people.

A few facts about MS:

• MS is a progressive neurological disease.
• 2.8 million people around the world have MS and over 25,600 people living with MS in Australia.
• On average more than 10 Australians are diagnosed with MS every week.
• 3 quarters of all people with MS are women.
• Multiple sclerosis is the leading cause of disability in young adults.
• Diagnosis of MS mostly occurs between the ages of 20 and 40 years, although children can also be diagnosed with the disease.

This year’s MS Day aims to challenge social barriers that leave people affected by MS feeling lonely and socially isolated. It is an opportunity to advocate for better services, celebrate support networks and champion self-care.

Connecting to self:

Self-care is crucial when living with a chronic condition. It’s important that you’re kind to yourself and identify approaches that help you manage the challenges of living with MS and the pain flares.

Strategies like mindfulness and meditation can assist you. We have a list of resources on our website that you may find useful: https://hunterpainspecialists.com.au/for-patients/recommended-resources.

MS Australia also has a wide range of publications, including some in different languages.

Connecting to others:

Building communities that support and nurture people affected by MS feel supported. It may help to connect with organisations like MS Australia, where you can meet other people diagnosed with MS, read about different treatment and access a multitude of resources.

Connecting to treatment:

While MS has no cure, there are treatments that can help you have a good quality of life. Among these are treatments that can help you manage your pain.

At Hunter Pain Specialists, we can support you by providing specialist advice on the best approach to treat your pain depending on the stage of your condition and your personal experience.

To find out more about how we can support you, get in touch with us here.