Q. I use sharp instruments in my work and after a non-MS fall, my boss put a lot of pressure on me to quit for safety reasons as I sometimes have a tremor. Could an occupational therapist help with this? What are my rights to stay at work?
A. An occupational therapy or OT evaluation could be very helpful. An OT can also offer suggestions as to assistive devices or modified aids that can make some activities related to occupation (at work and at home) easier, less fatiguing and safer. A person’s rights in the workplace are often country specific.
Your national MS society might have resources that can help you.
Q. Are there any dietary changes I could make to help with my tremor?
A. Unfortunately there is no evidence that any change in diet can help tremor.
Q. To anyone else, it looks like I have the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease – I sometimes have difficulty eating, or carrying a cup of coffee without shaking. Are there any suggestions to help with these tasks?
A. An occupational therapist can recommend adapted plates, eating utensils and cups whose aim is to promote independence in eating and drinking.
Sometimes these supports can be expensive and unfortunately they may not be covered by the healthcare system in some countries. In that case, they can be purchased through commercial vendors.
It is best to ask the advice of an OT before purchasing these types of aids.
Q. My ataxia and tremor have really affected me socially. I find myself feeling anxious and hiding away at home more and more because I get embarrassed by my twitching and others seem to as well. Do I need to see a counsellor?
A. Some symptoms of MS have been associated with increased social isolation. It is not uncommon for a person with a noticeable MS symptom such as tremor to feel like staying at home rather than participating in social activities. For many people with MS, anxiety seems to worsen their tremor and ataxia. Social situations in which the person feels self-conscious can also worsen the symptoms.
A counsellor might be helpful in dealing with feelings of anxiety and embarrassment – your own and those of others. A visit to a neurologist or nurse prescriber might result in you trying a treatment that has at least some positive effect on your symptom. And, an occupational therapy evaluation can provide you with insight on how to deal with tremor and ataxia in social settings. In other words, the symptoms you experience and their negative impact on your social life can benefit from a comprehensive approach involving input from different healthcare professionals.
|
