The cause for the disease is unknown, but researchers in the field believe that a combination of environmental factors, immune system activity, infection and genetics are some factors that impact a person's susceptibility.
I'm talking about multiple sclerosis, also known as MS. You may have heard of it and know something about it.
The truth is, that it's a very complex disease, and there is still a lot that is not fully understood about it.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic, degenerative condition impacting the physical structure of the brain and nerves. The disease inevitably has a widespread impact on a person's life and lifestyle.
Like other disabilities, it is a manageable disease. A person who has MS can still experience quality of life, but as with anyone who has complicating circumstances, it's a choice. People with MS have choices about how they manage their condition, what help and support they seek, and what attitude they will adopt about their situation.
Mona Sen, an occupational therapist located near Oneonta, has started a program called MSways. Mona has had MS for 23 years, and she is now combining her firsthand knowledge and experience of the disease with her occupational therapy background.
She's available for individual consultation, as well as group presentations and educational talks for interested organizations or support groups.
Her goal is both to educate and empower. She's here to help those with MS to avoid misinformation and to manage MS.
Some of the areas you can expect her to cover are fatigue management, energy conservation, cooling strategies, home modification ideas, cognitive issues, assistive technology, anxiety and psychosocial and emotional concerns such as family acceptance, mood swings and much more.
Mona also has some good tips and tricks to share on how to be a smart patient. She explains this as the ability to voice and effectively convey your issues, needs and concerns with your doctor to get what you need.
That is yet another area in which she understands well and can provide information about.
Last month, I attended a talk Mona gave out at The Sage Center in Cooperstown. I was surprised at the many simple, inexpensive but effective strategies she has for helping to relieve symptoms. She spoke a bit about some easily obtainable, cheap items that can be used for symptom relief, such as wearing one-pound wrist weights while doing tasks in order to stop hand tremors. It's simple-but-effective tips and strategies like this one that come directly from Mona's combined knowledge of MS and occupational therapy.
To contact Mona, call 638-9956 or e-mail monasenot@yahoo.com.
Kate Pavlacka, a graduate of the State University College at Oneonta, has been totally blind for 11 years.
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