Healthcare Team

When you’re first diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), you start collecting new members for your healthcare team. Once you have been in treatment for a while, you may have quite a few team members. It can be tricky to keep them straight and connected. Here are a few tips:

MS affects everyone differently. For some, mobility is the biggest issue. For others, it's pain or fatigue. And your unique situation may lead you to need different people on your team. You may find different team members to be more important for your needs.

You should also include your nurse and any care partners you have in your life. It’s helpful to think of all the professionals that contribute to your well-being as part of your healthcare team.

Most of the symptoms of MS are related to the nerves. Many people living with MS think of their neurologist as the leader of their healthcare team. Do you find yourself dealing with other health issues in addition to MS? If so, it may be helpful to consider your family doctor as the team leader.

It can often be difficult to talk about personal or sensitive topics with anyone, including your doctor. But it’s important to be open and honest with all the members of your team, so you can get the best care possible. Be sure to keep your various team members up to date on all your symptoms and medications—including prescription and over-the-counter products. And connect these team members to one another whenever you can. It can also help to make a list of each of your team members, their function, and their contact information.