If you or a loved one is living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), you know first-hand how important it is to have a supportive, knowledgeable care team on the journey with you. At Your Family Medical, we offer services specifically for the care and management of chronic illness like MS. Today a member of our Boyd pain management team (locations also in Benbrook, Bedford and Flower Mound) will be sharing some quick facts about how your family doctor can help you with your MS medical care needs.
Help with Early Diagnosis
Many times, the family doctor is a patient’s first stop in discovering a new diagnosis. This is especially true with MS. There are a variety of symptoms that vary from person to person so the diagnosis can take time. There are also several tests that a patient needs to have performed in order to properly diagnose them with MS.
Your family doctor will be able to keep track of your health history. He or she can also watch for patterns that are consistent with known illnesses like MS or others that can mimic the same symptoms. It’s encouraged to stay consistent with your provider and stay on top of recommended wellness visits and other milestone health checks. The better your doctor knows you, the more obvious a change in your health is going to be and the easier it will be to diagnose.
Monitor & Manage Symptoms
Because there is currently no known cure for MS, treatment will revolve around management of symptoms and treating diseases that commonly occur alongside it (known as comorbidities). Some of the more common symptoms and comorbidities include the following:
- Symptoms: numbness/tingling, difficulty walking, weakness, fatigue, vision problems, bladder/bowel problems, spasticity (muscle stiffness and/or twitching) and emotional or mental changes.
- Comorbidities: Chronic lung disease, depression, anxiety, hyperlipidemia and hypertension.
These challenges can be much less difficult to navigate with a supportive medical team. Your family doctor will be able to help you keep track of these symptoms and co-existing conditions. He or she can also help with guidance and referrals to specialists as needed. If you don’t currently have a primary care physician, Your Family Medical has Boyd doctors accepting new patients (locations also in Benbrook, Bedford and Flower Mound) who can help.
Work Alongside Specialists to Provide Complete Care
As we’ve mentioned, MS rarely looks exactly the same in every patient. Each person will most likely experience their own set of symptoms and have their own unique progression. Along the way, there are several specialists who can join a patient and his/her family doctor in treatment. Those specialists commonly include:
- Physical Therapist
- Occupational Therapist
- Urologist
- Neurologist
- Dietitians
- Psychiatrist/Psychologist
Your family doctor will be able to help you identify when to bring these specialists onto the team. He or she will also help you advocate for the best care possible, specifically for your own unique needs. They will also be essential in directing you to high-quality educational resources to help you better understand your condition.
Boyd Pain Management
Whether it’s MS, chronic pain, a 5-year-old wellness check or a geriatric balance issue – we have you covered. We offer the perfect blend of professional, high-quality care and the convenience of services that will treat the whole family. Call today to schedule your first appointment in one of our 4 Texas locations.
