I Was Diagnosed with MS 25 Years Ago — but Physical Therapy Helped Me This Year

When my neurologist recommended physical therapy to help manage some of my multiple sclerosis symptoms, I resisted the idea — a lot. But when I went, it transformed my strength and balance.

Since my multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis more than 25 years ago, my right leg had always troubled me, perpetually lagging and barely lifting high enough to climb a step or walk over a rug. But through the years it had grown increasingly weaker, causing me to trip and fall as much as once or twice each week.

When I shared my concerns with my neurologist, she suggested physical therapy (PT). But I dismissed it, as I had tried a 1-hour session in the past without experiencing any noticeable results. I had gone home with some elastic bands, a few at-home exercises that I didn’t understand, and zero motivation to ever go back.

“That was over 10 years ago,” Dr. Weaver reminded me. “You really need to try it again, and you need to go more than once.”

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A dose of skepticism

To her credit, she wouldn’t take no for an answer. She had already turned to her laptop, where she was scrolling through a list of PT practices in my hometown.

“Let’s try this one,” she said, pointing to a listing for an office only 6 miles from my house. “And if this one doesn’t work out, we can try another one.”

I was still hesitant. Having retired from full-time work 7 years earlier, I stayed very busy keeping up with my existing appointments — those with Dr. Weaver, as well as my monthly MS treatments and other routine checkups. The last thing I wanted was another slate of regular commitments.

“Look,” she said. “Several of my MS patients have benefited from therapy. They work with a therapist who creates a specialized plan just for them. You can do this.”

The truth was that my weak leg was just one of many symptoms that compromised my safety and well-being. Balance, coordination, and fatigue were also problems for me. Could therapy really help? I was still skeptical. In my mind, because MS didn’t have a cure, what was the point? I’d always assumed I’d just have to learn to live with these weird symptoms.

My pessimism was only magnified when I walked through the door at the PT practice. As I sat in the waiting room, I realized that the other people there were recovering from short-term issues, such as injuries or surgeries. They would get better, but there was no “recovering” from MS. A feeling of dread crept over my body, as I suspected that I was just wasting my time.

A new optimism

My heart lifted within minutes of meeting Amy. Compassionate and knowledgeable, this certified physical therapist explained that she had special training in working with people with MS, and she knew the ins and outs of this very complicated disease.

During our first session together, Amy conducted an assessment of my abilities. And when we met again, she did indeed have a specialized plan just for me. We’d meet for an hour twice per week for at least 3 months. And there would be homework.

But I remained skeptical, and even as I began my first therapy session, I confessed to Amy that I never expected to get back what I had lost through MS. For example, I would never run a mile or even hop on one leg again.

“Maybe not,” she said, “but we can improve the strength of your core and your balance. This will make you less likely to fall and help protect your existing ability. You’re still able to walk without assistance, so let’s do our best to preserve that.”

At these words, I stopped. This was my “aha” moment. I had spent so much time mourning the old me, before I got MS, that I never thought about the value of my current mobility. I suddenly had a new enthusiasm for PT. At all costs, I resolved to take care of what I did have.

Challenging work

Even so, I must be honest: PT wasn’t easy, at least not at first. The weighted leg lifts and balance exercises were challenging, and I couldn’t always complete all the repetitions. And the movements, such as walking sideways or backward, made me anxious about falling.

But Amy wrapped a special belt around my waist that she held on to and steadied me when I wobbled. As I improved, she had me perform “functional” movements based on my daily life, like walking around obstacles and changing direction or speed suddenly. The more I practiced these with her, the better prepared I would be for challenges to my walking in real life.

To strengthen my core — which, in turn, would help improve my balance — Amy had me do special floor exercises, such as a bridge and a dead bug. I also had to rock back and forth on a wobble board and yet remain upright by engaging my abdominal muscles, which would help stabilize me.

To my great relief, my homework was simple and straightforward, extensions of our work together. And with my newfound zest for PT, I relished these exercises — especially when I started to see improvements in my strength and balance after just 2 weeks.

My right leg will always be slow, but Amy helped me improve my balance, as well as my mindfulness when walking, which would help reduce stumbling and falling.

A leg up

PT did not entirely prevent me from falling, however. In fact, 2 months into therapy, I fell off a stepladder at home. Fortunately, I was only a short distance from the floor, so I escaped what could have been a serious injury. When I told Amy about the incident, she turned it into an invaluable teaching moment.

“Angel up, devil down,” she said. “When you use a stepladder, always lead with your strong leg,” she explained. “Go up on your left leg, and down with your right. This way you are less likely to fall.”

At our next session, she brought in a stepladder just so I could practice, and we included this new exercise in my routine, which led to a new mindfulness whenever I used a stepladder at home. And I knew that for the rest of my life, I would remember that simple axiom: “Angel up, devil down.”

In fact, this saying now serves as a metaphor for my PT, representing the value of positivity. Thinking of the “angel” will always lift me up, and dwelling on the negative drags me down.

Tailored physical therapy = results

PT for people with MS has come a long way since my first session a decade ago.

“At our practice, I’ve seen how targeted physical therapy can significantly help MS patients,” said Bryan Wright, DPT, of Wright Physical Therapy.

“One specific strategy we employ is therapeutic exercise, which aims to improve strength, flexibility, and endurance,” he said.

He described one person with MS who struggled with severe muscle weakness and spasticity. With tailored stretching and strengthening exercises, their muscle tone and mobility improved greatly, which enabled them to perform daily tasks with greater ease and less fatigue.

Wright said another person in his practice has even seen significant relief from MS-related pain, thanks to a combination of electrical stimulation and manual therapy (hands-on techniques to manipulate muscles and joints) to relax muscles and improve joint mobility.

The takeaway

Because I enjoyed my therapy sessions so much and saw noticeable improvements, I attended therapy for 4 months.

In addition to improvements in my leg strength and balance, my core became much stronger. I now walk more steadily, and I can regain my footing more quickly with either one of my legs. I’m also more proficient at using my stepladder, bending down to tie my shoes, and picking up something that I’ve dropped.

As a result of these gains, I fall a lot less, which was one of the greatest risks to my existing mobility. In addition, my chronic fatigue has lessened. I have more energy, and I sleep better at night.

And even though my therapy sessions have come to an end, I continue to do my at-home exercises several times each week because I know they still help me. The best news of all is that PT has become a new tool in my arsenal of care. I plan to stay in touch with Amy and, if needed, won’t hesitate to schedule future sessions with her.

According to Wright, that’s the right plan.

“Given that MS is a chronic condition,” he said, “we do advise patients to continue with home exercises tailored to their needs” and to return to therapy if symptoms reemerge or worsen, so they can regain strength and function and live their best possible life.