Track Your MS Symptoms - Why It Matters and Tips to Do It Right

Tracking Your MS Symptoms: Why It Matters and Tips to Do It Right

When you're living with multiple sclerosis, closely monitoring your symptoms provides valuable insights for managing the disease. Consistent symptom tracking helps you and your doctors identify patterns, flare-ups, and the impact of treatments.

But with MS producing such a wide array of symptoms that fluctuate, tracking everything can quickly become overwhelming. Staying organized and focused helps make symptom tracking more manageable and meaningful.

This guide covers why tracking matters, which symptoms to track, handy symptom tracking tools, tips for success, and insights gained from diligent tracking.

Why Track MS Symptoms?

Meticulous symptom tracking might seem tedious, but doing so provides many perks for your health. Benefits include:

• Noticing changes or new symptoms arise early
• Identifying triggers causing symptom flare-ups
• Monitoring treatment and medication effectiveness
• Preparing for doctor visits with thorough history
• Providing documentation when applying for disability benefits
• Spotting patterns and multi-symptom correlations
• Improving discussions with your care team
• Gaining sense of control and proactivity over MS

Without tracking, it's very difficult to recall subtle symptom nuances over time. Recording details consistently arms you with the information needed to best manage MS.

Which Symptoms Should I Track?

MS produces diverse symptoms that each warrant attention. Here are common symptoms to track regularly:

• Fatigue levels and duration
• Numbness or tingling areas
• Weakness or clumsiness
• Dizziness or vertigo
• Vision problems
• Walking/balance difficulties
• Bowel/bladder irregularities
• Cognitive changes
• Pain or spasticity
• Depression or mood changes
• Sleep disturbances
• New or worsening symptoms

Also track any symptoms you find especially disruptive to quality of life. Beside symptoms, note triggers, medication effects, questions for your doctor, and anything else relevant to disease management.

MS Symptom Tracking Tools

Dedicated MS symptom trackers or journals help you efficiently log details. Helpful features include:

• Checklists - List common symptoms to easily check off what you experience each day/week.
• Rating scales - Grade symptom severity on a simple 1-10 scale.
• Blank space - Record extra symptom specifics or additional notes.
• Calendars - Organize data chronologically to identify symptom cycles.
• Instructional content - Reference educational MS material.

Paper journals allow tangibility many find helpful. Mobile apps provide convenience and data charts. Choose the format fitting your needs.

Tips for Tracking MS Symptoms Successfully

To get the most out of symptom tracking, make it a habitual part of your self-care routine using these tips:

Track Consistently

Sporadic tracking fails to paint an accurate picture. Make daily entries, even just quick checklists on better days. Consistency builds informative symptom patterns.

Track at the Same Times

Your symptoms fluctuate throughout days. Logging at consistent times - morning, afternoon, evening - provides comparable data to reveal daily cycles.

Note Symptom Triggers

Look for links between your activities, diet, stress levels, and symptom upticks. Pinpointing triggers helps you avoid or minimize them.

Track More on Bad Days

On high symptom days, provide extra details about intensity, affected areas, what preceded it. Deeper insight on bad days reveals significant clues.

Use Rating Scales

Quantifying symptom severity from 1-10 captures nuances vs just checking present/not present. Patterns in ratings emerge over time.

Log Medication Effects

Note when you take medications and supplements then record symptom changes. This allows you to evaluate effectiveness.

Have Tools on Hand

Keep tools like journals or devices where you'll use them to remove barriers to tracking. Apps allow logging on the go.

Modify Tools as Needed

Add notes or utilize only helpful features. Tweak your process to curate what works best for your purposes.

Review Data Regularly

Don't just record and forget. Periodically review for insights and bring notes to doctor visits.

Using Technology to Track

Apps, wearables, and other tech tools can simplify symptom tracking. Benefits include:

• Hands-free voice commands
• Easy to use interface
• Charts and graphs
• Discreet data collection
• Reminders and alerts
• Data sharing with providers

Wearable trackers like smart watches automate symptom tracking via:

• Heart rate
• Sleep patterns
• Steps and movement
• Body temperature

The connectivity of tech tools allows seamless tracking and insights without added effort. Choose tools matching your tech-savviness.

Specialized MS Trackers

Whether you prefer pen and paper or mobile apps, specialized tools designed for MS tracking provide helpful advantages:

My MS Manager App

A popular app offering convenient checklists, reminders, graphs plus educational content. Charts help identify triggers and medication efficacy. Data can be shared with your providers.

MSversity App

Allows you to track symptoms, mood, diet, and mobility while also connecting with other MS patients. Provides reminders and accessible data charts.

MS Journal App by MSIF

Created by the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation, this free app focuses specifically on MS symptoms, treatments, and lifestyle factors. Helps identify patterns.

My Sidekick App

In addition to logging symptoms and mood, this app features guided meditation, panels of MS experts, and community support components.

MS Buddy App

A more comprehensive tracker app covering symptoms, appointments, medications, questions, journal entries, and quality of life metrics.

MStrack App

Allows tracking of customizable symptoms chosen from a large master list. Includes reminders and shareable charts. Created by an MS patient.

Getting the Most from Symptom Tracking

To gain helpful insights from your symptom tracking, be sure to:

Notice Trends

Watch for symptom patterns tied to certain times, activities, or triggers. Make connections to find what aggravates or relieves issues.

Identify Cycles

You may observe symptom cycles related to time of day, month, or season. This helps anticipate and manage flares.

Spot Treatment Effects

Evaluate medications and supplements by increased or decreased symptoms. This assists finding effective options for you.

Reveal Problem Areas

Be alert to new symptoms or frequent aggravations. Proactively discuss these problem areas with your providers.

Prepare for Appointments

Review notes before visits and bring journals to reference. This facilitates productive discussions with doctors.

Detect Early Changes

Subtle increases noticed early can lead to timely treatment adjustments before major flares erupt.

Better Understand Your MS

Comprehensive insights help you know what to expect day-to-day. Feeling more in control eases anxiety.

When to Contact Your Doctor

Routine tracking arms you with key details to share at appointments for optimal care. But also contact doctors promptly if tracking reveals:

• Sudden loss of sensation/movement
• Painful eye swelling or vision loss
• Severe, persistent dizziness/vertigo
• Major worsening of fatigue
• New severe symptoms
• Significant escalation in severity
• Worsening cognition/memory issues

Emergent symptoms may require quick medication adjustments or further testing. Don't delay reaching out to providers when concerned.

Using Tracking Data Beyond Self-Care

In addition to optimizing your own MS care, consistent symptom data can provide assistance when:

Applying for Disability

To qualify for SSDI benefits, detailed documentation of symptom history helps prove how MS affects your ability to work. Journals serve as concrete evidence.

Seeking Accommodations

Workplace or school accommodations due to MS limitations must be backed with measurable data. Meticulous symptom records satisfy this need.

Research Participation

Research studies on MS treatments often seek participants who tracksymptoms diligently. Your data helps contribute to progress.

Medical Decision-Making

Concrete patterns in your logged symptoms may inform important choices like starting a new medication, switching doctors, or undergoing a procedure.

Online Symptom Trackers

If you find mobile apps or paper journals inconvenient, consider free online trackers. Benefits include:

• Access anywhere with an internet connection
• Nothing extra to carry or lose
• Digital data storage
• Options to print, download, or share data

The National MS Society offers a My MS Manager account to track symptoms, mood, medication, diet, and more in one spot. Data can be downloaded or printed.

Other online trackers include:

• Can Do MS Patterns
• MSology
• MS Monitor
• MSChecked

Use online trackers from reputable MS-focused organizations for proper guidance while logging symptoms digitally.

Symptom Tracking Ups Mastery of MS

Contending with MS symptoms day-to-day can feel like a moving target. Consistent tracking provides the missing piece to recognize patterns and determine what helps versus harms.

While adding another task to your roster may feel burdensome initially, most patients find tracking provides a sense of control and empowerment. The insights gained make the effort worthwhile.

So be diligent about logging your symptoms, moods, triggers, and treatments. Review the data for revelations that allow you to better manage MS, inform doctors, and enhance your quality of life.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.