Secondary Progressive MS: Symptoms, Care and Support

A person with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) experiences many changes in their lifestyle and in the condition itself. In most cases, people experience flare-ups of symptoms and recovery periods, called RRMS (Relapsing-Remitting MS). It can take decades, or longer, to get used to these symptoms. When the interval between flare-ups and recovery shortens or disappears, that indicates a new condition. 

This is called Secondary Progressive MS (SPMS). While the transition may feel overwhelming, unpredictable, or isolating, the condition itself is still manageable. For those who are taking care of a person with this condition, or the person themselves, the right knowledge, treatment, or advice from a nursing home that specialises in MS (multiple sclerosis) and such conditions can help you get through the situation for decades.

What Is Secondary Progressive MS?

Secondary progressive MS generally starts with multiple sclerosis. It affects a person’s brain and spinal cord. Most people get diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS, and then the condition progresses into secondary progressive MS. In secondary progressive MS, the symptoms become rather persistent, and the recovery period is almost gone or shortened significantly. 

The progression to this condition differs entirely from person to person. This condition may grow more slowly, year to year, and take time to form or flare. For others, this can be very quick or instantaneous. Relapsing-remitting MS generally gets diagnosed before a person enters their 40s, while secondary progressive MS (SPMS) gets diagnosed when a person is in their 40s or 50s and is more common in women than men. For RRMS to grow into secondary progressive MS, it generally takes about a decade or two.

Common Symptoms of Secondary Progressive MS

The symptoms of secondary progressive MS differ from person to person, entirely based on a person’s experience and the difficulties they face. It can build slowly and come as a naturally dismissible symptom, such as fatigue or heavy lag, or Communication difficulties.

The following are the commonly found or reported symptoms of SPMS:

• Disorientation: Mobility challenges due to muscle pain or weakness.
• Fatigue: A tiredness that can affect your daily plans or ability to think or concentrate, which cannot be relieved by normal rest
• Stomach and urination problems: MS affects the bladder and bowel as well. It can get difficult to urinate or control urine. It can create sexual difficulties as well.
• Cognitive changes: Affecting your brain’s ability to concentrate, gather thoughts or information, and do multiple tasks at once.
• Emotional state of mind: Anxiety and stress due to the condition itself; a person experiences a low emotional state of mind.
• Changes in body: Stiffness or numbness in muscles, body pain, and nerve pain

Secondary progressive MS is very hard to diagnose because the symptoms can appear slowly and gradually build the condition. A single test can never identify the condition. A neurologist or a specialist looks at the person’s pattern of symptoms and recovery times or disability over the course of the condition. They also check MRI and other reports to rule out any possibility of other conditions. 

Treatment and Symptom Management for SPMS

For any type of multiple sclerosis condition, such as relapsing-remitting MS or secondary progressive MS, or any MS conditions, there is no cure. But day-to-day management of symptoms and the expansion of treatment options in recent years can make a real difference and provide comfort and independence to the person and their lifestyle.

An “active” SPMS patient or person, meaning a person having relapses occasionally or showing inflammation in MRI scans, can get disease-modifying therapies as a treatment option. Siponimod is the first-ever tablet taken daily. It is recommended by NICE on the NHS. If a person’s SPMS is not “active”, the treatment should focus on individual symptoms rather than the underlying process.

• Physiotherapy to maintain strength, flexibility and walking ability for as long as possible
• Occupational therapy to adapt the home and daily routines around changing physical needs
• Medication for specific symptoms such as spasticity, nerve pain, bladder urgency or fatigue
• Speech and language therapy where swallowing or communication is affected
• Psychological support, including counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy, to help process the emotional impact of a progressive diagnosis

A plan prepared by a specialist such as a neurologist, MS nurses, therapists, and carers who understand the course of your condition can help you get the best outcome from the treatments and the daily management. 

Everyday Care and Support at Home

When the condition strikes, your daily life becomes uncontrollable. The carer or the person itself feels like the daily tasks have become difficult or unpredictable. Your routine gets messed up pretty badly. This is where care at home becomes the real practical solution:

• Personal care: Helping with daily activities, such as dressing and grooming.
• Mobility assistance: Helping with walking and transferring from one place to another within a house or outside, which reduces the risk of falls.
• Medication management: Giving medications on time and consistently while monitoring the side effects.
• Companionship: Giving support not just outside but from an emotional standpoint as well while being with them can ease the feeling of loneliness.

The carers or family members taking care of the person with this condition should be honest about the toll it takes on them. This benefits the patient and the carer themselves. This is exactly where professional multiple sclerosis care at home can ease the pressure, giving families breathing room while ensuring specialist support is always close at hand. 

When to Seek Medical Advice

While having secondary progressive MS, if you feel If you experience different symptoms or a variation in your usual symptoms, you should contact your MS nurse, neurologist, or GP instantly.

• New or worsening symptoms appear suddenly.
• Bladder infection and urination problems can worsen the MS.
• Mobility becomes an issue. Disorientation and falls are frequent. It may need urgent assistance.
• Breathing difficulties or food swallowing problems
• The medication is losing its effectiveness, or side effects are being Hard to manage
• The emotional state is becoming lower and lower. Anxiety and stress can become a real issue.

Staying in contact with your MS nurse regularly and reporting even smaller changes can help you manage your condition better and avoid unpredictable or sudden flare-ups that worsen symptoms.   

Specialist MS Care at Home With Secure Healthcare Solutions

Diagnosis of secondary progressive MS (SPMS) can bring your lifestyle into complete chaos. Suddenly, you feel overwhelmed by the symptoms and the unpredictability of the condition. The person might feel like he is unable to do any social activities or regular daily tasks, even his job as well. 

At Secure Health Solutions, we specialise in MS home care and support. We understand how hard and challenging it can be for the person and their family. Our specialists can provide tailored support, from a few hours of visiting care to full-time live-in assistance, helping with everything from mobility and personal care to companionship and medication support. 

We work closely with families across Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Dudley, Walsall, Sandwell and the surrounding West Midlands to build a care plan around the individual, not the condition, so that quality multiple sclerosis care at home is never out of reach. If you or someone you love is navigating an SPMS diagnosis, get in touch with our team to talk through the options and find the right level of support for your circumstances.