Multiple Sclerosis Therapy at Home
In-Home MS Therapy in Oakland and Macomb County, Michigan
Physical, occupational, and speech therapy to help you stay active, independent, and in control of daily life.
ELEVATE provides in-home therapy for adults living with multiple sclerosis in Oakland and Macomb County, Michigan. Licensed physical, occupational, and speech-language therapists work on walking, balance, fatigue, daily tasks, thinking, and swallowing in your own home. Visits are private-pay and one-on-one.
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease of the central nervous system. The immune system mistakenly attacks myelin, the protective coating on nerve fibers, which disrupts messages between the brain and the body.
- Symptoms vary widely and can include fatigue, weakness, numbness, vision problems, balance and walking trouble, and changes in thinking. They often come and go.
- Neurologists treat MS with disease-modifying therapies and symptom treatments. Rehabilitation helps people keep moving, stay independent and manage fatigue as symptoms change.
- Physical therapy works on walking, balance, strength and fatigue pacing. Occupational therapy works on energy conservation, hand function and daily routines. Speech-language pathology addresses thinking, communication and swallowing.
- ELEVATE Therapy Services brings therapy to your home in Oakland and Macomb County, Michigan. Visits are private-pay and one-on-one.
What multiple sclerosis is
The brain and spinal cord send electrical messages along nerve fibers wrapped in myelin, a fatty protective cover. In MS, the immune system, which normally defends against viruses and bacteria, mistakenly attacks the myelin and also damages the nerve fibers and nerve cells themselves. The damaged areas form scar-like patches called plaques or lesions, which are visible on MRI scans. When messages travel slowly or not at all, symptoms follow.
Because the location and size of the damage differ from person to person, so do the symptoms. The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) describes five patterns, or courses, of MS.
| Course | What it means |
|---|---|
| Clinically isolated syndrome | A first episode of symptoms from a single attack, with complete or near-complete recovery. Tests may show damage elsewhere. |
| Relapsing-remitting MS | Recurring attacks with full or partial recovery between them. Most people with MS are first diagnosed with this form. |
| Secondary-progressive MS | Relapsing-remitting MS that gradually evolves so that symptoms steadily worsen over time, with or without attacks. |
| Primary-progressive MS | Symptoms worsen from the beginning without distinct attacks. Less common. |
| Radiologically isolated syndrome | Abnormal MRI results that look like MS, without symptoms. The rarest form. |
Many people with MS have a normal life expectancy, and treatments can reduce relapses and slow progression. A neurologist who specializes in MS guides the medical plan.
Causes and risk factors
Researchers have not found the exact cause of MS. It appears to arise when a genetic vulnerability meets environmental triggers.
MS most often begins between ages 20 and 40 and affects women more often than men. It occurs in people of all races and ethnicities. There is no single test for MS: doctors combine the medical history, a neurological exam, MRI and sometimes other tests.
Symptoms
Common early symptoms
- Vision problems, such as double vision or optic neuritis (inflammation of the optic nerve, with pain on eye movement and vision loss)
- Muscle weakness, often in the arms and legs, and stiffness with painful muscle spasms
- Tingling, numbness or pain in the arms, legs, trunk or face
- Clumsiness, especially trouble staying balanced when walking
- Bladder control problems
- Intermittent or constant dizziness
Other symptoms
- Mental or physical fatigue
- Mood changes, including depression
- Problems with concentration, memory, multitasking or judgment
- Muscle weakness and stiffness severe enough to affect standing and walking
When to get help
- Call your neurologist promptly about new or worsening symptoms, which may be a relapse, an infection or another problem that needs evaluation.
- Report new bladder problems, falls or near-falls, swallowing trouble, or changes in thinking or mood.
- Do not change MS medicines on your own. Your neurologist adjusts them.
- Tell your therapist about relapses and illness so the plan can be adjusted.
How MS affects daily life
| What a person may notice | Why it happens | Who helps |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy, weak or stiff legs; tripping; shorter walking distance | Damaged nerve pathways slow or block signals to the muscles, and weakness, spasticity and fatigue add up. | Physical therapy |
| Unsteadiness, dizziness or poor balance | MS can affect the pathways that coordinate balance, vision and sensation. | Physical therapy |
| Overwhelming tiredness that is out of proportion to activity | Fatigue is very common in MS and can be physical, mental or both. Heat and poor sleep can worsen it. | Occupational therapy, physical therapy |
| Clumsy or weak hands; trouble with buttons, writing or cooking | Weakness, numbness and tremor affect fine control. | Occupational therapy |
| Blurred or double vision | Inflammation of the optic nerve or the nerves that control eye movement disrupts vision. | Your eye doctor and neurologist, with occupational therapy for daily-task strategies |
| Trouble concentrating, remembering or multitasking | Slowed nerve signaling affects attention, memory and processing speed. | Occupational therapy, speech-language pathology |
| Slurred speech or swallowing difficulty | Nerve damage can affect the muscles used for speech and swallowing. | Speech-language pathology |
How care works
There is no cure for MS, but there are treatments that reduce the number and severity of relapses and slow long-term progression. Doctors may use corticosteroids to shorten relapses, and many symptoms, including muscle, mobility, bladder, vision and cognitive symptoms, can be treated or managed. Rehabilitation is a core part of symptom management and goes hand in hand with medical care.
Because MS changes over time, therapy is often delivered in focused episodes, for example after a relapse or when a new problem appears, along with an ongoing home program. A therapist adapts the plan for fatigue, heat sensitivity and relapse.
What physical, occupational and speech therapy each do
Physical therapy: keeping you moving safely
- Strengthening and conditioning planned around fatigue and heat sensitivity
- Walking and balance training, including fall prevention
- Stretching and positioning strategies for stiffness, with your physician guiding any medical treatment of spasticity
- Recommendations for a cane, walker, brace or other device when appropriate
- A written home program that can be adjusted after a relapse
Occupational therapy: conserving energy and staying independent
- Energy conservation and pacing strategies for fatigue
- Hand and arm retraining, and adaptive tools for fine tasks
- Strategies for vision, memory and attention problems that affect daily routines
- Bathroom, kitchen and bedroom setup, and equipment recommendations
- Cooling and scheduling strategies for heat sensitivity
- Support with return to work and household routines
Speech-language pathology: thinking, speaking and swallowing
- Cognitive-communication therapy for attention, memory, planning and word finding
- Speech exercises and strategies to improve clarity and volume
- Swallowing evaluation and therapy, with safe-eating strategies
- Coaching family and coworkers on effective communication
Supporting services
With your neurologist’s agreement, these can complement core therapy.
Massage and stretch therapy may help with comfort and stiffness when your physician clears it. They complement, and do not replace, exercise and medical care.
What an ELEVATE home visit looks like
- Review: your history, symptoms, medicines and your doctors’ recommendations.
- Assessment: strength, balance, walking, daily tasks, fatigue, and thinking, speech and swallowing screening when needed.
- Home setup: entrances, stairs, bathroom, bedroom, kitchen and cooling options.
- Plan: goals that matter to you, a written home program, and training for family and caregivers.
- Communication: progress shared with your neurologist or physician as appropriate.
ELEVATE serves adults in Oakland and Macomb County, Michigan, with licensed physical, occupational and speech-language therapists. See Payments & Insurance for details.
Questions families ask
Can I exercise if I have MS?
Why do my symptoms get worse when it is hot?
How is therapy different after a relapse?
What is the difference between PT, OT and speech therapy for MS?
Can therapy help with fatigue?
Do I need a referral or does insurance cover this?
Does ELEVATE replace my neurologist?
Trusted resources for multiple sclerosis
These organizations are the leading sources of education and support for this condition. We are not affiliated with them.
Related guides
Browse every condition we treat on our Conditions We Treat page.
Sources and medical note
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Multiple Sclerosis (MS).
- National Multiple Sclerosis Society: What Is Multiple Sclerosis?.
This page is educational and is not medical advice. It does not replace your neurologist’s or physician’s care. Always follow your physician’s instructions. For sudden face drooping, arm weakness, trouble speaking, or a fall with serious injury, call 911 immediately.
Contact Elevate Therapy Services
Need to reach us? Use our web form to send a message now, or contact us using one of the methods below.
We will be in contact within one to two business days.
Phone: (248) 266-5721
Fax: (586) 788-1704
