Motor Neurone Disease (ALS) affects more than 5,000 people in the UK each year.
Whilst the disease will physically affect people, it can also have an impact on their emotions.
It is important to understand the challenges of a diagnosis of MND and how it can be managed to ensure maximum quality of life.
The physical effects
MND is a rapidly progressing, neurological disease that can have a severe impact on an individual.
The starting symptoms often include weakness of the muscles in the hands, feet, or voice – it can start, however, in different areas of the body and can progress at different rates.
Physical effects can include:
- Muscle aches/cramps
- Stumbling
- Weakness in hands, arms, legs and voice
- Slurred speech
- Wasting of the muscle
- Changes in thought processes
These effects can have a significant impact on the individual’s physical health, requiring specialised care to manage the challenges they face.
As MND progresses at a rapid rate, an individual will require increasing assistance from a carer as their physical condition also changes.
Over time, both the carer and the person living with MND will need increasing levels of support – this will help them both physically and emotionally.
The emotional effects
MND is a condition that can affect your thoughts and mood as your disease progresses.
Although not affecting all MND sufferers, there are two distinct conditions to be aware of.
These are:
- Emotional lability
- Depression
An individual and their family can experience these emotive challenges but it’s important to obtain expert help if needed.
Emotional lability is often a temporary symptom that can reduce over time, but it requires to the right care to help someone overcome it.
The ability to think and reason will be affected depending on the individual, and so the circumstances will differ, but the action of care remains crucial no matter the situation.
Feelings of frustration, anxiety, tiredness or strain/burden can affect both an individual with MND and their carer.
Our carers are trained to manage MND at every stage of its development, working with MNDA Association to ensure each staff member has the best in-depth understanding of the condition.
You will need time to adjust to MND, perhaps finding new ways of doing things as your symptoms progress or by taking on new responsibilities for things the individual used to do.
Support is always available from our health professionals, offering a helping hand when faced with MND.
If you would like to know more about MND, and how to care for it, please contact us today or call 0117 403 7878.