Introduction

This information is for people who have multiple sclerosis. It tells you about having rehabilitation in hospital. It is based on the best and most up-to-date research.

Does it work?

Probably, for a short time. If you have the progressive type of multiple sclerosis (MS), going into hospital for a few weeks to get your symptoms properly assessed and treated might help you do more for yourself. But it won't change the damage to your nerves. (For details on the different kinds of MS, see Types of multiple sclerosis.)

What is it?

Having rehabilitation in hospital for MS usually means that you'll have a team of specialists treating you. Your team might include:

• Neurologists, who are doctors specialising in conditions affecting the nervous system

• Nurses

• Physiotherapists, who help you move and get about more easily

• Occupational therapists, who help you with tasks that you need to do for work

• Speech therapists, who help you with speech problems

• Continence advisers, who help you with bladder and bowel problems.

These specialists work together to assess your symptoms and advise you on how to improve them. They'll work out a treatment plan that's best for you and the people helping you at home.

You might hear your doctor call this treatment inpatient rehabilitation.

How can it help?

If you have a progressive type of MS and take part in a rehabilitation programme in hospital, you may:^[122]

• Gain more control over your movements

• Be more able to care for yourself

• Have better control over your bladder and bowels

• Find it easier to move about, say, from a chair to your bed and back again.

(If you have progressive MS, your symptoms never completely go away and they get worse over time.)

How does it work?

If you have rehabilitation in hospital, each person on your team specialises in a different area. So, together, they can look at the whole picture and work out the best way to help you. This should work better than trying to treat just one problem at a time, day by day, as problems build up.

Can it be harmful?

If your rehabilitation is done by skilled and well-trained specialists, this treatment should be safe.