EMSP explores the path to resilience

On the 18-20th May 2017, EMSP held its annual Spring Conference gathering MS societies representatives, healthcare professionals, therapists, industry partners, etc. together to exchange latest developments and current best practices in use across Europe to improve the quality of care and thus, the quality of life of people affected by MS. The Conference was co-hosted by the Greek MS society (GMSS) and the Hellenic Federation of People with MS.This year’s Conference highlights were on topics and strategies employed by people with MS, their entourage and the healthcare professionals to deal with MS and paving the path to resilience:

• Rehabilitation: Peter Feys, from RIMS, reminded the importance of rehabilitation in the treatment of MS. He demonstrated how rehabilitation impacts on the brain volume. The World Health Organisation launched the “Rehabilitation 2030: A call for Action” in February 2017: “there is a substantial and ever-increasing unmet need for rehabilitation worldwide, which is particularly profound in low- and middle income countries”. The need for a multi-disciplinary approach focused on participation in the community for people affected by MS was reinforced through the various presentations.
• Acknowledgement of the disability is vital in the workplace to ensure that an appropriate support can be provided by the treating healthcare professionals and moreover, by the employer. There is also a need for developing vocational rehabilitation for people who choose to retire.
• MS testimony: Life is not a fight. Florența Cernescu is 29 years old and she has been diagnosed with both multiple sclerosis and Lyme disease. She was speaking at EMSP’s 2017 Spring Conference. Read more.
• Psychological support and its benefits for an improved disease management were discussed during a specific parallel workshop.
• Sexual dysfunction in MS: encouraging people with MS to address their issues and talk about them to deal efficiently with them, Dr. Charalampos Konstantinidis presented the different symptoms that could impact on the quality of life of people affected with MS.

Full Conference storify and presentations can be found here.