Though being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) doesn’t automatically mean you have to stop working, it can make you more selective about your job. It’s best to find something with a flexible schedule that leaves some room for your flares and unpredictable symptoms. Fortunately, there are a few jobs that will not only help you to keep earning a living, but can also allow you to thrive.
The Best Jobs When You’re Living With MS
1. Affiliate Marketing
With this option, you can earn money by working with companies to sell their products. It’s not a sales position, so you usually don’t need to be in an office or travel. Many people make money from affiliate marketing by writing product reviews or blog posts about topics that incorporate companies’ products.
2. Freelance Writing
Even in the age of artificial intelligence, some businesses still seek out freelance writers. This is especially true if you have experience in a technical area that’s in demand. Freelance writing gives you the flexibility to write as much or as little as you want. You can also have some job stability by signing contracts that ensure you have work for specific periods.
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3. Social Media Influencer
Being a social media influencer is great for people who have natural charisma and like interacting with others online. As your following grows, you can earn money from your platforms, affiliate marketing, endorsement deals, and providing marketing to others. Since your income is tied to your social media following, you need to have the time and energy to build one. The good news is that it can become less arduous over time when you need to rest.
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4. Counselor
People who are dealing with chronic illnesses and other issues often need someone to talk to. To do this, you should undergo the requisite training depending on who you’d like to work with. Generally, counselors require a master’s degree with some additional specialization courses. However, some places will accept a first degree along with the courses required for certification. As a counselor, you can set your hours and even meet people online when leaving your home isn’t an option.
5. Writer
Whether it’s fiction or non-fiction, a writing career can be profitable for someone with MS. To get off to the right start, it’s a good idea to do some research. You should find out what’s doing well on the market, what readers expect in a book, and how that ties into what you’d like to write. It can take some time to build up interest in your work, so you should get started well before your book is finished and ready for publication. This is something you can start while you’re still employed elsewhere, with the intention of building on it when you have to make changes in your employment.
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Why The Right Job Is Important
Depending on your symptoms, the wrong job can lead to frustration and increase your risk of developing depression. Some of the symptoms of MS include muscle weakness, vision changes, numbness, chronic fatigue, trouble with balance and coordination, clumsiness, muscle stiffness, and muscle spasms. MS can also make it difficult for you to regulate your bladder; the wrong job can lead to embarrassing accidents.
The right job can also help you manage your condition. While MS typically needs to be managed through a combination of medications, physical therapy, and counseling, doctors often recommend avoiding triggers that can lead to MS flares. During these flares, your symptoms usually worsen and can be bad enough to require medical intervention.
MS triggers can vary, but a few common ones include stress, heat, not getting enough sleep, and pushing yourself too hard. If you’re in a work environment that exposes you to irritants that make you sick frequently, then you’re also at risk of your symptoms flaring up. The same can be said for jobs where you’re around a lot of people. Since you can’t control whether or not they’re sick, you may be exposed to viruses often.
Finally, the right job allows flexibility to deal with relapses. When you’re having a relapse, the last thing you need is a strict schedule with the inability to rest. A relapse can mean that your symptoms are worse, and you may even need to visit your doctor for treatment. Without rest and treatment, it may take longer for the symptoms to ease.
How to Make Adjustments for Worsening Symptoms
Regardless of which job you choose, it’s important to acknowledge that your symptoms are likely to worsen. MS is a chronic and progressive disease. For many people, MS can present as a cycle of relapse and remission. During a relapse, your symptoms get worse, and they can persist for a few days or even a few weeks.
Relapses are generally caused by inflamed nerves in the brain and spinal cord. These nerves lose their myelin coating, and a plaque forms around them. The presence of plaque modifies how electrical charges are transmitted along these nerves, and that is the source of your MS symptoms during a relapse.
It’s common for a relapse to be followed by a period known as remission, where your symptoms aren’t as bad or are nonexistent. However, your body also goes through a recovery period where it needs to heal from your relapse. Unfortunately, as your disease progresses, the period between remissions and relapses shortens until you no longer have times of remission.
Additionally, those who are diagnosed with MS over the age of 40 are more likely to have the type of MS known as primary-progressive MS. In this form of the condition, you never have periods of remission. Instead, your symptoms continue to worsen over time.
With this in mind, it’s important to talk to your doctor about the stage of your MS and what you might expect over the years. You can use this information to prepare for modifying your current work environment or stepping into a new job that you’ll be able to manage even as your illness progresses.
For example, using ergonomic furniture and devices can keep you comfortable while you work. Assistive devices such as voice recognition software, voice-activated page turners, and dictation software can also help you get work done when you’re not able to carry out tasks that require hand-eye coordination.
If possible, you can ask your employer about working from home. Even if you’re still at the stage of experiencing periods of remission, having the option to be at home can keep you healthier. It can also set the stage for working when your symptoms make it harder to be in the office.
Eventually, many people with MS need to use mobility aids such as a cane or a wheelchair. You can assess your work and home environment to assess their accessibility. Depending on what your employer can do, it may be easier to modify your home to accommodate changes in your mobility.
MS is a serious chronic disease. Although the progression of symptoms can vary, everyone eventually reaches a stage that can significantly affect their ability to work. The best thing to do is find a job that can accommodate your symptoms while also giving you space to excel.
