The needs of multiple sclerosis patients and the availability of rehabilitation in Poland

Abstract

The nature of multiple sclerosis makes the rehabilitation of patients suffering from the disease one of the most challenging tasks neurologic rehabilitation is faced with. The numerous multiple sclerosis symptoms considerably impair the quality of life of the approx. 40,000 Polish multiple sclerosis patients. Even though rehabilitation does not significantly affect the relapse frequency, or prevent the progression of the disease, still, when adequately carried out, making use of contemporarily available options, it manages to improve not only the objective indicators, but also the patients' subjective sense of well-being and self-esteem, resulting with patients' more positive self-image. The needs of Polish patients are huge, yet the availability of rehabilitation options remains scarce. Therefore, it is crucial to optimize the quality of rehabilitation regime the patients follow independently on at-home basis. Hence, the patient's knowledge concerning the impact of rehabilitation on their disease and the available forms of therapy, as well as their awareness of the potential outcome of neglecting this aspect of treatment, become of utmost importance. Multiple sclerosis, regardless of its form, leads to impaired function/disability and affects very adversely the quality of patients' life, limiting one's independence, putting them at risk of losing employment, and making daily life activities increasingly more difficult. The role of therapeutic rehabilitation teams, ones including neurology and rehabilitation specialist as well as physiotherapists, is therefore crucial, and these should be found at every single outpatient centre specialising in multiple sclerosis-related diagnostics and treatment. The effects that the disease's progression has on patients' lives could be curbed with such teams available to patients to establish the extent of the sustained loss of function, and determine the therapy objectives and a detailed therapy plan.