World MS Day

World MS Day brings the global MS community together on 30 May to share stories, raise awareness and campaign with everyone affected by multiple sclerosis (MS).

A lot of our participants are living with MS and choose to manage their condition in differing ways.

Jim Bryant, who has been with Therapy Care for nearly four years, was diagnosed with MS when he was 25 years old. Prior to his diagnosis, Jim was extremely fit and took great care of himself.

The shock of his diagnosis and lack of support and education available at the time, led to many years of ill health for Jim.

Reflecting on the years following his diagnosis, Jim says, “because I didn’t really look after myself, I got quite large. And then once I lost my house and my wife, I sort of gave up.”

Jim was later diagnosed with Neuralgia, which poses a further challenge to stay mobile.

“When that plays up, it sucks all of my ambition and motivation,” says Jim.

Jim was in a dark period for an extended amount of time and lost hope of regaining his quality of life. He was unaware of the support available to him, until he connected with Therapy Care.

Jim joined the Therapy Care community four years ago and currently receives the following support services:

• Exercise sessions with an Exercise Physiologist
• Attends our group rehabilitation program
• Physiotherapy to improve his range of motion and manage his pain
• Has a support worker cook meals and clean for him
• Has a support worker to take him to his appointments
• Goes on social outings on our boat once a month

Jim has increasingly made healthier choices to support his wellbeing and in turn better manage his MS.

Jim’s mobility is continuously improving. He has:

• Increased strength
• Improved bone density
• Decreased body fat
• Increased fitness

Jim is reaping the rewards of incorporating exercise into his lifestyle. He gets out and about more, has made new friends on social outings, is less fatigued and in less pain and in general, reports feeling a lot happier.

“Since joining Therapy Care, my health and mobility have dramatically improved. This has really helped me turn a corner and my outlook on life hasn’t been this good in a very long time,” says Jim.

Allied Health Manager, Nat Delena says, “the psychological impact is just as important as the physical. Jim’s overall quality of life has improved significantly. Regular exercise has enabled Jim to get out of the house multiple times each week and integrate into our community.

“He is a familiar, friendly face who has become an integral member of the Therapy Care community,” says Nat.

We are all so very proud of Jim and his commitment to his health. He is truly inspiring to us all.

If you’re living with MS, today we celebrate you and encourage you to prioritise self-care. We stand with you to advocate for better connections and promise to continue delivering quality support. If you think we can support you in anyway, reach out to us via info@therapycare.com.au.