Workshops and talks at MS Life

MS Life is now over but you can still watch the research talks from the event.

MS Life 2012 features a range of workshops and talks on a wealth of different topics related to living with MS.

You can download a timetable or browse workshops by subjects below. Full details on speakers and locations will be available with your welcome pack when you arrive at MS Life. 

Workshops and talks on:

• Carers
• Cognition and thinking
• Exercise and MS
• Get active sessions
• Symptom management
• MS research
• Work and benefits
• Other workshops

Carers 

Carers in employment 

Sunday 15 April 11:30-12:30

Balancing work and caring for a relative or friend can be stressful. This work shop will explore some of those issues.

• Explore the range of support available
• Your rights as an employee
• What your employer can do for you
• Learn from other carers experiences

Carers support services – what do they offer?

Saturday 14 April 12:00-13:00

What does your local Carers Centre have to offer you? This workshop will cover:

• How to find your nearest Carers Centre
• What services they offer
• How they will support you

Young carers and MS

Saturday 14 April 15:30-16:30

Many young people support and care for a relative with MS. Young carers projects offer support and information focussed on their needs. This workshop will explore with you:

• Who are young carers?
• What can a young carer’s project offer you?
• The chance to meet and hear from other young carers

Supporting carers in the community

Sunday 15 April 12:45-13:45

What are the benefits of a partnership between your MS branch and your local Carers Centre? This workshop will showcase the benefits of a successful partnership between York Branch and York Carers Forum.

Come along to this workshop to find out:

• Who does it benefit?
• What is involved in setting up and maintaining a partnership?
• What difference has the partnership made?

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Cognition and thinking 

MS is a head game – positive psychology and MS

Saturday 14 April 12:15-13:15
Sunday 15 April 12:00-13:00

This interactive workshop will explore:

• What is positive psychology?
• How is this approach different?
• What are the benefits to me?

Cognition and CBT

Saturday 14 April 15:15-16:15

Many people talk about cognition and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). In this workshop we’ll discuss:

• What is cognition?
• What difficulties with cognition might be experienced by people with MS?
• What can I do?
• What is CBT and when it should be used?

Transitions – managing change

Sunday 15 April 10:30-11:30

Everyone encounters times of change/ transition, but sometimes we don’t recognise them or deal well with them. This interactive workshop will cover:

• What do we mean by ‘transitions’?
• What are common times of transitions?
• Management strategies 

When the going gets tough

Saturday 14 April 13:45-14:45

There are times in all our lives when the going gets tough. This workshop will discuss and explore:

• Recognising how this can affect you
• Choices – weighing up the evidence
• Tips on what you can do
• Where to go for advice, support and information

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Exercise and MS 

Becoming active with MS

Saturday 14 April 12:30-13:30
Sunday 15 April 12:30-13:30

We all know we need to keep active with MS, but how easy is it? In this workshop people with MS will describe:

• How they have become active since and despite MS
• What support they are using to remain active

Cycling with MS

Saturday 14 April 15:45-16:45

We all know how difficult it is to stay active with MS. In this work shop we will be able to show you how you can still take part in cycling as an activity:

• talk to people who have taken up adapted cycling 
• talk to people who can help you access new ways of cycling

Exercise in MS (EXIMS)

Sunday 15 April 13:30-14:30

Come and find out about the research into exercise for people with MS. Learn about:

• The exercise programme
• The types of goals people with MS set themselves and whether they achieved them
• The benefits people found from the exercise programme
• Have a go at the exercise themselves

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Get active

Yoga

Saturday 14 April 10:15-11:00
Sunday 15 April 10:15-11:00

Seated exercise with the Sally Gunnell DVD

Saturday 14 April 11:30-12:00
Sunday 15 April 11:30-12:00

Laughter yoga

Saturday 14 April 12:30-13:15
Sunday 15 April 12:30-13:15

Canine Partners

Saturday 14 April 13:45-14:30
Sunday 15 April 14:45-15:30

Yoga and relaxation

Saturday 14 April 14:45-15:15
Sunday 15 April 13:45-14:30

Tai Chi

Saturday 14 April 15:45-16:30

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Symptom management 

Fatigue and how to manage it

Saturday 14 April 10:30-11:30
Sunday 15 April 10:45-11:45

This interactive workshop will cover all aspects of MS fatigue and it’s management, including:

• What causes fatigue in MS?
• Does everyone experience it in the same way?
• What can I do about it?
• What is “out there” to help me manage it?

Continence – practical support

Saturday 14 April 12:00-13:00

Continence is an issue that isn’t always discussed openly. In this workshop, we’ll discuss:

• What is meant by continence (and incontinence)?
• What difficulties might people with MS experience with continence - and why?
• How can I manage it / what to do, where to go?

Pain in MS

Saturday 14 April 14:00-15:00

Pain is one of the hidden symptoms experienced by many people with MS. In this workshop we’ll discuss:

• What pain is, and what it means to you and me
• Types of pain
• Why pain occurs in MS?
• Management options

NMO – neuromyelitis optica

Sunday 15 April 10:30-11:30

This workshop will cover:

• Overview of NMO
• The particular symptoms caused by relapses for optic neuritis and transverse myelitis 
• Practical aspects of living with NMO 
• General question and answer discussion

Looking after yourself

Sunday 15 April 13:45-14:45

Looking after yourself is more than just preventing visits to the GP. In this workshop we’ll discuss:

• What do we mean by ‘self management’ and ‘self care’?
• Why should we self manage? 
• How to self manage/ where to go for support

Relapses – traditional and alternative ways of managing them

Saturday 14 April 12:15-13:15

85 per cent of people diagnosed with MS will experience relapse(s). In this workshop, we’ll discuss:

• What is a relapse – and what isn’t
• Can relapses be prevented?
• How to manage a relapse, including planning ahead, NICE guidance and where to go for support

Foot drop – managing it to stay mobile

Saturday 14 April 11:00-12:00
Sunday 15 April 13:00-14:00

In this workshop we will discuss

• The types of mobility problems
• Treatment options including FES
• Other possible aids to mobility
• How to campaign for access to FES if your Physio thinks you would benefit

Tremor in MS

Saturday 14 April 15:30-16:30

Some people with MS experience tremor which is recognised as a difficult symptom to treat in this workshop we will discuss

• Overview of types of tremor
• Options to help manage the tremor
• Use of lycra splinting as a possible management option

The occupational therapist – helping you manage your MS

Saturday 14 April 11:00-12:00
Sunday 15 April 12:15-13:15

What does an occupational therapist (OT) do? Come to this workshop and find the answer, plus many others including:

• How to find an OT
• How can the OT help with symptom management?
• What the service covers
• Who pays?

Rehabilitation and symptom management 

Saturday 14 April 11:30-12:15 

Researchers will discuss different strategies for managing symptoms of MS including fatigue and mobility

Saebo UK: Mobile Arm Support

Saturday 14 April 15:15-16:15 

Saebo UK is a leading provider of innovative rehabilitation products for neurologically impaired individuals.

Attend this seminar to learn about the new SaeboMAS dynamic mobile arm support, a gravity-eliminated upper extremity device specifically designed to facilitate and challenge the weakened shoulder and elbow during functional tasks and exercise.

Helping yourself – a guide to continence: “When you gotta go, you gotta go"

Saturday 14 April 14:00-15:00

Kaz Laljee was diagnosed five years ago with primary progressive MS, and from the start set out to know more about the condition and the impact on his life. As a result Kaz has developed a positive outlook to his situation and is now working to help others with the condition understand and overcome the challenges that they face.

In this seminar Kaz Laljee will be discussing his experiences of living with MS and in particular the challenges of managing continence, looking at the variety of strategies and introducing some alternative ways of managing this particular symptom of MS.

Get the right treatment at the right time

Sunday 15 April 15:00-16:00

There are increasing numbers of disease modifying treatments and other symptom treatments for MS. If you have questions or want to know more about how to access the right treatment at the right time come and get some pointers from us and hear about the MS Society's new Access to Medicines Guide.

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Research talks and workshops

MS Society research

Sunday 15 April 11:00-12:00 

Until we find a cure for MS, we will continue to fund world-class research to make sure people with MS have the treatments, services and support they need. Meet the heads of research at the MS Society and find out:

• The MS Society funds £4–5 million vital MS research every year – learn what this money is spent on
• Learn how we involve people with MS and world-class scientists to help us fund the best and most relevant research

The research process explained: why does it take so long?

Saturday 14 April 14:00-15:00 

Research is a long and sometimes frustrating process.  This workshop explores:

• Why it can take years or even decades to develop an idea and turn it into a treatment
• The steps involved to move from laboratory studies, to clinical trials, to approval and licensing of a drug
• The good reasons why we rely on clinical research

Science in the media (how to decipher what’s really happening behind the headlines) 

Sunday 15 April 14:15-15:15

It hard to know what to believe when we are bombarded by so many science and medicine stories in the news.

• How do we know if claims are reliable?
• What should be taken seriously?
• Which are ‘scares’?
• Sometimes scientists are reported as saying conflicting things. How do we know what to believe?

Rehabilitation and symptom management 

Saturday 14 April 11:30-12:15 

Researchers will discuss different strategies for managing symptoms of MS including fatigue and mobility

Myelin repair

Saturday 14 April 12:30-13:15

Researchers will talk about the latest MS Society funded work towards developing treatments that repair myelin in people with MS

Immunology

Saturday 14 April 13:45-14:30  

Researchers will explain how different cells of the immune system work and what happens when they attack myelin in MS

Disease modifying treatments

Saturday 14 April 14:45-15:30  

Researchers will talk about the latest disease modifying treatments coming through the pipeline. There will be a particular focus on disease modifying drugs (DMDs) and clinical trials for people with progressive forms of MS as well as a focus on what the MS Society is doing regarding treatments for progressive MS

The MS Register

Sunday 15 April 11:00-11:45

The MS Register Project, funded by the MS Society, is developing and piloting an innovative way to create a powerful new information resource, to help make sense of MS.

Stem cells

Sunday 15 April 12:00-12:45 

Researchers will discuss the potential of stem cells to treat MS. They will look specifically at clinical trials that are complete, ongoing and planned.

Adjusting to MS

Sunday 15 April 13:30-14:15  

Researchers will talk about the latest MS Society funded research into CBT and how it can be used to help people manage fatigue, depression and adjustment to MS.

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Work and benefits workshops

Personal budgets and Self Directed Support

Saturday 14 April  12:30-13:30

Gavin and Karen have many years’ experience with personal budgets. In this workshop, they’ll discuss:

• the pros and cons of personal budgets
• how to apply for and set one up
• how the money can be used

What are you entitled to? Benefits and more

Saturday 14 April 15:45-16:45

It’s often difficult to find information about what’s out there for you. This workshop looks at:

• Entitlement isn’t just about benefits
• Where to go for information – and how to decipher it
• How to find out what you are eligible for 

Managing my health at work

Sunday 15 April 11:15-12:15

Work isn’t just about rights, although it is important to know them. Of equal importance, if not greater, is managing your health at work, work relationships and how you manage the discloser.

The workshop will explore these topics with open discussion.

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Other workshops

Childhood MS

Sunday 14 April 12:00-13:00

This workshop is aimed at families where there is a child with MS. In this workshop, we’ll discuss:

• Is childhood-onset MS on the increase?
• Differences between adult and childhood onset MS
• Issues around play, school, transitions and work
• Your questions discussed 

Planning for the future – it’s for everyone

Saturday 14 April 15:15-16:15

Planning for the future is something everyone should do but that many people put off. We’ll discuss:

• This is for everyone, irrespective of whether you have MS
• What should I think about and who needs to know?
• Care planning, mental capacity act (MCA) and other topics relevant to the participants

Sex – to have and to hold?

Saturday 14 April 10:45-11:45

Sex is an issue that many of us don’t talk about. In this interactive workshop, we’ll discuss:

• Does everyone with MS experience sexual difficulties?
• What sexual difficulties might people with MS experience – and why?
• What can I do to manage any difficulty?

Assistive technology

Saturday 14 April 14:15-15:15

What is ‘assistive technology’? Come to this workshop to find out the answer, plus:

• How do I find out what might benefit me?
• How do I access it?
• Who pays?

PPMS – primary progressive MS

Saturday 14 April 13:45-14:45

The diagnosis of primary progressive MS (PPMS) is made in 10 to 15 per cent of people (diagnosed with MS). This interactive workshop will cover:

• How is PPMS different? 
• What are the research and treatment options?
• Managing PPMS

Vocational rehab

Saturday 14 April 14:15-15:15

What is vocational rehabilitation? This workshop will explore this plus:

• Is everyone entitled to it?
• Who provides it (and where)?
• How and when should I access it?

Taking a break – making it happen

Sunday 15 April 14:30-15:30

Taking regular breaks is vital to everyone’s well-being. Explore how can you start to think differently about breaks and holidays and turn your “no’s” into “yes’s”!

• Share experiences and get ideas and inspiration
• Think about how you can make it happen
• Find out where to get information and support

National Support Groups workshop

Sunday 15 April 14:00-15:15 

MS Society National Support Groups exist to provide support to particular communities of interest. There are three National Support Groups: Asian MS, Mutual Support (for people affected by MS who serve or who have served in the armed forces) and GLAMS (for lesbians, gay men, bisexual and trans (LGBT) people affected by MS). 

To find out more about them, come along to our workshop and hear from and meet the volunteers from each of these groups. We will be exploring the following:

• Why each of the three groups are needed
• How they fit within the MS Society structure

What services they provide

Taking action locally

Saturday 14 April 10:30-11:30

Have you ever wanted to improve a service in your community, make your MP aware of what living with MS is really like, or even write a letter to your local paper, but not been sure where to start?

During this workshop you’ll hear from people who have taken action in their community and find out what makes a killer campaign!

MS: a world view

Saturday 14 April 10:30-11:45

MS is a global disease. This is a unique opportunity to:

• Meet people living with MS from around the world and hear their stories
• Share experiences, be inspired and make new friends
• Find out how access to support, services and treatment impacts around the world
• Discover how the Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF) and its Members are working towards a world without MS

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