Multiple Sclerosis and Bowel Challenges: Understanding the Link.

What is Multiple Sclerosis?

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a condition that affects the brain and spinal cord. It is not currently curable but there are treatments to manage symptoms and slow the progression.

Why does MS cause Bowel Challenges?

Up to 7 in 10 people with MS will experience some kind of bowel challenge at some stage. This can be down to nerve damage, leading to messages between the brain and bowel to be disrupted, leading to you being unable to interpret sensations in the rectal area. Multiple Sclerosis can also affect your muscle control, you may not be able to squeeze your sphincter muscles together tightly enough or be able to relax them.

MS can affect your mobility and cause fatigue which can also impact on your bowel function.

How is the Bowel affected?

MS can cause constipation, bowel incontinence (leakage) or a combination of both.

How to manage bowel challenges with Multiple Sclerosis

It is important that you inform your Doctor of any bowel symptoms that you are experiencing.  Conservative treatments such as diet, fluid intake, prescribed medication for the bowel including laxatives, and pelvic floor muscle exercises can be helpful.

Anal inserts/plugs may be helpful for managing minor stool leakage or staining.

Transanal irrigation is a treatment option for constipation & bowel incontinence.  This will be under the guidance of a Health Care Professional.

Further Support

As mentioned, up to 70% of people with Multiple Sclerosis experience some form of bowel dysfunction so, if you are affected, you are not alone. There are charities out there that can help such as:

• MS Trust
• The MS Society
• Bladder and Bowel UK

If you use bowel appliances such as Transanal Irrigation or anal inserts as part of your management plan then we also have the Nightingale+ Support Programme through Nightingale Home Delivery Service which is  a unique service for people living with certain conditions, including MS, which may cause bladder and bowel challenges.