07-05-2025
How People Have Fun With MS
My wife sometimes complains, 'You used to be more fun.' She must have a better memory than I do because I don't remember the fun me she's talking about. What happened to that man? Did multiple sclerosis (MS) take him away?
Maybe it did. It certainly seems like MS and its related disabilities makes having fun a lot harder. I spend hours each day taking care of my body. That's not a miserable way to live, once you get used to it – I love my body – but is it fun? And how important is fun anyway?
I really didn't know, so I looked to see what scientists have said. Unfortunately, they haven't said much. There are almost no studies on the relationship between multiple sclerosis and fun, or between having fun and keeping healthy. Either it's hard to research fun, or there's no money in it.
So I turned to my two top sources: the WebMD MS Facebook community and Google Artificial Intelligence. (I know using AI is lazy, but whatever you search for on Google now, your results start with an 'AI overview,' which usually has a lot of good info.)
Here's what I found. We can still have fun with MS, and it's good for us, but it's not always easy.
I asked the community, 'What do you do for fun? Can we still have fun with MS?
Several people answered 'Yes.' Jeralyn said, 'Take a camera and capture the fun.' Karin said 'You can still have plenty of fun, MS or not.'
Others said they had fun but had to modify things. Timica said, 'Yes. I save my energy and then rest afterward.' And Tania wrote, 'Of course we can, just a little slower. … Change our expectations.'
But others were less positive. Jelena answered, 'Depends. I am very weak.' And Judy wrote, 'Not so much, but after 23 years I'm getting used to being the one left out,' to which Julia replied, 'I truly understand. My family will continue on and all I can do is watch them go.'
Some things the community does to have fun:
Jigsaw puzzles
Video games
Board games – I like those, too.
Creative writing or poetry
Geocaching – Brenda says, 'there are caches for all levels of ability.' I've never done geocaching, but it does seem fun.
Paint or do crafts
An AI overview of a search for 'multiple sclerosis and fun' turned up more ideas, including:
Light physical games, like pool, ping pong, or darts
Solo or group games like word games, crosswords, or video games
Hobbies like crafting, woodworking, sewing, or quilting
Watching TV or videos
MS-friendly exercise, like aquatic exercise, walking, or biking
Gardening
AI also says to adapt activities. 'Find ways to modify your favorite activities to fit your abilities.'
Community member Shannon agrees with the adaptation idea. They do paddle boarding from a seated position. Diana also agreed, writing, 'Travel! Find things you CAN do and modifications for what you can't.'
Fun is good for you
Fun probably isn't the most important health behavior, but some experts say that fun activities can reduce stress, boost serotonin levels, and improve sleep patterns. Physical forms of fun – games, sports, or dancing, have obvious health benefits. For me, doing anything fun takes my mind off my problems and the world's problems. It stops me from over-thinking for a while, and that's always good.
Other people make a big difference in fun. If we're around people having fun, it rubs off on us. Since I started going to a senior center, I have a lot more fun because people really have a good time there. I sing karaoke in Chinese, and even though I don't know what the words mean, I feel good while doing it. (I pick up the melody from the other singers.)
I do the part of their exercise classes I can do. When I can't do a move, I just watch the others do it. I find it much harder to have fun by myself.
Other people can also stop our fun. Judy said her husband 'doesn't get it. He says, 'Just take rests.' Damn near killed me in New Orleans in the heat. He just wants to keep going, and I can't. Ugh, this MS sucks.' Like Judy, many of us have people in our lives who can't seem to understand what we're going through.
For me now, fun is not the most important thing. Treating people right and doing right is more important, but if I can have fun, I am going to try. Why not? If nothing else, having fun makes us fun to be around, so others will want to see us and help us when they can. Fun seems a good antidote to loneliness and despair, bad feelings that often come with MS. So try to have some.
