Holiday Gift Guide for People With MS

Warm, fuzzy socks might seem boring, but Meg Lewellyn, of Seattle, says they're absolutely not.

"Before being diagnosed with MS, I used to hate getting socks as a gift. It seemed so impersonal and unoriginal," she says. "Now, they are my favorite thing to receive. Since my feet always feel as if they are cold — even in the middle of the summer and a heat wave — I wear socks around the house constantly. I love that my family and friends know this about me and are always on the lookout for the best and warmest socks around!"

Even if your friend or relative’s feet aren’t always cold, perhaps they’d appreciate some nonconstricting socks, if regular ones bother them, or a new pair of compression socks, if they already wear them for swelling in the feet or legs. Before you buy a gift of compression socks, though, check to make sure you’re getting the right size and the right degree of compression.

Before she developed foot drop, Mona Sen could wear slip-ons, moccasins, or any other style of slippers that suited her fancy.

But now, she says, “It needs to be above the ankle, because I cannot lift the front of my foot. So unless the top of the slipper is up around the ankle, it will not stay on.”

In foot drop (also known as “drop foot”) that’s caused by MS, the nerve that conducts messages to the muscles that flex the ankle become damaged, so when a person lifts their leg to take a step forward, the toes remain pointing downward, making it difficult to walk — or keep loosely fitting shoes on. Spasticity or tightness in the calf muscle can contribute to the problem.

If you’re buying slippers for a friend, you need to know your friend’s shoe size to make sure the slippers fit right. If you don’t know their shoe size, this may be an instance where a gift card for a favorite slipper retailer would be a better bet.

A gift certificate for a meal kit delivery service allows the recipient to try something new without taking on the cognitive burden of finding the recipe, making the grocery list, and shopping for the ingredients, says Mona Bostick, RDN, a multiple sclerosis certified specialist (MSCS) who lives with relapsing multiple sclerosis herself.

Meal kits include step-by-step, easy-to-follow instructions and can feel like a treat while eating in.

The services listed here vary widely in prices and food offerings. All of them provide nutrition information for their meals, although some make it easier to find on their website than others:

• Blue Apron
• Dinnerly
• HelloFresh
• Home Chef
• Purple Carrot
• Sunbasket

The most functional gift Nicole Lemelle, of New Orleans, ever received was a cooling vest.

"For people with multiple sclerosis, warm temperatures can worsen MS symptoms. Cooling vests can help maintain your core body temperature," she says.

The most common types of cooling vests use frozen gel packs or ice packs for their cooling effects. But if your loved one with MS lives in a dry climate, you might also consider an evaporative cooling vest, which just needs to be briefly soaked in cool water. And for those people who are sensitive to cold — but still need to stay cool — a phase-change vest, which doesn’t get as cold, may be a good option.

Lemelle says she also appreciates cooling neck wraps. "They are a cheaper alternative to cooling vests and are adequate at preventing body temperature fluctuations," she notes.

Lewellyn received a weighted blanket shortly after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

"I had no idea at the time how much it would help me and the issues I have with my legs when I am trying to sleep," she says. Lewellyn experiences extreme numbness, spasticity, muscle spasms, and pain in her legs. "The weight of the blanket puts a gentle pressure on my legs, which helps a lot," she adds.

Weighted blankets also help some people with anxiety or insomnia to relax and sleep better.

Weighted blankets come in a variety of weights and sizes, ranging from about 4 pounds for a small blanket to anywhere from 10 to 25 pounds for a blanket large enough to cover an adult. Most manufacturers recommend selecting a blanket’s weight based on your body weight and give guidelines for choosing the right product.

An appliance like a slow cooker or Instant Pot — which is a combined slow cooker and pressure cooker — makes a great gift because it makes meal prep easier and requires less energy than stovetop cooking methods, says Bostick.

To help your recipient get started using the appliance, a great bonus gift would be a cookbook of recipes designed for the device.

Another option for the cook with MS is one or more adaptive kitchen tools to make everyday cooking tasks easier. These could include Kevlar (cut-resistant) gloves, a rocker knife, or an adaptive cutting board. Some adaptive tools can be purchased from mainstream kitchen supply companies while others must be ordered from shops that specialize in adaptive tools.

Think about the everyday tasks you do that may be more difficult to perform with limited mobility. Then consider appliances and gadgets that might make those tasks easier, such as a robotic vacuum cleaner, robotic lawn mower, electric can opener, or slow cooker.

For bathroom cleaning, Nicka suggests a power scrubber to assist with cleaning the tub. But while this can simplify cleaning, he notes, "This tool is heavy, so it could provide some challenges with hand fatigue."

In the kitchen, a cut-resistant or Kevlar glove can help prevent injuries caused by limited sensation. "This could provide increased safety and ability to chop, slice, and cook food items," says Nicka.

Also, a rocker knife, or mezzaluna, can make chopping herbs easier and safer.

Smart, voice-activated systems with Wi-Fi capabilities, such as Amazon's Alexa, can help people who struggle with fine motor function. They can talk to the device to tell it to turn on lights, access media, and even order products, notes Nicka.

Wellness centers typically offer such services as massage therapy, acupuncture, and nutrition counseling. Because each person with MS has different symptoms and different approaches to relieving those symptoms, Lewellyn says a visit to a wellness center is the perfect way to discover what works and what doesn't.

"Some approaches feel good and help, and others don't feel good and don't help," she says. "Give them the chance to visit and discuss the different options and techniques to decide what would be best for their body and MS."

Keep in mind, though, that while some complementary therapies may relieve MS symptoms or provide needed relaxation, most have not been studied extensively for safety or effectiveness, so caution is warranted. Steer clear of any spas or wellness centers that make exaggerated claims for unproven therapies or that appear to be making a “hard sell” for any given product or approach.

For those with mobility issues, finding social activities that accommodate limitations can be difficult.

"One gift that neutralizes that concern is a restaurant dining gift certificate. It allows me to socialize, and it’s an experience I can take part in without many obstacles," says Lemelle. "I also appreciate when the person purchasing the certificate checks to see if the restaurant is accessible before giving me the gift."

When checking a restaurant for accessibility, remember to check:

• How easily your loved one can drive or take public transportation to the restaurant
• Whether or not there are steps at the front entrance to the restaurant
• If there’s space between the tables to maneuver a wheelchair or walker
• Where the restroom is located, if there are steps to enter it, and whether there’s a handicapped stall

A gift certificate for a cleaning service may not sound sexy, says Bostick, but imagine how your recipient with MS could use all of the energy and time that a gift like this would save!

While someone is cleaning their kitchen — or whole house! — they can use this time for joy-filled hobbies, spending time with friends, or other, more fun activities.

Lemelle says her favorite gift was a movie gift card. "My family purchased me movie passes for two people that allowed me to see eight movies. It was so great. Movie theaters are always accessible and comfortable. The best part was I was able to spend time with different friends, participating in an activity that wasn’t hindered by MS," she says.

While she hasn't received this yet, Lemelle says exotic car driving is on her wish list.

"Drivers get to choose from a variety of exotic cars — such as Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and Aston Martins — to test drive around a track or through the back roads of their city. If the person has trouble driving or can’t drive, like me, there are passenger-side experiences available. In that case, a professional driver will drive the car. They also provide an in-car recording of the ride," she says.

Other ideas for those seeking thrills may include arranging for a hot-air balloon ride, boat ride, or day at an amusement park. Just be sure to check on the accessibility of these adventures if your loved one uses a mobility device or has other special needs.