"Everything is important. Also the little things."
“Self-management, is still not on the level I want to see — especially among younger people.”
When Patrik Puljić, a passionate patient advocate and former president of the MS Society in Zadar, Croatia, was diagnosed with MS in 2011, the first lifeline he reached for wasn’t a new treatment or technology — it was a nurse. "Everything is important. Also the little things." That sentence, shared with him early on by a nurse, became a cornerstone in his journey of self-managing MS. It’s also a message that resonates deeply across the MS community — and one that Patrik passionately echoed during our recent webinar with Professor Gavin Giovannoni.
For Patrik, self-management has never been about grand gestures. It's about resetting routines, tracking symptoms, and staying active. As a football coach, he structures his days to keep moving — sometimes clocking 15,000 steps and covering 10 kilometers — not to beat a record, but to stay engaged with life and connected to his purpose.
His approach is simple yet profound: plan daily activities around energy levels, note down any new symptoms on paper (even when digital tools aren’t available), and make space for the small adjustments that can have a big impact.
From his role in local advocacy to his personal practice, Patrik sees a gap between patients relying solely on medication and those who embrace a holistic view of living with MS. “Self-management,” he reminds us, “is still not on the level I want to see — especially among younger people.” His message is a call to action: empower patients, embrace self-awareness, and don’t underestimate the details.
In a world where healthcare can feel impersonal or overwhelmed, Patrik’s story is a testament to the power of connection, consistency, and care.
🎥 Want to hear Patrik’s full story and dive deeper into MS self-management?
You can now enroll in our Microlearning module, where you’ll find the recording of the full webinar, along with additional insights and practical tools to support people with MS.
Enroll in Our Self-Management Short Course