News, info and tips for living with multiple sclerosis
If you’re going to buy a car do you limit your shopping to just one car dealer? If you need gas do you drive past three inexpensive service stations because someone told you to fill up at a fourth, where the price is much higher? I don’t think so. But that’s, apparently, what a lot of us do when we need to “buy” healthcare services. I know that I do…Continue Reading
Leaving a restaurant the other evening, I was stepping off an unusually high curb. Right cane down, left cane down, swing the right leg, swing the left leg, and … uh-oh. Down I go. I’d been asking for it. I’d needed to change the electrodes on the Bioness L300 that I use to assist my MS left foot drop and the unit wasn’t working well. My left toe snagged and…Continue Reading
I’ve written before about medical marijuana (MMJ) and its use by those of us with MS. I’ve also written about how MS can affect a gun owner. This column is about MMJ, guns and the federal government. Thirty-one states, plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and Guam have legalized the use of marijuana for medical use. From everything I’ve read, written by people with MS and healthcare professionals, medical marijuana can help alleviate…Continue Reading
Let’s say there’s an MS study reporting that researchers have discovered a substance that seems to prevent nerve cell damage. But they’ve only studied this on mice. Or, there’s another study that claims that something can help reduce MS pain, but the study involves only 19 patients. Or, an MS patient is interviewed because, after using a new drug, she’s able to ditch her wheelchair and walk. Those of us…Continue Reading
A couple weeks ago I wrote about medical bills, suggesting that a policy of trust but verify would be advisable. A few days ago, I read about a type of emergency room fee that’s hard to trust. It appears to be charged by many hospitals, seemingly without consistency, and it can add tens of thousands of dollars to your bill for even a minor ER visit. It’s called a “trauma…Continue Reading
Reading some social media posts not long ago a line from a late 1960s Arlo Guthrie song came to mind: “I don’t want a pickle. Just want to ride on my motor-sickle.” I didn’t think it was possible for someone with MS to ride a “motor-sickle.” It appears I was wrong. A reasonable number of MS folks are doing just that. Shannon Sorensen is one of them. She posted on…Continue Reading
Have you ever had a friend, a spouse or even a doctor tell you that you’re imagining your MS pain, your fatigue or even your sexual problems? “You’re not trying,” they might say. Or, “You just need to exercise.” It happens all the time for many of us, and it’s not unique to people with MS. There’s a doctor in Boston who understands and who, literally, has felt your pain.…Continue Reading
Hurricane season began on June 1 for the area watched over by the National Hurricane Center. For people living along the coast, as I do, it’s time to plan for moving quickly. For people with mobility problems planning is essential since, as you know, moving quickly isn’t something that we do. I wrote about this last November, but it’s time to review some updated tips and suggestions. They’re good for…Continue Reading
MS drugs are expensive. Many people with MS are able to afford their high prices only because their insurance covers most of the cost. Then what remains as a copay has often been covered by the pharmaceutical companies that produce those meds, who have offered patient assistance programs or discount cards to help pay the copay. So, your out-of-pocket costs have been minimal or none. Now, however, that paradigm is…Continue Reading
Two multiple sclerosis medications that are both popular and expensive are on a new “shame list” that U.S. regulators hope will increase price competition. The medications are Ampyra (dalfampridine), made by Acorda, and Tecfidera (dimethyl fumarate), by Biogen. They’re included on a list of more than 50 medications whose manufacturers, according to the Food and Drug Administration, are putting obstacles in front of companies that want to create cheaper, generic versions.…Continue Reading