News, info and tips for living with multiple sclerosis
I’m always on the lookout for a new style of shoe, one that can handle the unique demands of a person with multiple sclerosis (MS). I need a shoe that will prevent the toes of my left foot from catching on a rug or a curb due to my foot drop and that will allow me to stand comfortably for several minutes without exacerbating my usual leg fatigue. I need…Continue Reading
Using disease modifying therapies (DMTs) to treat older people who have multiple sclerosis, like me, isn’t a simple choice. Many neurologists seem to make their recommendations guided by a 2017 review by University of British Columbia researchers, reporting that disease activity declines as people with MS grow older. It suggested that those of us who are 55 or older – and are having no relapses, new brain lesions, or other…Continue Reading
If a doctor has ever told you “it’s all in your head” this will resonate with you. A neurologist at the Harvard Medical School named Matthew Burke has written an article titled “It’s All in Your Head” for the well-read Journal of the American Medical Association. According to Dr. Burke, the problem of physicians telling patients that unexplainable symptoms are all in their head has become a silent epidemic, “slowly…Continue Reading
It’s one of those questions that all of us with MS get. And it’s one that most of us with MS don’t like to answer. How do you respond when someone asks you “are you doing OK?” #1 You can say “Yes, I’m fine, thanks,” even if you’re dragging and defiantly not OK, and be done with it. #2 You can be honest about how you’re feeling and open up…Continue Reading
You probably talk about multiple sclerosis (MS) symptoms, drugs and therapies when you meet with your neurologist, but I’ll bet that most people don’t talk very much about working. Being able to work, and continuing to hold down a job, is important. I see concerns about this all the time on the online forums where we MS patients hang out. Work should be a part of that medical discussion. In…Continue Reading
(This post first appeared as my column on www.multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com) One of the most troubling symptoms of multiple sclerosis, especially for those of us who are still working, is “brain fog”…not being able to concentrate… not feeling “sharp” when working on a task or solving problems. So it was interesting to read about a new study that reports that patients with MS had better problem-solving ability and response time after training with…Continue Reading
[This first appeared as my column in www.multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com] Browsing through some multiple sclerosis Facebook groups the other day I was reminded of the line from the 1967 movie Cool Hand Luke: “What we have here is a failure to communicate.” These posts jumped out at me: So when my neuro says he wants me to start physical therapy, does that mean I’m going to hear a call from them or…Continue Reading
[This post first appeared as my column in www.multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com] You may not have heard this song, but I bet its lyrics will strike a chord. I cannot feel my body. I cannot feel my face. My legs are pins and needles and my mind is a disgrace. I see in double vision, so there’s more of you to admire. Got a freaky disposition and my soul is on fire. The…Continue Reading
[This item first appeared as my column on www.multiplesclerosisnewstoday.com] Uh oh! My cat, T.J., is under my feet trying to nibble my ankles as I stumble toward the bathroom in the middle of the night. I know what’s about to happen. As I try not to step on T.J.’S tail, it’s already started. I’m going down. It all happens in about three seconds, and how I handle those three seconds…Continue Reading
Photo by Mark Kennedy, Chattanooga Times Free Press
[This post first appeared as my column on www.multiplesclerorisnewstoday.com] I’m 68 years old. I’ve had multiple sclerosis since I was 32. I’m not sure where I expected this disease would take me when I was diagnosed 36 years ago but I hoped that it wouldn’t steal too much of my life from me. I certainly never thought of the possibility that I might live to a really old age with…Continue Reading