Columns

May 26, 2020May 22, 2020

We Are What We Tell Ourselves

Columns, DISabled to ENabled – a Column by Jessie Ace

There’s something we need to address, right here, right now. Not all of you will like it or agree with what I’m about to say, and that’s OK. I ... Read more

May 26, 2020May 22, 2020

MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Vascular Disease, Glatopa vs. Copaxone, Exercise Tips, MS App

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

Higher Risk of Vascular Disease Among MS Patients in the UK, Population-based Study Reveals You’d think that people with multiple sclerosis (MS) would be likely to have vascular disease ... Read more

May 22, 2020May 21, 2020

Eugene Peterson and Lessons About Intentional Living

A Life in Letters – a Column by Jamie Hughes, Columns

The last few months have been interesting for obvious reasons. All of our routines have been toppled over like a stack of blocks, things that were once mundane now ... Read more

May 22, 2020May 21, 2020

Short and Sharp

Columns, Covid-19, Fall Down, Get Up Again- a Column by John Connor

This column will be short as I am quite ill. That’s nothing too unusual for those of us with MS. Oh, the joys of a relapse. A while back, ... Read more

May 22, 2020May 21, 2020

Giving My Laptop the Weekend Off

Columns, Covid-19, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

My favorite line in the “Downton Abbey” TV series, uttered by the dowager played by Maggie Smith, is “What’s a weekend?” When you’re retired, if you’re working as a ... Read more

May 21, 2020May 19, 2020

Need to Know: Using CBD Topical Products for MS Pain

Columns, MS in Moderation – a Column by Tamara Sellman

Editor’s note: “Need to Know” is a series inspired by common forum questions and comments from readers. Have a comment or question about MS? Visit our forum. This week’s ... Read more

May 19, 2020May 15, 2020

The Importance of Connecting with Family

Columns, Covid-19, DISabled to ENabled – a Column by Jessie Ace

“You can’t say that!” Screams erupted over our Zoom chat resulting in infectious laughter. Admittedly, it was rude, too rude to mention, especially considering the unexpectedness of who said ... Read more

May 18, 2020May 18, 2020

MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: COVID-19 Data, Epstein-Barr, PoNS Device, Mindfulness

Columns, Covid-19, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

COVID-19 May Not Be Severe in MS Patients, Early Data from Italy Suggest Keep in mind that COVID-19 information is dynamic. New data about this illness appear every day. ... Read more

May 15, 2020May 13, 2020

Waving the Flag of Victory

Columns, Fall Down, Get Up Again- a Column by John Connor

Hi there. It’s me, typing again on my very ownsome! For the last two weeks, I’ve been too ill to manage, so my wife kindly acted as a secretary ... Read more

May 15, 2020May 13, 2020

Need to Know: How Calling Cards Help to Explain Invisible Illness

Columns, MS in Moderation – a Column by Tamara Sellman

Editor’s note: “Need to Know” is a series inspired by common forum questions and comments from readers. Have a comment or question about MS? Visit our forum. This week’s ... Read more

May 14, 2020May 12, 2020

Multiple Sclerosis and Melodies: Healing Through Music

Columns, Silver Linings - a Column by Jennifer Powell

Music is a spiritual experience. I love music in all of its forms. I grew up being serenaded by parents harmonizing everything from the Phi Gam fight song to ... Read more

May 12, 2020May 8, 2020

Do You Speak Candidly with Your Partner About Your Diagnosis?

Columns, DISabled to ENabled – a Column by Jessie Ace

I hate needles. Being told I’d need to do injections was the worst news ever, second only to my diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Sitting in the neurologist’s office with ... Read more

May 11, 2020May 22, 2020

MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Bafiertam, Stem Cell Transplant Damage, Gilenya Study, NurOwn Benefits

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

FDA Approves Bafiertam, Tecfidera Bioequivalent, for Relapsing MS This is the second disease-modifying therapy (DMT) OK’d by the FDA in the past few months. Bafiertam is a delayed-release pill ... Read more

May 8, 2020May 7, 2020

How to Release Fear

A Life in Letters – a Column by Jamie Hughes, Columns

I just turned 42, and though I am wiser and stronger and more independent than I was a few decades ago, not everything is coming up roses. Some days, ... Read more

May 8, 2020May 12, 2020

Putting Down the Ritz

Columns, Covid-19, Fall Down, Get Up Again- a Column by John Connor

My stomach is grumbling. I’ve just had the worst weekend ever. And that includes when I had my first sclerosis and smashed my shoulder to pieces on a tennis ... Read more

May 8, 2020May 7, 2020

A Good News Story About an MS Treatment

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

I love it when a multiple sclerosis treatment works well for someone. It doesn’t matter if that treatment is a medication, a form of physical therapy, or a diet. ... Read more

May 7, 2020May 12, 2020

Need to Know: The Value of an MS Nurse

Columns, Covid-19, MS in Moderation – a Column by Tamara Sellman

May 7, 2020May 5, 2020

Finding Myself in Multiple Sclerosis: Loving the B-side

Columns, Silver Linings - a Column by Jennifer Powell

May 5, 2020May 1, 2020

3 Techniques to Help You Overcome Anxiety and Stress

Columns, DISabled to ENabled – a Column by Jessie Ace

Bookmark this page! Why? Because in this column, I’ll give you three techniques to help manage your anxiety. Anxiety and stress are unhelpful for anyone’s mind or body, particularly ... Read more

May 4, 2020May 4, 2020

MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Diagnosis by Antibody, Ocrevus After 6 Years, Telemedicine, New DMT Pill

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

May 1, 2020May 12, 2020

Keeping It All in the Family

Columns, Covid-19, Fall Down, Get Up Again- a Column by John Connor

I’ve never done this before, but I’m dictating this column to my wife. She has many attributes, among them being trained as a secretary many years ago. We went ... Read more

May 1, 2020May 12, 2020

How Has COVID-19 Affected Your MS Life?

Columns, Covid-19, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

I canceled my April blood draw. The protocol for Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) requires lab work each month because the treatment can have serious side effects. But I spoke with my ... Read more

April 30, 2020April 27, 2020

Need to Know: CAM Options for MS

Columns, MS in Moderation – a Column by Tamara Sellman

Editor’s note: “Need to Know” is a series inspired by common forum questions and comments from readers. Have a comment or question about MS? Visit our forum. This week’s question ... Read more

April 29, 2020April 28, 2020

Staying Active During the Pandemic with a Little Help from Tech

Columns, Covid-19, MSunderstood Millennial - a Column by Stephanie Towler

Staying active can help you to manage multiple sclerosis (MS) by helping to reduce the severity and frequency of many symptoms. For example, fatigue is my worst symptom and ... Read more

April 28, 2020April 28, 2020

What Will Our ‘New Normal’ Be When the Crisis Is Over?

Columns, Covid-19, DISabled to ENabled – a Column by Jessie Ace

What will the future look like after this coronavirus craziness is over? One thing is certain: The world can’t go back to being “normal.” This time in isolation has ... Read more

April 27, 2020April 27, 2020

News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Ocrevus Infusion Time, Monocytes as a Therapy Target, MS and Work

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

Shorter Ocrevus Infusion Time Up for Approval in US and Europe One of the drawbacks to infusion therapies is the time a patient spends in a recliner receiving the ... Read more

April 24, 2020April 28, 2020

Everything I Should Have Written About but Haven’t Gotten Round to

Columns, Covid-19, Fall Down, Get Up Again- a Column by John Connor

So far, this week has been horrible, but I’ll give that a brief mention later. The truth ain’t pretty, nor do I think it always makes good copy. Unless ... Read more

April 24, 2020May 12, 2020

COVID-19, Joey Cocker, and Me

Columns, Covid-19, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

It’s comforting to have this guy, with his floppy ears, stretched out next to me as I sit here writing. I don’t know why, but the fact that Joey, ... Read more

April 23, 2020April 20, 2020

Need to Know: The Stages of Grief Following an MS Diagnosis

Columns, MS in Moderation – a Column by Tamara Sellman

Editor’s note: “Need to Know” is a series inspired by common forum questions and comments from readers. Have a comment or question about MS? Visit our forum. This week’s ... Read more

April 23, 2020April 28, 2020

To Thine Own Self Be Kind: Spreading the Message of Self-care

Columns, Covid-19, Silver Linings - a Column by Jennifer Powell

I give freely of my heart and wear it proudly on my sleeve. Those who know me would say it waves. I care deeply for my family, friends, and ... Read more

April 21, 2020April 28, 2020

MS Patients Face Additional Barriers Due to the Coronavirus

Columns, Covid-19, DISabled to ENabled – a Column by Jessie Ace

Well, this is super weird. Being told to stay home and leave our houses only for food, medication, or exercise is bizarre for those of us in England. It’s ... Read more

April 20, 2020May 12, 2020

MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Fampyra, COVID-19, Vitamin D, Neurodegeneration

Columns, Covid-19, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

Fampyra, Aid for Walking, Favored for Inclusion in NHS Scotland I used Ampyra, as Fampyra is known in the U.S., for about a year. It improved my walking a ... Read more

April 17, 2020April 15, 2020

Ralph and the Cherry on Top of Life

A Life in Letters – a Column by Jamie Hughes, Columns

I have a new personal hero. His name is Ralph Wendorf. We probably don’t have much in common. He’s not even an MS patient! I’ve never met him, and ... Read more

April 17, 2020April 15, 2020

Zen and the Art of UTI Maintenance

Columns, Fall Down, Get Up Again- a Column by John Connor

I knew a urinary tract infection (UTI) had come a visiting again. I’m now attuned to the slightest hint, like that vague burning after weeing. Indeed, it doesn’t have ... Read more

April 17, 2020May 12, 2020

A Snapshot of COVID-19 and Disease-modifying Therapies

Columns, Covid-19, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

Are people with MS more susceptible than the average person to the coronavirus that causes COVID-19? And if COVID-19 attacks them, what’s the likely course of their illness? What ... Read more

April 16, 2020April 14, 2020

Need to Know: How Can Telehealth Help People with MS?

Columns, MS in Moderation – a Column by Tamara Sellman

Editor’s note: “Need to Know” is a series inspired by common forum questions and comments from readers. Have a comment or question about MS? Visit our forum. This week’s ... Read more

April 16, 2020April 28, 2020

Manifesting Change with SPMS

Columns, Covid-19, Silver Linings - a Column by Jennifer Powell

The state of our world lies heavy on my shoulders. I worry about and miss my family. Our geographical distance, although unchanged, seems to have grown exponentially. Is everyone ... Read more

April 14, 2020April 10, 2020

An April Fools’ Joke that Wasn’t Very Funny

Columns, DISabled to ENabled – a Column by Jessie Ace

“I can’t move my head,” I thought. It was 5 a.m. on April 1, and the realization of my full bladder prompted my wakening. But I soon realized I ... Read more

April 13, 2020May 12, 2020

MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: COVID-19 Database, ATA188 Trial Postponed, Teen Smoking, Myelin and Fruit Peels

Columns, Covid-19, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

New Database to Compile COVID-19 Data About People with MS and Related Diseases There are databases in the U.K. and other parts of Europe for tracking people with MS ... Read more