Columns

August 2, 2019July 31, 2019

Hell Week: Record Heat Teams Up with a Sneaky Infection

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

Last Thursday was the hottest day ever recorded in U.K. history at 101.6 degrees F. Heat sensitivity is enough to reduce me to the puddle I described last week. But ... Read more

August 2, 2019July 31, 2019

Using the Floodlight App to Track My MS

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

Over the past several weeks, I’ve been using an app called Floodlight to track my ability to live with my multiple sclerosis (MS). It measures things such as my ... Read more

August 1, 2019July 26, 2019

Need to Know: Is My Vertigo Caused by 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

August 1, 2019July 30, 2019

We Are Strong — We Have No Other Choice

Columns, Silver Linings - a Column by Jennifer Powell

I recently saw a greeting card that read, “You never know how strong you are until being strong is your only choice.” No truer words. While I am grateful ... Read more

July 30, 2019July 26, 2019

Getting Back in the Water with My MS

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

After a week of temperatures at 95 degrees or more making it too hot to swim, today was comfortable enough for me to get back into our condo’s pool. ... Read more

July 29, 2019July 29, 2019

MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Chronic Itching, Standing Therapy, Gut Microbes

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

Neuronal Circuit Likely Behind Chronic Itch in MS and Other Diseases Identified I often read posts on multiple sclerosis social media groups complaining about chronic itching. This mouse study ... Read more

July 26, 2019August 22, 2019

Letting Go of Appearances in Life with MS

A Life in Letters -- A Column By Jamie Hughes, Columns

Living with MS can sometimes feel like you’re performing a one-woman (or man) show. Think about it. How many times have you pretended to be OK when you didn’t ... Read more

July 26, 2019July 24, 2019

Beaten by the Heat: Oh, What a Night!

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

It’s 1 p.m. in the U.K., and it’s 90 degrees Fahrenheit. I can hardly move due to the heat. My left hand is typing this. The rest of my body ... Read more

July 26, 2019August 27, 2019

Why Am I Not Bitter About My MS?

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

Living with multiple sclerosis (MS) is a process of loss — of mobility, brain function, and independence. We can lose relationships and jobs. For most of us, these losses ... Read more

July 25, 2019July 19, 2019

Need to Know: How Does Occupational Therapy 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 question ... Read more

July 25, 2019July 25, 2019

Judging a Book by Its Cover

Columns, Silver Linings - a Column by Jennifer Powell

I find airport newsstands alluring. I am drawn toward the litany of books. Shelves of colorful covers beckon to me, bestsellers emblazoned with enticing accolades. I need those books, ... Read more

July 23, 2019July 19, 2019

Urinary Tract Infections Are Getting Harder to Treat

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a problem for a significant number of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). As many as three in 10 may wind up needing treatment for ... Read more

July 22, 2019September 3, 2019

MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Ibudilast Trial for Inactive SPMS, PPMS Brain Cells in Space, MS and Cancer Risk

Columns, SPMS, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

Phase 3 Trial of Ibudilast Planned for SPMS Patients with Inactive Disease, MediciNova Says Though medications are approved in the U.S. to treat primary progressive multiple sclerosis and active ... Read more

July 19, 2019July 17, 2019

I Survived My ‘Home Alone’ Weekend

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

OK, this was my first test. Accomplish this and Day One should be a breeze. The trick is not to panic. You’ve crossed a continent with your thumb — ... Read more

July 19, 2019July 16, 2019

This Is Me, and This Is How I Live with My MS

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

Have you ever read something and thought, “This is me, this is my MS”? It happened to me today as I read a post by Rachel Horne on the ... Read more

July 18, 2019July 15, 2019

Need to Know: Managing Stress When You Have 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

July 17, 2019July 15, 2019

Talking to My Parents About My MS Diagnosis

Columns, MSunderstood Millennial - a Column by Stephanie Towler

There is nothing worse than being diagnosed with a disorder that you know nothing about. While it was extremely difficult for me to take in, my parents also were ... Read more

July 16, 2019July 12, 2019

Some Doctors Can See the Cost of Your MS Meds, but Will They Look?

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

Does your doctor consider what you’ll have to pay when prescribing your medications? A few months ago, I wrote that some people are skipping doses of their meds because ... Read more

July 15, 2019July 15, 2019

MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Gadolinium Study, Breath Test for MS Diagnosis, CBD Treatment Trial, Potential Remyelination Therapy

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

Study Examines Gadolinium Deposits in MS Patients’ Brains, But Still Can’t Determine Relationship with Disease Severity Here’s some new information about gadodiamide, a contrast dye that is injected during ... Read more

July 12, 2019July 10, 2019

Tools May Endure, but They Need Human Hands to Realize Their Potential

A Life in Letters -- A Column By Jamie Hughes, Columns

For the last two weeks or so, I’ve begun my mornings by slapping on some makeup and, with my hair in hot rollers, sitting down to read a page ... Read more

July 12, 2019July 10, 2019

Eight Days a Week

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

It was such a jam-packed week that the flavor was definitely multi-fruit! It included a meet-cute with a barber inspired by Richard Curtis (rom-com writer of “Notting Hill” and ... Read more

July 11, 2019August 2, 2019

Need to Know: Do Noisy Celebrations Affect You More 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 forums. This week’s ... Read more

July 11, 2019September 3, 2019

My Independence Day: Reinventing Ability with SPMS

Columns, Silver Linings - a Column by Jennifer Powell, SPMS

The glow of the fireworks bathes the surrounding trees. A kaleidoscope of blue, yellow, and red illuminates the night sky. It is a day of picnics, parades, and pyrotechnics. ... Read more

July 11, 2019July 9, 2019

My Travel Tips for Those with MS Mobility Problems

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

I love to travel and see new sights, but my multiple sclerosis (MS) mobility problems present particular challenges. Over time I have accumulated my own set of travel tips. ... Read more

July 9, 2019July 3, 2019

CBD Oil: Panacea or Placebo?

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

Last night in bed, my calf muscles started cramping. Again. Usually, it’s just my left leg, but last night it was both. The pain wouldn’t ease with my usual ... Read more

July 8, 2019July 2, 2019

MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Botox for Kids, Kids’ Healthcare Needs, Mavenclad, MS Fatigue Diet

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

FDA Approves Botox to Treat Upper Limb Spasticity in Children Aged 2 to 17 Botox injections have been approved to treat spasticity and bladder problems in adults with multiple ... Read more

July 3, 2019June 28, 2019

Confession: I Was a Toxic Person

Columns, MSunderstood Millennial - a Column by Stephanie Towler

I confess. I was a toxic person. A “toxic” person can possess many different characteristics — some can be more harmful than others. What do you do when you ... Read more

June 28, 2019June 26, 2019

A New Drive for Life: Renovations Let Me Come and Go on My Own

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

It’s taken over a year to conceive, organize, and plan, but yesterday, I was able to leave the house on my own. I even checked that I had my ... Read more

June 28, 2019August 2, 2019

Can Legos Help to Ease Some MS Symptoms?

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

Legos, it seems, are more than just a kids’ toy. People with some neurological conditions, including multiple sclerosis (MS), are using those little, colored building blocks to build better ... Read more

June 27, 2019June 21, 2019

Need to Know: Can a Chiropractor Treat 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

June 27, 2019June 25, 2019

Loving Yourself in Sickness and Health

Columns, Silver Linings - a Column by Jennifer Powell

I am frequently commended for my demeanor. For my strength amid pain and adversity. For my optimism and happy disposition. For making the most of my circumstances. I love ... Read more

June 27, 2019August 2, 2019

Could Shortened Infusion Times for Ocrevus Become a Reality?

Columns, Engaging Thoughts

Users of the disease-modifying therapy Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) share a common complaint: the length of time the infusions take. It may seem petty, but an Ocrevus infusion consumes nearly an ... Read more

June 25, 2019June 21, 2019

What’s Your Doctor Writing About You? Ask to Read the Notes

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

I’ve been living with MS for nearly 39 years and I’ve never seen the notes my neurologist has written during my office visits. My neuro did hand me a ... Read more

June 24, 2019June 24, 2019

MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: Plant Medication Trial, B-cell Depletion Study, MS App Award, DMTs’ Cancer Risk

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

Cyxone Launches Phase 1 Trial Assessing T20K for MS This trial caught my eye because even though it’s a small, early trial, T20K is a medication derived from a ... Read more

June 21, 2019June 19, 2019

Nearly Thwarted by a Step

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

Even in my able-bodied days, I was hardly Channing Tatum — who is? Model, actor, dancer, singer, and he even has the audacity to be funny. There might not ... Read more

June 21, 2019June 19, 2019

Scooters, Walkers, and Canes Should Trump Ego

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

I’ve used an electric scooter for nearly 20 years. At first, I only used it when I knew I’d be walking a lot. Now, it’s every day. I used ... Read more

June 20, 2019June 17, 2019

Need to Know: What Are ACTRIMS and ECTRIMS?

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

June 19, 2019June 17, 2019

Climbing Out of the Dark Hole of Depression

Columns, MSunderstood Millennial - a Column by Stephanie Towler

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic illness accompanied by various symptoms. Depression is one of the most common. Depression is a shape-shifter and affects one’s life in different ways. ... Read more

June 18, 2019June 27, 2019

Some Neuros Make DMT Choice Harder than It Should Be

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

More than 15 disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) are available in most high-income countries to treat multiple sclerosis (MS). DMTs come in the form of injectables, infusions, and pills. Some are ... Read more

June 17, 2019June 17, 2019

MS News that Caught My Eye Last Week: DMT Strategy Study, MS and Genetic Mutations, MS Art Project, AI Helps Neuros Read MRIs

Columns, The MS Wire - A Column by Ed Tobias

DELIVER-MS Trial Recruiting RRMS Patients to Help Improve Treatment Decision-making What’s the best way to attack multiple sclerosis when it’s first diagnosed? Do you hit it hard and fast ... Read more