November 9, 2017 Columns by Tamara Sellman The MS Alphabet: MRI, Myelin, mAbs, and Other ‘M’ Words Editor’s note: Tamara Sellman continues her occasional series on the MS alphabet with this first of two columns about terms starting with the letter M. Symptoms of MS Memory problems Memory loss is a common complaint for people with MS. Even for those with no physical or…
November 2, 2017 Columns by Tamara Sellman The MS Alphabet: Lhermitte’s, LDN, Lymphopenia, and other ‘L’ words Editor’s note: Tamara Sellman continues her occasional series on the MS alphabet with the second of two columns about terms starting with the letter “L.” Symptoms of MS Lhermitte’s Sign Otherwise known as “barber chair sign,” Lhermitte’s sign describes an intense shock-like pain racing down the back…
October 26, 2017 Columns by Tamara Sellman MS Alphabet: Lesion, LP, Leukocytes, and Other ‘L’ Words Editor’s note: Tamara Sellman continues her occasional series on the MS alphabet with this first of two columns about terms starting with the letter L. Symptoms of MS Lesion Lesions are a defining feature of MS. They also are referred to as scars or plaques. These areas of damage…
October 12, 2017 Columns by Tamara Sellman MS Alphabet: JC Positive, Kinins, and Other ‘J’ and ‘K’ Words (Editor’s note: Tamara Sellman continues her occasional series on the MS alphabet with this column about terms starting with the letters J and K.) Symptoms of MS Kyphosis More commonly referred to as “hunchback” or “dowager’s hump,” kyphosis is a term that refers to an outward curvature of…
September 28, 2017 Columns by Tamara Sellman MS Alphabet: Interferon, INO, inflammation and Other ‘I’ Terms (Editor’s note: Tamara Sellman continues her occasional series on the MS alphabet with this column about terms starting with the letter I.) Symptoms of MS Incontinence A common symptom of MS, incontinence refers to an inability to control one’s…
September 14, 2017 Columns by Tamara Sellman The MS Alphabet: Hemiparesis, Helper T-cells, HLA and Other ‘H’ Terms (Editor’s note: Tamara Sellman continues her occasional series on the MS alphabet with this column about terms starting with the letter H.) Symptoms of MS Hemiparesis (and hemiplegia) When someone with MS experiences weakness along one entire side of the body, they…
August 3, 2017 Columns by Tamara Sellman The MS Alphabet, Part 2 of the Letter ‘G’: Gilenya, Genetic, Glial Cells, and More (Editor’s note: Tamara Sellman continues her occasional series on the MS alphabet with the second of two columns about terms starting with the letter “G.” Read more “G” terms here.) Mastering an understanding of multiple sclerosis means you need to mind your Ps…
July 27, 2017 Columns by Tamara Sellman The MS Alphabet: Fatigue, FGF, Fasciculations and More F Words Editor’s note: Tamara Sellman continues her occasional series on the MS alphabet with this second of two columns about words starting with the letter F. Read the first “F” column here. When it comes to multiple sclerosis, mastering an understanding of the disease means you…
July 20, 2017 Columns by Tamara Sellman The MS Alphabet: Gait, Gag Reflex, Gadolinium and Other ‘G’ Terms (Editor’s note: Tamara Sellman continues her occasional series on the MS alphabet with this first of two columns about terms starting with the letter “G.”) When it comes to multiple sclerosis, mastering an understanding of the disease means you need to…
July 13, 2017 Columns by Tamara Sellman The Joys and Challenges of Summer I live in the best place in the U.S. during the summer — the Pacific Northwest, with its temperate climate and easy access to nature and culture. Rarely do we experience heatwaves, and humidity levels run lower than in most places. We may joke that “it rains…
June 29, 2017 Columns by Tamara Sellman The MS Alphabet: Foot Drop, Flexion, Fingolimod, and More ‘F’ Terms (Editor’s note: Tamara Sellman continues her occasional series on the MS alphabet with this first of two columns about terms starting with the letter “F.”) When it comes to multiple sclerosis, mastering an understanding of the disease means you need to mind your Ps and…
June 22, 2017 Columns by Tamara Sellman MS Alphabet: EAE, Endothelium, Epstein–Barr, and other ‘E’ Words (Editor’s note: Tamara Sellman continues her occasional series on the MS alphabet with this second of two parts on terms starting with the letter “E.” Read the first part here.) When it comes to multiple sclerosis, mastering an understanding of the disease means you…
June 15, 2017 Columns by Tamara Sellman How to Survive Business Travel When You Have MS I just spent a week in Boston at an industry conference. I realized I’ve mastered the art of preparing for long-distance excursions since my last flare-up four years ago. Business trips used to be so intimidating to me. Now, I’m much better at packing,…
June 8, 2017 Columns by Tamara Sellman The MS Alphabet: EVP, Exacerbations, Estriol and more ‘E’ words (Editor’s note: Tamara Sellman continues her occasional series on the MS alphabet with this first of two parts on terms starting with the letter “E.”) When it comes to multiple sclerosis, mastering an understanding of the disease means you need to mind your Ps and…
June 1, 2017 Columns by Tamara Sellman The MS Alphabet: DMD, Dystonia, Dawson’s Fingers and Other ‘D’ Words (Editor’s note: Tamara Sellman continues her occasional series on the MS alphabet with this second of two parts on terms starting with the letter “D.”) When it comes to multiple sclerosis, mastering an understanding of the disease means you need to mind your Ps and…
May 25, 2017 Columns by Tamara Sellman Electric Stimulation as a Drug-Free Option for Managing MS Pain One of the biggest ongoing threads we have in the forum I help admin revolves around the subject of pain. We all know how pain can be disabling, or if not disabling, still influential over our moods, our ability to sleep, our energy levels,…
May 11, 2017 Columns by Tamara Sellman The MS Alphabet: Dermatomes, Dysfunction and More ‘D’ Words (Editor’s note: Tamara Sellman continues her occasional series on the MS alphabet with this first of two parts on terms starting with the letter “D.”) When it comes to multiple sclerosis, mastering an understanding of the disease means you need to mind your Ps and…
April 27, 2017 Columns by Tamara Sellman Latest Research Bolsters My Confidence in Using Tecfidera Many life-affecting decisions are made at the time of an MS diagnosis. Top of the list? The moment you decide your course of treatment. In my case, the decision was entirely up to me. This isn’t typical, I’ve discovered. Many people with MS aren’t…
April 20, 2017 Columns by Tamara Sellman The MS Alphabet: Cytokines, CSF, Corticosteroids and More ‘C’ Words (Editor’s note: Tamara Sellman continues her occasional series on the MS alphabet with this third of three parts on terms starting with the letter “C.”) When it comes to multiple sclerosis, mastering an understanding of the disease means you need to mind your Ps and Qs, dot your…
April 13, 2017 Columns by Tamara Sellman The MS Alphabet: CIS, Copaxone, Contracture and More ‘C’ Terms (Editor’s note: Tamara Sellman continues her occasional series on the MS alphabet with this second of three parts on terms starting with the letter “C.”) When it comes to multiple sclerosis, mastering an understanding of the disease means you need to mind your Ps and Qs, dot your Is, cross your Ts,…
April 6, 2017 Columns by Tamara Sellman The MS Alphabet: CAT, Clonus, Chemotherapy and More ‘C’ Words (Editor’s note: Tamara Sellman continues her occasional series on the MS alphabet with the first in a three-part series of terms starting with the letter “C.”) When it comes to multiple sclerosis, mastering an understanding of the disease means you need to mind your Ps and Qs, dot your…
March 30, 2017 Columns by Tamara Sellman United Airlines Dress Code is Wrong, Especially for MS Patients It appears my favorite way to fly — wearing leggings or yoga pants — isn’t sanctioned by United Airlines. Fortunately, I’m not one of their employees, and I am not related to one who might be able to share free travel passes with me. How sad. Normally that would be a…
March 27, 2017 Columns by Tamara Sellman Why It’s Important to Observe Your Diagnosis Anniversary On March 27, 2013, my primary care physician called me about MRI results from the day before. He and the radiologist concurred; they had found evidence of brain lesions consistent with multiple sclerosis. Following protocol, he sent me to the best specialist in Seattle to confirm diagnosis. His was a preliminary diagnosis. In the…
March 24, 2017 Columns by Tamara Sellman The MS Alphabet: Blinding, B-cells, Betaseron and Other B Words (Editor’s note: Today, Tamara continues her occasional series on the MS alphabet by giving further attention to the letter B.) When it comes to multiple sclerosis, mastering an understanding of the disease means you need to mind your Ps and Qs, dot your Is, cross your Ts, and recite…
March 15, 2017 Columns by Tamara Sellman MS and the Fear of Missing Out A couple of weeks ago I had a curious encounter with the friend of a friend. I live in a small town. In some ways we’re all at least neighbors. Huddled in a small group at the local grocery store, we were chatting about our experiences with the…
March 8, 2017 Columns by Tamara Sellman The MS Alphabet: Basal Ganglia, BDNF, Babinsky and More ‘B’ Words When it comes to multiple sclerosis, mastering your own understanding of the disease means you need to mind your Ps and Qs, dot your Is, cross your Ts, and recite your ABCs. There is so much to know about this complex disease. But the more you know as…
March 1, 2017 Columns by Tamara Sellman No MS Diet Miracles for Me, Thank You I’ve spent a lot of time lately around people following special diets. They’re either voluntarily cutting carbs, counting calories, following a diet plan, or fasting, but not because they have a medical condition. Mostly they diet to feel better, lose some weight, or reset their metabolism. I wish them well, even as…
February 22, 2017 Columns by Tamara Sellman How to survive an MRI if you are claustrophobic Last updated April 26, 2023 A key test for identifying multiple sclerosis (MS) during diagnosis, or to confirm a relapse, is magnetic resonance imaging (MRI.) For those who’ve never had to undergo an MRI, the thought of having this test might be terrifying. Being encased in a magnetic…
February 15, 2017 Columns by Tamara Sellman The MS Alphabet: Amygdala, ARR, Assistive and More When it comes to multiple sclerosis, mastering your own understanding of the disease means you need to mind your Ps, Qs, dot your Is, cross your Ts, and recite your ABCs. There is so much to know about this complex disease. But the more you know as a…
February 8, 2017 Columns by Tamara Sellman MS Alphabet: Abnormal reflexes, ACTH, Amantadine and Other ‘A’ Words MS Alphabet When it comes to multiple sclerosis, mastering your own understanding of the disease means you need to mind your P’s and Q’s, dot your i’s, cross your t’s, and recite your ABCs. There is so much to know about this complex disease, but the more you know as…