My MS didn’t break me; it helped me in gaining perspective

Edward Radford gives a thumbs-up while running The Great North Run half-marathon in 2024. (Photos courtesy of Edward Radford)

Day 8 of 31

This is Edward Radford’s story:

People often say F**k MS, like it’s a battle cry. I get it. For a long time, I saw it that way too — like I was at war with my own body. But the harder I fought, the worse I felt. Stress and frustration only fueled the fire. So, I made a choice: Instead of battling multiple sclerosis (MS), I embraced it. I don’t waste energy resenting it anymore. Instead, I focus on what I can control — my movement, nutrition, my mindset. My mind, body, and soul thank me for it every day.

My MS story started in an almost mundane way. In October 2018, after a cold-water swim, my legs went numb. The doctor told me not to worry, so I didn’t. Life went on — until it didn’t.

Radford admires a view of the Caucasus mountains.

By February 2019, I was living in China, teaching English, when the vision in my right eye started getting hazy. It faded until I could barely see from that eye. Later, I learned it was optic neuritis, a classic early sign of MS. But at the time, I had no idea.

That kicked off a surreal chapter. I had multiple MRIs in a machine that looked like it had seen better days. Despite all the tests, I was left with no answers and a growing list of symptoms: fatigue, numbness, and now vision loss.

For the next few years, I tried to manage these symptoms without knowing what was wrong. Back in England, I tried to figure out what was happening to my body. I decided I needed a reset. I moved to Greece, a place I’d fallen in love with years earlier, and immersed myself in a slower, more natural way of living — off-grid and outdoors in the sun. My symptoms didn’t vanish, but they became more manageable. For the first time in years, I felt like I had some control.

Eventually, I returned to England, and the symptoms came back with a vengeance, with fatigue and numbness once again part of daily life. In January 2023, I finally got a diagnosis: MS. It was a relief to have a name for what I’d been dealing with, but it also forced me to rethink how I wanted to live.

One of the first things I tackled was my diet. A nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory approach made a massive difference in how I feel.

Since my diagnosis, I’ve made it a point to live fully. I’ve spent time exploring the Costa Rican rainforest, traveled to Australia, and hiked through the mountains of Georgia. I’ve run the Great North Run and other long-distance races, pushing my body in ways I never thought possible before my diagnosis. Oh, and I’m now engaged to the love of my life.

MS didn’t break me; it gave me perspective. Life is unpredictable, but that’s not a reason to hold back. It’s the reason to dive in.

In recognition of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month in March, the MS Community Spotlight campaign features a series of stories highlighting the real-life experiences of people affected by MS, written in their own words. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, X, and Pinterest for more stories like this, using the hashtag #MSSpotlight, or read the full series.