COVID-19

World MS Day, May 30, Goes On … But Online

Despite the COVID-19Ā pandemic, there are many ways to participate inĀ World MS Day 2020Ā on May 30, set aside to raise awareness about the neurodegenerative disorder that affects more than 2.3 million people globally. Organized by the MS International Federation (MSIF), the event brings together the global…

Putting Down the Ritz

My stomach is grumbling. Iā€™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 court. I mentioned last week that I didnā€™t want to write about C. diff., but this appalling infectious bacteria…

Keeping It All in the Family

Iā€™ve never done this before, but Iā€™m dictating this column to my wife. She has many attributes, among them being trained as a secretary many years ago. We went to the same further-education college when we were both in our late teens, but never met while there. I think she…

How Has COVID-19 Affected Your MS Life?

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 neurologist and we decided that I could skip it. Blame it on COVID-19. My legs are stiffer than they were two…

MS Society of Canada Launches Virtual Fundraising Campaign

The Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada is launching a virtual effort that seeks to connect multiple sclerosis (MS) communities across the country and raise funds for research in observance of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month in Canada. As part of the initiative, called #WeChallengeMS, Canadian…

CMSC 2020 Meeting Will Be Free and Online May 26-29

To ensure the safety of its participants during the coronavirus pandemic, this year’s Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) Annual MeetingĀ will be a free virtual conference on May 26ā€“29. This meeting is considered the largest educational conference in North America for healthcare professionals working in multiple sclerosis…

XRHealth Raises $7M for Telehealth Expansion

XRHealth has raised $7 million to expand its telehealth platform, with the goal of providing clinicians and patients with virtual and augmented reality therapy. The funding will also increase access to virtual support groups for people with multiple sclerosis and other diseases. Telehealth broadly refers to the…

COVID-19, Joey Cocker, and Me

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, who is really my wife Laura’s cocker spaniel, has chosen to nap next to me is special. I’m not usually a…

Two Data-sharing Initiatives Launched Regarding MS and COVID-19

Through two new initiatives, multiple sclerosis (MS) patients and their healthcare providers can contribute to a global effort to study and mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in MS and related disorders. The initiatives are aimed at helping clinicians identify the best way to manage the novel coronavirus in…

Zeposia Is Now Approved, But Expect Delays

Zeposia’s recent approval in the U.S. is exciting news for all in the MS community. Unfortunately, we will need to table that excitement a bit longer. Despite its approval, the treatment’s commercial distribution will be delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. I am confident, however, that it will be…

In Training for Solitary Confinement

I’ve just been sentenced to at least 18 months in solitary without time off even for good behavior! Pretty harsh. Luckily, I’m match fit. I’ve already previously done nearly a year trapped in my bedroom with only a commode and basin for most of the day. That was tough.

Do They Know It’s Not Christmas?

Quarantine sure feels like Christmas. The shops are stripped bare. The streets are empty. Family homes are stuffed with everyone returning home. In our case, my wife rescued my youngest son from his cool digs near Hammersmith in West London on Monday, just in time. The prime minister announced a…

Online Coronavirus Screening May Not Be Ready for Prime Time

A number of websites are currently offering online coronavirus screening. These aren’t a full-scale test. The online sites read symptoms that you enter and then use artificial intelligence to determine how likely it is that you’re positive for the virus. But there’s a bit of a problem. An investigation by…

Need to Know: MS and the Battlefield of the Immune System

Editor’s note: “Need to Knowā€ is a series inspired by common forum questions and comments from readers. Have a comment or question about MS? Visit our forum.Ā Leave a comment here or at the original forum category. Iā€™m moved (and, truth be told, empowered) by the #HighRiskCOVID19 hashtag trending…