symptoms

It’s been my routine over the last decade to have blood panels drawn about four times a year. Each time, I’m warned just before the needle enters my arm that I’m about to be stuck. Occasionally, though, the warning is framed as an analogy. A common one is to compare…

In analyzing brain MRIs on people with early relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), two markers of ongoing inflammation may help identify those patients at a higher risk of cognitive decline despite having no relapses or new lesions, or signs of tissue damage, a study from Europe suggests. The researchers say…

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) who more closely adhere to a diet rich in vegetables, fruit, and lean proteins may experience slight improvements in physical disability scores over time, a small prospective study suggests. Conversely, researchers found that patients who did not stick closely to the healthy eating plan…

About one-quarter of people with multiple sclerosis (MS) experience difficulties finding the right words when speaking, a symptom that is linked to broader cognitive problems rather than fatigue or depression, according to a new study. The findings showed that MS patients with cognitive impairment were nearly five times more…

One of the hardest parts of living with chronic illness is being misunderstood in moments when I have the least energy to explain myself. With multiple sclerosis (MS) and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), sometimes my heart rate skyrockets, my body overheats, my energy drops, my nervous system…

One of the most exhausting parts of living with multiple sclerosis (MS) isn’t always the symptoms themselves. Sometimes, it’s the constant guessing game. Every ache, twinge, headache, moment of fatigue, or lapse in memory can send me down a mental rabbit hole. Is this MS? Am I experiencing a…

Dear multiple sclerosis (MS): I never asked for you. You arrived quietly, starting when I was 17. It wasn’t like a storm at first. You were more like a snowflake: small, unique, and almost easy to dismiss. They call you a “snowflake disease,” and my condition is definitely…

Among people with clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) — an initial episode of symptoms suggestive of multiple sclerosis (MS) — lower levels of certain fatty molecules in the blood are associated with higher rates of future disease relapses, a new study found. Adding these metabolic features to established demographic…

A new report from the National MS Society reveals that despite major advances in treatments over the last few decades, people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) still face massive gaps in their care — particularly when it comes to managing crushing fatigue, stopping disease progression, and reversing nerve…

Subjective, patient-reported data on lived experiences should always be considered in the care of chronic conditions like multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a recent presentation. In a survey, many people with MS reported feeling that their lived experiences aren’t given enough consideration during visits with their care providers, and…

I was supposed to have my first colonoscopy this week. I’m at that age when it’s recommended that you have one regularly, so it wasn’t like I didn’t know it was coming. Prepared doesn’t mean excited, though, so I can’t say that I was too upset when it was…

Living with multiple sclerosis has taught me that some of the hardest symptoms to explain are the ones no one else can see. For me, one of those is itchiness. Not the kind that comes from dry skin or a mosquito bite, but something deeper, more unsettling. It…

Urinary issues are a frequent and distressing reality for women with multiple sclerosis (MS), and new research suggests these symptoms may diminish quality of life, specifically by fueling feelings of loneliness. While the physical burden of bladder dysfunction is well-documented, this study highlights a critical emotional link, suggesting that…

In recognition of Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month in March, the MS Awareness Month 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,…

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological condition wherein the immune system attacks the protective covering of nerves. This clinical definition accurately portrays the medical reality, but it doesn’t encapsulate the lived reality. It doesn’t account for the ways in which fatigue can feel like gravity doubling overnight…

Dealing with multiple sclerosis (MS) — including the numerous symptoms that manifest differently for each person, the grief, and the uncertainty — is grueling. On top of all that, there’s the added challenge of navigating the American healthcare system. As I have written before, I’ve dealt with migraines…

Living with multiple sclerosis (MS) is often described in medical terms — lesions, relapses, progression curves, and other jargon — that don’t always register in my mind. But a diagnosis is also associated with grief, a quieter and oftentimes silent reality that doesn’t hit all at once, but…

I said I would try not to overwhelm you with tales from my past in the military. For the most part, I’ve been true to my word, but something crossed my mind recently that made me think immediately of multiple sclerosis (MS), and I couldn’t resist sharing it. As…

About two years after my multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis, I began having hand-related symptoms that interfered with my daily life and caused significant stress. I’m a college student and remote employee, so I spend a lot of time typing, which is considered a fine motor skill because of the…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted breakthrough therapy designation to privosegtor, an experimental treatment from Oculis that aims to protect the vision of people experiencing acute optic neuritis. This condition, which involves inflammation of the optic nerve, is a common and often debilitating symptom of…

Women with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have children experience significantly longer waits before receiving a diagnosis than women without children, according to a new U.S. study. On average, each child was associated with an additional 1.28-year delay in diagnosis. The delay was even longer among women whose symptoms…

Relapses in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) may be more common in spring and summer, coinciding with warmer temperatures, low humidity, and greater fluctuations in atmospheric pressure, according to a study from Poland. Stressful life events and infections were the most frequent potential relapse triggers, the study found.

In people with progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), treatment with the antioxidant lipoic acid did not improve walking or lessen other symptoms, such as fatigue, but it did show signs of slowing brain atrophy, or the loss of brain tissue. According to the researchers, this suggests possible positive biological…

Children with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have more paramagnetic rim lesions (PRLs) — areas of chronic active inflammation seen on MRI scans — tend to lose more brain volume over time, a  new study found. These lesions were common in pediatric MS, a rare form of the disease…

Due to my uneasiness with heights, I complained a lot about parachuting throughout my career in the U.S. Army. There’s a small chance, however, that I haven’t been entirely fair. Sure, I was afraid every time, made some less-than-stellar landings, and sustained a few injuries, but those were really…

I mentioned last week that I had been in the hospital recently with pneumonia and promised to elaborate. Without further ado or any gross details, I give you my recent tale of woe. As with many of my experiences, may it serve as a warning of what not to do.

People with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have higher levels of Fusobacterium nucleatum in the mouth — bacteria that can contribute to periodontitis, a serious gum infection — may be more likely to experience more severe symptoms, according to a study from Japan. This finding adds to recent preclinical evidence…

The holidays tend to arrive with a mix of excitement and stress, even for people without a chronic illness. But for those of us living with multiple sclerosis (MS), the season can feel like its own kind of marathon, full of expectations, overscheduling, symptoms that flare when we least…

The holidays have a way of turning up the volume on everything. The lights feel brighter, rooms feel busier, and even soft conversation seems amplified. Living with multiple sclerosis (MS) has taught me that this kind of noise isn’t just sound — it’s work. It’s one of the…

Simultaneously measuring levels of two blood proteins — glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neurofilament light chain (NfL) — may offer a clearer way to track both disease activity and disability progression in people with multiple sclerosis (MS), according to a new long-term study. Each…