The MS Wire — Ed Tobias

I’ve been using a Bioness L300 for just over five years to counter my foot drop. Without the L300 strapped to my left leg, it’s difficult for me to walk more than 25 or 30…

IQuity Taking Orders for RNA-based Blood Test That Can Detect MS Early with 90% Accuracy Can it be that there’s now a blood test that can help diagnose MS? This company says it has one…

Have you heard of a healthcare “reform” proposal in the U.S. Senate called “Graham-Cassidy?” If not, take heed because Graham-Cassidy is a last-ditch effort by Republicans on Capitol Hill, led by Senators Lindsay Graham (SC), Bill Cassidy…

This is a story about sports. It’s not really about MS, it’s about playing football. But, then again, it is about MS. Stick with me and you’ll see. The story is about a young man named Jake…

Probiotics Consumption May Improve Certain Disease Parameters in MS Patients, Study Suggests Probiotics (bacteria that help move food through your gut) have been used for years to help treat stomach disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory…

Back in May, when I updated everyone about my Lemtrada treatment at six months post-infusion, I began with a question my wife asked: “Do you think you’re walking better?” And, I thought I was. Maybe. Just a…

It’s 7 in the morning, and it’s raining cats and dogs. I need to walk our dog and the thought of it is not very appealing. We live in a condo, so this activity requires getting dressed,…

Older Women with MS Age Better Than Their Male Counterparts, Canadian Survey Finds I have to say that, as a 69 year old man with MS, this report is a bit depressing. In fact, one of…

Am I having an MS relapse? I saw that question asked the other day on one of the social sites I follow. At first, I thought, “Gee, doesn’t everyone with MS know when they’re having a relapse?”…

You’ve just “biked for MS” or your friends have just “walked for MS” and they’ve collected a lot of pledges. Maybe you sent out letters to your friends asking them to donate a little cash to help…

I live at the beach, but I can’t get onto the beach — not easily, anyway. My MS means that I need to use a beach buggy; sort of an electric wheelchair with super-big tires, to get around…

Horseback Riding Plus Standard Care Can Help MS Patients Improve Balance, Other Symptoms Absolutely, it can. I don’t need to read this study to know that because I’ve been there, done that. About five years ago,…

I’ve just added an app to my iPhone that’s designed to track how I’m doing day-to-day with my MS. Not only can the data it collects be useful to me and to researchers, the app also…

MS drug manufacturers are in the sights of two members of Congress The companies are Bayer, Biogen, EMD Serono, Novartis, Sanofi Genzyme, Teva, and Roche. U.S. Reps. Elijah Cummings and Peter Welch, two Democrats who sit on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, are concerned about what they're calling dramatic price increases for some MS drugs produced by those companies. In a news release, the congressmen say the price hikes have come "without warning, cause, or justification." They've sent letters to the companies seeking information about their profits and expenses. The letters also ask for documents about pricing strategies, patient assistance programs, and drug distribution systems. Cummings and Welch point to an American Academy of Neurology study of drug prices as evidence that some pharmaceutical companies appear to be increasing the prices of their older, less expensive drugs to bring those prices in line with those of the newer, more expensive DMTs that are available today. This kind of practice is known as “shadow pricing.” The congressmen refer to this study as being a bit dated, as it was published in May of 2015. It reviews the published prices of nine DMTs over a 20-year period, ending in 2013, and shows that prices for those older, first-generation DMTs increased at an annual rate that was five to seven times higher than general prescription drug inflation. In their news release, the lawmakers also referred to a report from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society that included a chart of drug price increases since the approval date for each drug.

Older Immunosuppressants May Increase MS Patients’ Cancer Risk, Study Reports We’re talking about some pretty harsh immunosuppressant drugs here: azathioprine, mitoxantrone, and possibly cyclophosphamide. Unlike newer drugs, targeted to specific cells, these knocked out an entire…

The state where I live has legalized medical marijuana (MMJ) and it’s getting ready to open state-licensed marijuana dispensaries. So, I’ve been thinking about using MMJ to treat some of my MS symptoms. How can MMJ help…

I was surprised to see that a study of a potential MS drug labeled MD1003 is still accepting participants. It’s a study that I’d love to take part in, if only I was a few years younger.

University of California at San Francisco Recruiting MS Patients for Gut Bacteria Study Last year, a Harvard study reported significant differences between bacteria that MS patients have in their bellies and that found in those who don’t…

Insurance companies want people to use generics, rather than the more expensive brand-name drugs, right? Maybe not. Because, at least in some cases, they’re doing just the opposite. Some patients are being forced to use brand-name drugs…

Reading some social media posts the other day, I found myself humming a line from a late 1960s Arlo Guthrie song: “I don’t want a pickle. Just want to ride on my motor-sickle.” I didn’t think it…