Tag: multiple sclerosis

There are more than 100 autoimmune diseases, and they mostly strike women. Here’s what to know

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Our immune system has a dark side: It’s supposed to fight off invaders to keep us healthy. But sometimes it turns traitor and attacks our own cells and tissues.

What are called autoimmune diseases can affect just about every part of the body – and tens of millions of people. While most common in women, these diseases can strike anyone, adults or children, and they’re on the rise.

New research is raising the prospect of treatments that might do more than tamp down symptoms. Dozens of clinical trials are testing ways to reprogram an immune system-gone-rogue, with some promising early successes against lupus, myositis and certain other illnesses. Other researchers are hunting ways to at least delay brewing autoimmune diseases, spurred by a drug that can buy some time before people show symptoms of Type 1 diabetes.

“This is probably the most exciting time that we’ve ever had to be in autoimmunity,” said Dr. Amit Saxena, a rheumatologist at NYU Langone Health.

Here are some things to know.

What are autoimmune diseases?

They’re chronic diseases that can range from mild to life-threatening, more than 100 with different names depending on how and where they do damage. Rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis attack joints. Sjögren’s disease is known for dry eyes and mouth. Myositis and myasthenia gravis weaken muscles in different ways, the latter by attacking how nerves signal them. Lupus has widely varied symptoms including a butterfly-shaped facial rash, joint and muscle pain, fevers and damage to the kidneys, lungs and heart.

They’re also capricious: Even patients faring well for long periods can suddenly have a “flare” for no apparent reason.

Why autoimmune diseases are so difficult to diagnose

Many start with vague symptoms that come and go or mimic other illnesses. Many also have overlapping symptoms – rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren’s also can harm major organs, for example.

Diagnosis can take multiple tests, including some blood tests to detect antibodies that mistakenly latch onto healthy tissue. It usually centers on symptoms and involves ruling out other causes. Depending on the disease it can take years and seeing multiple doctors before one puts the clues together. There are efforts to improve: The National MS Society is educating doctors about newly updated guidelines to streamline diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.

How the immune system gets out of whack

The human immune system is a complex army with sentinels to detect threats like germs or cancer cells, a variety of soldiers to attack them, and peacemakers to calm things down once the danger is over. Key is that it can distinguish what’s foreign from what’s “you,” what scientists call tolerance.

Sometimes confused immune cells or antibodies slip through, or the peacemakers can’t calm things down after a battle. If the system can’t spot and fix the problem, autoimmune diseases gradually develop.

Autoimmune diseases are often set off by a trigger

Most autoimmune diseases, especially in adults, aren’t caused by a specific gene defect. Instead, a variety of genes that affect immune functions can make people susceptible. Scientists say it then takes some “environmental” trigger, such as an infection, smoking or pollutants, to set the disease into motion. For example, the Epstein-Barr virus is linked to MS.

Scientists are zeroing in on the earliest molecular triggers. For example, white blood cells called neutrophils are first responders to signs of infection or injury — but abnormally overactive ones are suspected of playing a key role in lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and other diseases.

Women are at highest risk for autoimmune diseases

Women account for about 4 of 5 autoimmune patients, many of them young. Hormones are thought to play a role. But also, females have two X chromosomes while males have one X and one Y. Some research suggests an abnormality in how female cells switch off that extra X can increase women’s vulnerability.

But men do suffer from autoimmune diseases. One especially severe one named VEXAS syndrome wasn’t discovered until 2020. It mainly affects men over 50 and in addition to typical autoimmune symptoms it can cause blood clots, shortness of breath and night sweats.

Certain populations also have higher risks. For example, lupus is more common in Black and Hispanic women. Northern Europeans have a higher risk of MS than other groups.

Treatment for autoimmune diseases is complicated

According to investment research company Morningstar, the global market for autoimmune disease treatments is $100 billion a year. That’s not counting doctor visits and such things as lost time at work. Treatment is lifelong and, while usually covered by insurance, can be pricey.

Not so long ago there was little to offer for many autoimmune diseases beyond high-dose steroids and broad immune-suppressing drugs, with side effects that include a risk of infections and cancer. Today some newer options target specific molecules, somewhat less immune dampening. But for many autoimmune diseases, treatment is trial and error, with little to guide patient decisions.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

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November 7, 2025
Disabled man surprises partner by proposing on one knee in physical therapy

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A wheelchair-dependent man with multiple sclerosis refused to let his disability stop him from getting down on one knee to propose.

Living with multiple sclerosis has been a difficult challenge for Cody Guinn, 38, who was diagnosed with the condition in 2015. As his mobility has deteriorated, he has had to adapt his life in many ways, including using a power wheelchair and doing physical therapy two to three times a week.

There has always been one gesture that he was unwilling to sacrifice, however, and that was getting on one knee to propose. Guinn, of Oregon, told Newsweek that proposing on one knee is “a sign of respect” to the love of his life, Maisy Kucera, and he knew he wanted to find a way to make it happen.

“I was raised with traditional values and morals, which I still respect,” Guinn said. “I think it’s important for younger generations to see that play out.”

From left: Maisy Kucera and Cody Guinn work with the physiotherapist during a session; and smile after the proposal.

@guinnsjourneyzz / TikTok

On June 19, Kucera, 24, was at one of Guinn’s physical therapy sessions and she was asked to assist. At the time, Guinn was out of his wheelchair and was kneeling beside a box, while Kucera stood in front of him—only to be stunned by the sight of a small ring box in her partner’s palm.

Guinn knew he wouldn’t be able to get down on one knee anywhere else, so he made sure to use the physical therapy to his advantage. Although it was somewhat painful for Guinn to do, he said it was “so worth it.”

Kucera told Newsweek that it was the “perfect setup for the proposal” and she wasn’t expecting it.

Multiple sclerosis, an autoimmune condition, causes the immune system to mistakenly attack myelin cells, which are protective covers surrounding the brain and spinal cord nerves. The damage interrupts the signals that nerves send throughout the body to perform functions such as vision, sensation and movement.

While there is no cure for multiple sclerosis, The Mayo Clinic says that almost 1 million adults in the U.S. are living with the condition. Symptoms include fatigue, vision changes, muscle weakness, stiffness, numbness or pain, loss of balance, and difficulty with cognitive function. The couple, who have been together for less than a year, are planning to tie the knot in October 2025.

The footage of Guinn’s romantic proposal was shared on his TikTok account (@guinnsjourneyzz) and it has melted millions of hearts online. In a matter of days, the clip went viral with over 1.5 million views and more than 246,100 likes at the time of writing.

The online response has been incredibly positive and supportive of the couple, who continue to document their journey on social media to show the realities of living with multiple sclerosis.

Kucera said: “We have felt immense love and support from our online community and hope to continue to connect with people from all around the world too can relate to our story.”

Internet users have praised Guinn’s romantic gesture, leading to more than 720 comments on the viral TikTok video so far.

One comment reads: “As a therapist I would literally be sobbing in the back and unable to contain myself. Congratulations to you both.”

Another TikTok user wrote: “That was the most precious proposal omg.”

A third person responded: “Bawling [because] you know he put in so much effort to perfect that stance, congratulations.”

One commenter added: “How beautiful is this?! That’s a real love right there.”

Do you have any viral videos or pictures that you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@newsweek.com and they could appear on our site.

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September 13, 2025
After being diagnosed with MS, he started running marathons. It’s helping reverse the disease’s progression.

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When Derek Stefureac was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, a chronic disease that affects the central nervous system, he was a smoker who never exercised.

Everything changed when he had an “attack” at work when he was 39: His body seized for about a minute, and Stefureac told CBS News that he “thought he was dying.” After seeing multiple doctors, he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

“It was a pretty scary diagnosis, and I wasn’t even sure what it was, to be honest. I didn’t know anyone who had it,” Stefureac, now 51, said. “As I learned more, a doctor said, ‘It’s a progressive disease, it’s incurable. We have some therapies to slow down the progression, but the best thing you can do is get healthy. A healthy body is the best tool.’ So that scared me enough to quit smoking, and as part of quitting smoking, to help me out and get healthy, I just started jogging.”

Now, 13 years after his diagnosis and those initial jogging sessions, Stefureac has run 36 marathons — including one in Antarctica and one on Mount Everest. After completing Australia’s Brisbane marathon earlier in June, he’s now run a marathon on every continent. He’s built a community of runners, connected with others with his condition and his doctor says he’s even managed to reverse the progression of his multiple sclerosis.

Derek Stefureac after completing a marathon on Mount Everest.

Derek Stefureac/Cleveland Clinic

What is multiple sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that affects the central nervous system, according to the Mayo Clinic’s website. The immune system attacks the myelin, or protective sheath, that covers nerve fibers. That causes communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body, causing a wide range of symptoms including numbness and weakness in the body, an unsteady gait, blurry vision and more. Eventually, it can cause permanent damage or deterioration of the nerve fibers.

Multiple sclerosis is “an unpredictable disease,” said Dr. Bruce Bebo, the executive vice president of research at the National MS Society, who is not involved in Stefureac’s care.

For Stefureac, who also takes medication to manage his condition, the disease most prominently manifested as a dragging foot that he noticed when he began jogging. Dr. Le Hua, a neurologist overseeing Stefureac’s treatment, said he also had neurological dysfunction and some numbness, weakness and tingling in his body. He also had spinal lesions, which are “associated with a higher risk of disability” from multiple sclerosis, she said.

Selma Blair on her MS diagnosis and “Mean Baby: A Memoir of Growing Up”

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How does exercise impact multiple sclerosis?

Bebo said that a growing body of evidence supports the importance of exercise and other healthy lifestyle choices in helping treat multiple sclerosis. Even if exercise isn’t reversing the disease’s progression, it can help limit co-morbidities like high blood pressure that can accelerate the progression of multiple sclerosis. Exercise can also help promote plasticity of the nervous system, which can improve function and compensate for damage caused by multiple sclerosis, he said.

Cardiovascular training like running can be especially helpful for managing multiple sclerosis, Bebo said, but a person doesn’t necessarily have to be running marathons to see the benefits.

“There’s pretty much something for everyone, no matter what their level of ability or disability is,” Bebo said.

Hua said that Stefureac’s case is “really unique” because he has actually seen signs of “disability improvement,” where some difficulties he initially faced have gotten better. Many people may see signs of disability slowing, she said, but an actual improvement in disease progression not something she or others in her field see often.

“Derek actually looks a lot better now than he did when he was first diagnosed in terms of disability,” Hua said.

Stefureac told CBS News that he “doesn’t even remember” the last time he dealt with a symptom of multiple sclerosis.

“I only think of MS when I have to refill my prescription or make an appointment,” he said.

Derek Stefureac competing in the Brisbane Marathon.

Derek Stefureac/Cleveland Clinic

After running a marathon on every continent, what’s next?

Stefureac has completed his goal of running a marathon on every continent, but there are still more extreme events he wants to compete in. He’s looking at a marathon in the North Pole, and running one on Tanzania’s Mount Kilimanjaro in February 2025. He also wants to participate in more intense events like a five-day race across the Sahara Desert and an Ironman Triathalon in Hawaii.

“When I started, the goal was to get myself in shape and slow this progression down, and it has worked so, so amazingly,” Stefureac said, adding that he hopes his story can serve as an inspiration for other people dealing with multiple sclerosis or chronic health conditions.

“It sounds insane, but for me, I’m grateful for the diagnosis. It really was an eye-opener, and it turned my life around. I don’t think I’d be doing seven continents if I never had been diagnosed with MS,” Stefureac said. “No one could ever know I have MS. People are shocked when I tell them. I’d like to be a good example of like, ‘This could be you.’”

More from CBS News

Kerry Breen

Kerry Breen is a news editor at CBSNews.com. A graduate of New York University’s Arthur L. Carter School of Journalism, she previously worked at NBC News’ TODAY Digital. She covers current events, breaking news and issues including substance use.

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June 8, 2024
‘It’s a miracle’: Wife, son lay over quadriplegic man in upstairs bedroom as tornado strikes Elkhorn home

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YOU’LL SEE WHY WE HAD THIS LITTLE HALL A FOUNDATION. ALL THAT’S LEFT AT SOME HOMES IN ELKHORN. YOU GOT A BUNCH OF HIGH SCHOOL KIDS JUST WALKING BY AND SAYING. HEY, DO YOU NEED SOME HELP? AND, YOU KNOW, BIG, STRONG KIDS, AND YOU JUST SEND THEM TO WORK SUNDAY HELPERS MOVE THE WRECKAGE OUT OR FED THE VOLUNTEERS. THEY JUST CAN’T STOP. THEY DON’T WANT TO STOP TO GET SOMETHING, BUT. THEY NEED TO NOURISH THEM THEMSELVES. BEHIND ME YOU CAN SEE HOMES THAT WERE JUST COMPLETELY LEVELED, MAKING IT CLEAR WHY WHEN A TORNADO STRIKES, YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE UPSTAIRS. BUT FOR SOME, LIKE AN MS. PATIENT IN THIS HOME BEHIND ME GETTING DOWNSTAIRS JUST. ISN’T THAT SIMPLE. SEVERAL OF THE VOLUNTEERS HERE KNOW FRANK WELL. HE’S A QUADRIPLEGIC MAN. THE FIRST PATIENT OF NEBRASKA MEDICINE’S MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AT HOME ACCESS PROGRAM. THEY WELCOME YOU INTO THEIR HOME. IT’S LIKE. YOU REALLY. THEY BECOME MORE LIKE FAMILY. IT’S LIKE IT WASN’T EVEN A QUESTION, RIGHT? LIKE WHEN YOUR FAMILY BECOMES INJURED, YOU KNOW, NEEDS YOU. WHERE DO YOU GO? YOU GO TO HELP THEM. AND SO THAT’S WHY WE’RE HERE IN HOME CARE PROVIDERS IN THE PROGRAM. LIKE RENEE STUART, ARE TAKING CHARGE AT FRANK’S HOME. WE’VE BEEN COMING TO THIS HOUSE EVERY 3 TO 6 MONTHS FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS. AND SO IT REALLY BECOMES LIKE PART OF YOUR FAMILY. AND SO WHEN YOU WALK IN AND YOU SEE THIS AND LIKE THE MAGNITUDE OF UNDERSTANDING THE FEAR THAT WAS HAPPENING IN. THOSE MOMENTS IS JUST OVERWHELMING. FRANK WAS ON A BED IN THIS ROOM ON FRIDAY WHEN THE TORNADO STRUCK WITH NO TIME TO MOVE. HIS WIFE AND SON LAID ON TOP OF HIM AS PART OF THE ROOF, COLLAPSED IN ON THEM. AS OUR TEAM WAS WATCHING THIS UNFOLD, WE JUST. HAD THIS GUT WRENCHING FEELING, THIS FEAR THAT SOMETHING LIKE THIS EXACTLY WAS GOING TO HAPPEN. FRANK WAS. HIT IN THE HEAD, BUT THEY SAY HE’S GOING TO BE OKAY. HE’S SINGING TO THE NURSES AS HIS WIFE AND SON ARE DOING WELL. AND WHO KNOWS IF THINGS WOULD HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT IF THEY WERE IN THE BEDROOM NEXT DOOR? IT’S A MIRACLE. IT’S AN ABSOLUTE MIRACLE. AND STUART POINTS TO SIGNS OF THAT MIRACLE UNTOUCHED ON THE WALLS. TWO CROSSES AND A PICTURE OF THE VIRGIN MARY. YOU LOOK AROUND AND YOU’RE LIKE, HOW CAN THIS HAPPEN? AND YOU’RE LIKE, BUT THROUGH IT ALL, THE GOOD LORD WAS HERE. I MEAN, THERE’S NO OTHER EXPLANATION FOR IT THAT DOESN’T JUST HAPPEN BY CHANCE. A FRIEND OF THE FAMILY SET UP A FUND FOR THE EXPENSES. THEY’LL FACE GOING FORWARD, INCLUDING

‘It’s a miracle’: Wife, son lay over quadriplegic man in upstairs room as tornado strikes Nebraska home

Updated: 7:29 PM EDT Apr 29, 2024

A foundation is all that remains at several homes in Elkhorn, Nebraska.The ceiling is gone in one upstairs bedroom there, but you can still stand inside it today. On Saturday, volunteers helping the family pick up the pieces discovered a cross remained on the wall.On Friday, a quadriplegic man with multiple sclerosis was in his bed in that room. Without time to move, his wife and a son decided to use their bodies to protect him, volunteer Renee Stewart said.The man, Frank, was struck in the head, Stewart said. Part of the ceiling collapsed onto them. He’s hospitalized but expected to be OK. The wife and son were unharmed. Stewart knows Frank because she cares for him through Nebraska Medicine’s Multiple Sclerosis at Home Access program, or MAHA. He was the first patient in the program, she said.She said around 15 people associated with the program are helping with the cleanup and salvaging what they can, allowing family to focus on Frank at the hospital.”They welcome you into their home,” she said. “They become more like family. It’s like it wasn’t even a question, right? Like, when your family … needs you, where do you go? You go to help them. And so that’s why we’re here.”As they were watching the storm coverage, Stewart and others in the program worried about their patients in the tornado’s path, because they are unable to move to safety easily.”We just had this gut-wrenching feeling, this fear that something like this exactly was doing to happen,” she said.A friend of the family is looking to raise funds for upcoming expenses, including a wheelchair van. The link to the online fundraiser is here.Julie Cornell contributed to this report.

A foundation is all that remains at several homes in Elkhorn, Nebraska.

The ceiling is gone in one upstairs bedroom there, but you can still stand inside it today. On Saturday, volunteers helping the family pick up the pieces discovered a cross remained on the wall.

On Friday, a quadriplegic man with multiple sclerosis was in his bed in that room. Without time to move, his wife and a son decided to use their bodies to protect him, volunteer Renee Stewart said.

The man, Frank, was struck in the head, Stewart said. Part of the ceiling collapsed onto them. He’s hospitalized but expected to be OK. The wife and son were unharmed.

Hearst OwnedRenee Stewart

Stewart knows Frank because she cares for him through Nebraska Medicine’s Multiple Sclerosis at Home Access program, or MAHA. He was the first patient in the program, she said.

She said around 15 people associated with the program are helping with the cleanup and salvaging what they can, allowing family to focus on Frank at the hospital.

“They welcome you into their home,” she said. “They become more like family. It’s like it wasn’t even a question, right? Like, when your family … needs you, where do you go? You go to help them. And so that’s why we’re here.”

As they were watching the storm coverage, Stewart and others in the program worried about their patients in the tornado’s path, because they are unable to move to safety easily.

“We just had this gut-wrenching feeling, this fear that something like this exactly was doing to happen,” she said.

A friend of the family is looking to raise funds for upcoming expenses, including a wheelchair van. The link to the online fundraiser is here.

Julie Cornell contributed to this report.

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April 29, 2024
Christina Applegate says she lives ‘kind of in hell’ battling multiple sclerosis

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Actresses Christina Applegate and Jamie-Lynn Sigler are opening up for the first time together about the health battle they both share: multiple sclerosis.

“I live kind of in hell,” Applegate, 52, told “Good Morning America” co-anchor Robin Roberts about her battle with MS. She was diagnosed with the disease in 2021.

“I’m not out a lot, so this is, like, a little difficult, just for my system,” Applegate said. “But, yeah, of course, the support is wonderful, and I’m really grateful.”

PHOTO: Good Morning America’ co-anchor Robin Roberts speaks with actresses Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Christina Applegate. (Eric Mccandless/ABC)

Applegate received a standing ovation in January when she walked onstage to present the best supporting actress in a comedy award at the 2024 Emmys.

The “Married… With Children” actress told Roberts she felt “beloved” in the moment, and shocked.

MORE: Actresses put spotlight on who is most affected by multiple sclerosis: Young women

“I actually kinda blacked out,” Applegate said. “People said, ‘Oh, you were so funny,’ and I’m like, I don’t even know what I said. I don’t know what I was doing. I got so freaked out that I didn’t even know what was happening anymore.”

She continued, “And I felt really beloved, and it was really a beautiful thing.”

PHOTO: Actress Christina Applegate and Actor Anthony Anderson speak onstage during the 75th Emmy Awards at the Peacock Theatre at L.A. Live in Los Angeles on Jan. 15, 2024. (Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images, FILE)

Applegate walked onstage at the Emmys with the aid of a cane, an assistance made necessary by MS, an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks myelin, the tissue that surrounds nerves, including those in the brain and spinal cord, according to the National Institutes of Health.

It is an unpredictable disease, one that causes different symptoms with variable timing and frequency in different people, from fatigue, numbness or tingling, weakness, dizziness and vertigo to rendering a person unable to write, speak or walk in the most severe cases, the NIH says.

MORE: Woman diagnosed with MS at age 24 puts spotlight on underrepresentation of Hispanics

Applegate and Sigler, 42, who was diagnosed with MS over 20 years ago, are sharing their journey with the disease in a new podcast, titled “MeSsy.”

PHOTO: Good Morning America’ co-anchor Robin Roberts speaks with actresses Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Christina Applegate. (Eric Mccandless/ABC)

The average age of the start of symptoms for people with MS is between the ages of 20 to 40, and the disease is three times more common in women than men, according to the NIH and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, a nonprofit organization focused on raising MS awareness and increasing research.

Tune into “Good Morning America” on Tuesday, March 12, from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. ET for more of Robin Roberts’ interview with Christina Applegate and Jamie-Lynn Sigler.

Christina Applegate says she lives ‘kind of in hell’ battling multiple sclerosis originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com

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March 11, 2024
Emmys 2024: Christina Applegate Receives Heartwarming Standing Ovation – Watch! – Perez Hilton

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Wow! The Emmys crowd had SO much love for Christina Applegate!

The Married… with Children alum was the first presenter to take the stage on Monday night to present the award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, but before she could get any words out, the packed room gave her a rousing standing ovation. Awww! The actress, who used a cane and held onto host Anthony Anderson for support as she walked up to the microphone, tearfully teased:

“Thank you so much. Oh my god! You’re totally shaming me with disability by standing up.”

LOLz!

Related: Ian Somerhalder Confirms He Quit Acting & Left Hollywood For Good!

The 52-year-old was also up for Best Actress in a Comedy for her role in Dead to Me, though she lost to Quinta Brunson. Still, it was surely a special night for her, especially amid her MS diagnosis, which she has been publicly battling since 2021.

Last year, the Anchorman star predicted the 2023 SAG Awards would likely be her last award show as an actor due to her health condition, which has caused her to take a step back from her career. We’re glad she got one more nomination! And to see her shown so much love and support by her peers was super emotional! Take a look (below)!

So sweet!!

You can tell how meaningful that moment was for her! Love it! Reactions? Let us know (below)!

[Image via Television Academy/YouTube]

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January 16, 2024
CBD Leads to Nonseizure Improvements, AbbVie Launches 24-Hour Levodopa Infusion in EU, CNM-Au8 Improves Visual Function and Cognition – Medical Marijuana Program Connection

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WATCH TIME: 4 minutes

Welcome to this special edition of Neurology News Network. I’m Marco Meglio.

In a survey study of patients with either Lennox-Gastaut syndrome or Dravet syndrome, findings showed that treatment with add-on cannabidiol (CBD; Epidiolex) led to improvements in nonseizure outcomes, regardless of reduction in seizure frequency. Despite the limitations associated with a retrospective survey-based study design, investigators concluded that further evaluation of CBD on nonseizure outcomes in these patient populations is warranted. On nonseizure domains of alertness, cognition, and executive function, 85% of respondents reported improvements in at least 1 survey question. This continued across several other nonseizure-related domains of emotional functioning (82%), language and communication (79% in nonverbal patients and 74% in verbal), and activities of daily living (51%).

More than a year after it received approval by the European Commission, AbbVie has announced the European market launch of foslevodopa/foscarbidopa (Produodopa), the first and only 24-hour infusion of levodopa-based therapy for patients with advanced Parkinson disease (PD). Prior to the launch, the therapy had received authorization through the Decentralized Procedure in the third quarter of 2022, followed by a CE mark in November of 2023. Also referred to as ABBV-951, this formulation of levodopa and carbidopa prodrugs are delivered as a 24-h/day continuous subcutaneous infusion (CSCI) via…

Original Author Link click here to read complete story..

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January 13, 2024
Selma Blair Recalls Doctor Telling Her To Get A Boyfriend Amid MS Journey

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Selma Blair, who was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2018, is opening about her frustrating experience with gender bias in the health care system.

While recently appearing on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Sunday, the actor spoke about a staggering moment in her MS journey when a doctor dismissed her “unbearable” pain and discomfort by suggesting that she find a boyfriend.

“I just cried,” Blair, 51, recalled of her response to the insensitive comment. “I had no capability to process. ‘What am I supposed to do with this information?’ I knew the pain was real. I thought it was. But I did start to convince myself, ‘You’re overly sensitive. There’s nothing wrong with you. Get it together, you lazy, lazy whatever.’”

The “Cruel Intentions” actor shared that she suffered “so much medical trauma” early on due to unfair treatment from doctors during her childhood.

“It was a gender bias, a lot of it, because there would be a boy in my grade that would go in for the exact same chronic headache and fever, and he is in surgery and an MRI within the week,” she explained.

The “Hell Boy” star added: “I was never given an MRI even though I always had headaches and fevers and balance [problems]. But they just said, ‘Oh, just dramatic.’”

Selma Blair says her MS symptoms were dismissed for years.

Jose Perez/Bauer-Griffin via Getty Images

After having her symptoms shut down by doctors for years, she recalled being “relieved” when she was finally diagnosed with MS.

“I was relieved I finally had something that could be understood and treated,” she told the show’s moderator, Kristen Welker.

As one of Hollywood’s biggest advocates for chronic disease and disability rights, Blair went on offer advice to medical professionals who are treating patients with chronic symptoms.

“I really wish they would listen,” she said after pointing out that “nothing was taken seriously.”

The actor, who has been in remission since 2021, added: “I want doctors to listen, keep things in mind. And why so afraid of an MRI on a woman?”

Back in 2019, Blair echoed similar frustrations over her experiences with dismissive doctors while appearing on “Good Morning America.”

“I was really struggling with, ‘How am I gonna get by in life?’” she said at the time. “And not [being] taken seriously by doctors, just, ‘Single mother, you’re exhausted, financial burden, blah, blah, blah.’”

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November 29, 2023
The Financial Impact of Multiple Sclerosis

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The Financial Impact of Multiple Sclerosis

091e9c5e820faac4091e9c5e820faac4FED-Footermodule_FED-Footer_091e9c5e820faac4.xmlwbmd_pb_templatemodule0144002/02/2021 01:57:340HTML

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September 29, 2023
Christina Applegate says she may give up acting on camera because of MS: “It’s never a good day.”

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Christina Applegate talked about living with multiple sclerosis in an interview with Vanity Fair, saying she may give up acting on camera due to the challenges of the disease.

Applegate, who first revealed her diagnosis in 2021, said with MS, “It’s never a good day.” The exact cause of MS is unknown, but it affects the central nervous system and can cause symptoms like fatigue, numbness, pain, memory problems and even blindness or paralysis. People with MS may experience it differently and its varying symptoms may last for differing lengths of time, according to the National MS Society.

“You just have little s***** days,” Applegate said. “People are like, ‘Well, why don’t you take more showers?’ Well, because getting in the shower is frightening. You can fall, you can slip, your legs can buckle. Especially because I have a glass shower. It’s frightening to me to get in there.”

“There are just certain things that people take for granted in their lives that I took for granted. Going down the stairs, carrying things—you can’t do that anymore. It f******* sucks. I can still drive my car short distances. I can bring up food to my kid. Up, never down.”

Christina Applegate attends a ceremony honoring her with a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame on Nov. 14, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.

Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Netflix

Applegate told Variety MS affects her balance and she said because she is immunocompromised, she doesn’t like to be around many people. So, friends don’t visit often. “I also don’t want a lot of stimulation of the nervous system because it can be a little bit too much for me. I like to keep it as quiet and as mellow as possible,” she said, adding that being loud crowds are “like 5,000 times louder for anyone who has lesions on their brains.”

Applegate said filming the third and final season of the TV show “Dead to Me” in 2021, during which she found out she had MS, was a “trying and taxing time.” She said now that the show has wrapped, she misses her co-stars. “I miss the experience of it, but at the same time, because it was such an incredible struggle this last year, I’m relieved that I no longer have to push so hard to get through my day.”

There are no tests to diagnose MS, but doctors look for similar signs and symptoms. While there is no known cure for the disease, symptoms can be treated with hopes of preventing them and slowing the progression of the disease, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Some people may have mild cases that require no treatment, others may take anti-inflammatory drugs, do plasma treatments, or disease-modifying therapies – however, those can come with more health risks.

Actress Selma Blair, who worked with Applegate on the film “The Sweetest Thing,” was also diagnosed with MS in 2018. In an interview with “CBS Mornings” this week, Blair said she was “always sick” since her early 20s and was diagnosed with optic neuritis, a common symptom of MS, but did not know she had MS until her 40s.

“When I got the diagnosis at late 40-something, it seems, I was surprised — but then I was like ‘Oh of course,’ and when the doctor said the first night, ‘You’ve had this at least 25, 30 years, at least,’ I was happy. I needed it,” Blair said.

Last year, Blair departed “Dancing With The Stars” early due to health struggles caused by her MS. She told “CBS Mornings” she is now in remission with the help of a neurologist.

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Caitlin O’Kane

Caitlin O’Kane is a digital content producer covering trending stories for CBS News and its good news brand, The Uplift.

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May 12, 2023
Selma Blair on her MS diagnosis and

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Selma Blair on her MS diagnosis and “Mean Baby: A Memoir of Growing Up” – CBS News

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Actor and author Selma Blair joins “CBS Mornings” to discuss her memoir “Mean Baby: A Memoir of Growing Up,” her MS diagnosis and the importance of disability visibility.

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May 8, 2023
Selma Blair Poses For ‘British Vogue’ With Her Cane Amid MS Battle: ‘It’s An Extension Of Me’

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By Becca Longmire.
Published: 1 min ago

Selma Blair is proud of her cane.

The “Legally Blonde” actress, who opened up about her multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis in 2018, graces the cover of British Vogue’s May 2023 issue, featuring disabled talents as cover stars.

Blair looks stunning as she poses with her cane in a nude ensemble on the cover, telling the magazine: “I have an emotional and physical attachment to the cane.”

She continues, “I settle in my voice and body as soon as I hold [it]. It’s an extension of me. And I know it adds to visibility.”

CREDIT: Adama Jalloh

Blair, who famously walked with her cane on the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar Party red carpet in her first public appearance since announcing her MS diagnosis, shares: “So many younger people have started publicly embracing their sticks more. I do think representation matters.

“If I can help remove stigma or over-curiosity in a crowd for someone else, then that’s great,” she explains.

READ MORE:
Selma Blair Says Her MS Is ‘So Much Better’ And Talks Going On ‘Dancing With The Stars’

Elsewhere in the candid interview, Blair opens up about her struggles with the diagnosis, especially the many years of not knowing exactly what she was dealing with.

“As an adult, the lassitude and anxiety became terrifying, actually,” Blair admits of suffering secret symptoms. “I made mistakes. Wished myself dead. Attempted suicide. A few times. Out of desperation.”

CREDIT: Adama Jalloh

READ MORE:
Selma Blair Details Her Powerful Bond With Christina Applegate Amid MS Battles

She says of pulling away from the industry after filming the U.S. TV remake of “Kath & Kim” in 2009: “My autoimmune system was misfiring… losing most of my hair and all of my energy. I kinda bowed out [after the show]. It was a French exit and everybody else stayed at the party… My self-hatred was extreme.

“I could not manage well and I couldn’t even try to find work… It was a running joke. How far was the audition? How many naps would I fit in on the side of the road before and after? [When I quit acting] I spent my days in bed, crying, sometimes binge drinking, sometimes reading and sleeping, seeing doctors and healers… I gave up almost until the diagnosis. I was always terrified I would be deemed incapable. Or mentally unsound. My mother taught me that was death for a woman career-wise.”

See the full feature in the May issue of British Vogue available via digital download and on newsstands April 25.

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Becca Longmire

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April 21, 2023
Fertility Treatments Pose No Danger to People With MS

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By Cara Murez

HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, March 16, 2023 (HealthDay News) — Women with multiple sclerosis who want to undergo fertility treatment can do so without worry, according to a new study.

Participants who had MS were no more likely to have a flare-up of the disease after receiving fertility treatments than they were before their treatments, researchers found.

The study also found a link between MS medication and lack of an increase in relapses during fertility treatment.

“These results are exciting, as MS is common among females of childbearing age, and those with MS are more likely to be diagnosed with infertility but have been less likely to receive fertility treatment than those who do not have MS,” said study co-author Dr. Edith Graham, an assistant professor of neurology at Northwestern University in Chicago.

The findings were published online March 15 in Neurology Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation.

“Fertility treatments for people with MS are not as risky as we once thought. We did not see many relapses in our cohort, probably due to the fact that most of the patients were treated with disease-modifying therapies in the year prior,” Graham said in a journal news release.

MS, a chronic disease of the central nervous system, is potentially disabling.

Researchers studied 65 women, average age 37, who had at least one fertility treatment. Fifty-six of them had MS. Nine had clinically isolated syndrome, which is the first episode of MS symptoms.

Participants had been diagnosed for an average of eight years, though none had progressive MS.

The participants had 124 cycles of fertility treatments among them, including in vitro fertilization, intrauterine insemination and oral medications to induce ovulation.

Researchers searched participants’ medical records for relapses in the year before having fertility treatments and in the three months after each treatment.

About 43% were receiving disease-modifying therapy for their MS during fertility treatments. Most had received treatment within the year prior.

None of the people on disease-modifying therapy relapsed in the three months post-stimulation, according to the study.

The research also found no different rate in women who became pregnant after their fertility treatments compared to those whose treatment did not end in pregnancy.

“We hope our findings provide reassurance to those with MS as well as fertility experts that these treatments are not associated with elevated risks of relapses,” Graham said. “It’s important for people to remember that continuing appropriately timed disease-modifying treatments during fertility treatment can reduce the risk of relapse.”

A limitation of the study was that it looked back in time and confirmation of relapses via brain scans wasn’t available in all cases.

More information

The National Multiple Sclerosis Society has more on MS.

SOURCE: Neurology Neuroimmunology & Neuroinflammation, news release, March 15, 2023

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March 16, 2023
Could the Mediterranean Diet Help People With MS?

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By Alan Mozes

HealthDay Reporter

THURSDAY, March 2, 2023 (HealthDay News) — A Mediterranean diet may help multiple sclerosis (MS) patients ward off damage to their thinking skills.

New research finds that a diet rich in veggies, fruit, fish and healthy fat reduced their risk of developing memory loss as well as losing the ability to concentrate, learn new things or make decisions.

A loss of such key mental skills, or “cognitive impairment,” is a common feature of MS, a neurological disease that short circuits critical communication between the brain and body.

But the new analysis of diet and mental status among 563 people with MS linked the Mediterranean diet to a 20% lower risk for cognitive difficulties.

“Mediterranean diet is a broad term and there are geographical variations,” said lead author Dr. Ilana Katz Sand, an associate professor of neurology at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City. “However, it refers to an overall pattern that favors fruits, vegetables, olive oil, nuts, fish, and whole grains and limits meats — particularly red meat — baked goods, and highly processed foods.”

Prior research has suggested that Mediterranean diets “have broad health benefits,” Katz Sand added, including some protection against heart disease, obesity, cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s and overall mental health decline.

“In this study,” she said, “we demonstrate a significant positive association between the level of alignment of one’s diet with a Mediterranean pattern and better cognition in people with MS.”

Katz Sand stressed that the protective association “remained strong” even after her team accounted for factors that can influence mental status. Those included age, gender, race, ethnicity, income, obesity, diabetes, smoking history, exercise habits and high blood pressure.

About 7 in 10 of the study participants were women, at an average age of 44. All completed a nutrition assessment and a screening for mental sharpness, or acuity.

About 19% of the MS patients had already experienced some degree of mental decline.

“When we grouped people according to their Mediterranean diet score, those in the lowest (scoring) group were far more likely to meet our criteria for cognitive impairment than those in the higher (scoring) groups,” Katz Sand said.

More research will be required to fully understand why such a diet would be protective among MS patients.

One possibility: The benefit may owe to “the chemical structure of the foods themselves, and the effects of these foods on the composition and function of the gut microbiota, (meaning) the bacteria that live in the gut,” she suggested.

In sum, she noted, the metabolites produced by digestion may have “distant effects outside the gut, including the ability to protect the brain from physical and cognitive decline due to MS.”

Katz Sand stressed that the findings are “observational,” reflecting the cognitive status of each participant at one moment in time. In other words, the study cannot prove that a Mediterranean diet staves off progressive mental decline in MS patients.

“We are encouraged by these results, but because of the study design, we are not able to say for certain that if people make a change in their diet, that they will have better cognition going forward than if they did not make that change,” Katz Sand said. “Before we make recommendations that promise particular benefits for people living with MS, we need well-designed interventional studies that provide a high level of evidence.”

Connie Diekman, a former president of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics who reviewed the findings, agreed that more research is needed to understand how the eating regimen might help MS patients and whether it changes the course of the disease.

Diekman said the study adds to existing research and “appears to further the support for a Mediterranean-type diet,” both for MS patients and as “a positive for everyone.”

The researchers released their findings March 1 in advance of a presentation scheduled for late April at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting, held in Boston and online. Research presented at meetings is typically considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

More information

There’s more about MS and nutrition at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

SOURCES: Ilana Katz Sand, MD, associate professor, neurology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and associate director, Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for MS at Mount Sinai, New York City; Connie Diekman, MEd, RD, food and nutrition consultant, St. Louis, and former president, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics; presentation, American Academy of Neurology meeting, Boston and online, April 22 to 27, 2023

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March 2, 2023
Christina Applegate hints at retiring from acting as she battles MS – National | Globalnews.ca
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Christina Applegate revealed that she may not be returning to set in the near future as her multiple sclerosis (MS) progresses. The Married with Children alum was diagnosed with the chronic autoimmune disease back in 2021.

In a profile with the Los Angeles Times, Applegate said that the upcoming Screen Actors Guild Awards will be her “last awards show as an actor probably, so it’s kind of a big deal.”

Applegate is nominated for outstanding performance by a female actor in a comedy series for her role as Jen Harding in the dark Netflix show Dead to Me.

Read more:

Christina Applegate details multiple sclerosis progression: ‘I’m never going to accept this’

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MS is a degenerative disease that attacks the central nervous system. It can affect vision, memory, balance and mobility and common symptoms include muscle stiffness, vertigo and cognitive impairment. Currently, there is no cure, according to the MS Society of Canada.

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Applegate told the LA Times that she plans to continue working on producing and developing, but acting on-set may be out of the question given her current condition.

“Right now, I couldn’t imagine getting up at 5 a.m. and spending 12 to 14 hours on a set; I don’t have that in me at this moment,” she said, though Applegate does plan on “doing a sh-t ton of voice-overs to make some cash to make sure that my daughter’s fed and we’re homed.”

Applegate previously revealed that she requires a cane to walk.

I have a very important ceremony coming up. This will be my first time out since diagnosed with MS. Walking sticks are now part of my new normal. Thank you @neowalksticks for these beauties. Stay tuned to see which ones make the cut for a week of stuff. pic.twitter.com/O543p1G4vS

— christina applegate (@1capplegate) October 27, 2022

Applegate revealed her MS diagnosis in August 2021, while shooting Dead to Me’s third and final season. The show had to take a break from shooting after Applegate began to experience “leg pain and tremors,” leading to her diagnosis.
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The actor insisted on returning to finish the season, even as the disease progressed, which proved to be a vulnerable experience.

“I was a wreck every day, but most of that wreck would take place in my trailer by myself,” Applegate said. “But there were times I’d break down on set and be like, ‘I can’t, we have to take a break, I need a half-hour,’ and everyone was so loving that it was OK.”

Read more:

Christina Applegate shines in 1st public appearance since MS diagnosis

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Applegate spoke about how meaningful it was to act alongside co-star and friend Linda Cardellini, who plays Judy Hale in the Netflix comedy, saying that sometimes the “set would disappear.”

“Everyone kind of disappeared, and it was the two of us as best friends, supporting each other, loving each other and saying goodbye to each other. I’d like to say there was skill involved, but really, Linda and I just disappeared.”

The final season of Dead to Me aired in November 2022, but Applegate said it took her “months” before she was able to watch it.

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“I don’t like seeing myself struggling,” she told the LA Times. “Also, I gained 40 pounds because of inactivity and medications, and I didn’t look like myself, and I didn’t feel like myself.”

“At some point, I was able to distance myself from my own ego and realize what a beautiful piece of television it was. All the scenes I wasn’t in were so much fun to see and experience for the very first time,” she added.

Canada has one of the highest rates of MS in the world, with an estimated 90,000 Canadians living with the disease, according to the MS Society. About 12 Canadians are diagnosed with MS every day.

1:55
Study: 12 Canadians diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis daily
&copy 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.

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February 8, 2023
Christina Applegate Says This Will Likely Be Her ‘Last Awards Show As An Actor’

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Christina Applegate revealed that the upcoming Screen Actors Guild awards could mark an incredibly poignant milestone in her career, due to her recent diagnosis with multiple sclerosis.

“It’s my last awards show as an actor probably, so it’s kind of a big deal,” the actor said in a new interview with the Los Angeles Times, published on Tuesday.

Applegate is up for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series at the ceremony, marking her sixth nomination ever.

The actor, who recently wrapped the final season of her Netflix hit, “Dead To Me,” told the outlet that she couldn’t “imagine getting up at 5 a.m. and spending 12 to 14 hours on a set; I don’t have that in me at this moment.”

Applegate confessed that she even found it hard to watch the last season of the show, as she doesn’t “like seeing myself struggling.”

Christina Applegate attends a ceremony honoring her with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Nov. 14, 2022, in Los Angeles.

Emma McIntyre via Getty Images

“Also, I gained 40 pounds because of inactivity and medications, and I didn’t look like myself, and I didn’t feel like myself,” the actor said.

“At some point I was able to distance myself from my own ego, and realize what a beautiful piece of television it was. All the scenes I wasn’t in were so much fun to see and experience for the very first time,” she added.

As for what the future holds next, the “Anchorman” star said she’s “doing a s**t ton of voice-overs to make some cash to make sure that my daughter’s fed and we’re homed.”

Applegate disclosed her multiple sclerosis diagnosis publicly in August 2021.

This disease, which affects the brain and spinal cord, can include symptoms like weakness in the legs and body, fatigue, slurred speech, loss of vision and dizziness.

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February 8, 2023
Fitting MS Into Your Schedule
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Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable neurological disease. No two people will have the same exact symptoms. When you have this chronic condition, symptoms can range from mild to severe. You could get problems such as fatigue and weakness, blurry vision, mood disorders, muscle spasms, or balance and focus issues.

Depending on the type of MS you have, your symptoms may flare up from time to time, or you may get new symptoms. The unpredictable nature of MS can be challenging, especially if you have to juggle a hectic schedule at your workplace, your school, or in your home life, like parenting and household chores.

Emily Reilly, 33, has firsthand experience. The Alexandria, VA, native, who works as a health care provider engagement manager at the National MS Society, was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS when she was 17. At the time, she was an active high school senior and an athlete.

“I was a soccer player with dreams to go play collegiate ball, and I had signed a soccer scholarship [a month] prior to my diagnosis,” she recalls.

She had noticed leg weakness and overall fatigue. An MRI scan revealed lesions on the spine. But an MS specialist put her on the right treatment plan and encouraged her to follow her soccer dreams and find ways to adapt to life with MS.

“He told me, ‘Don’t let me stop you.’ And so, I went on to play college soccer. I played all 4 years. I was actually an all-American goalkeeper, which was really cool,” Reilly says.

But it wasn’t easy. People who have relapsing-remitting MS tend to have periods of new or worsening symptoms followed by periods of partial or full recovery. This is called remission. Symptoms can strike at any time and throw a wrench in your routine or schedule.

It took quite a bit of strategy and effort on Reilly’s end to adapt to living with MS: prepping for occasional flare-ups and dealing with the constant fatigue. “During that time, I really learned how to manage my energy with being a college athlete and a student, and then also learning how to live with a chronic illness that’s so unpredictable.”

Reilly also credits exercise for helping her stay fit, healthy, and active. In fact, her passion for exercise and its impact on her well-being led her to become a certified personal trainer. She teaches modified exercises for people within the MS community.
How MS Can Affect Your Work-Life Balance

MS is an autoimmune condition, which means the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues. Its exact cause is unknown, but it happens when the immune system becomes disrupted and destroys the fatty substance called myelin sheath that coats and protects nerves in the brain and spinal cord, which makes up the central nervous system. This causes communication problems and confusion in the messages transmitted between the brain and the rest of your body.

Depending on the location of the attack, it may produce different neurological symptoms in each person. This is what makes “MS highly individualized” says Robert Bermel, MD, director of the Cleveland Clinic Mellen Center for Multiple Sclerosis.

MS symptoms can vary widely and range from mild to severe. Fatigue and mood issues seem to be the most common complaints. These “invisible symptoms” can be disabling, make it hard to do daily tasks, and can affect productivity at work or home.

Research shows that the socioeconomic impact of MS is high. For people living with this condition, reduced work hours, sick leave, poor work performance, and early retirement are common. The lack of energy carries over when you’re trying to run errands and balance the demands of your home life, too. Sometimes, you may just not have enough energy to get through your to-do list for the day.
“I think that the symptom of fatigue can be described as sort of like a gas tank with limited fuel in it. It’s like once you use it up, you’re sort of wiped out,” Bermel says.

Common MS symptoms include:

MS hug. It’s a tight squeezing sensation around your torso that can feel like a blood pressure cuff tightening around you.

Fatigue

Pain

Itching

A hard time walking and balancing

Numbness or tingling

Weakness

Muscle spasms

Blurry vision

Vertigo or feeling dizzy

Bladder and bowel issues

Mood swings

Depression

Changes in mental skills

Sexual problems

Less common symptoms include:

Speech problems

Loss of taste

Tremors

Seizures

A hard time breathing

Swallowing issues

Hearing loss
When to Call Your Doctor About Your MS Flare-Up

While MS symptoms can definitely disrupt your mood and your day, symptoms may vary in intensity, and not all of them are concerning. This is especially true if you’ve been newly diagnosed with MS.

“The most important things to figure out from the get-go is helping patients with MS to differentiate symptoms of a new MS relapse versus fluctuations of existing symptoms, which can certainly come and go and have good days and bad days. And those sometimes turn into ‘pseudo relapses,’ but I like to call them symptom fluctuations,” Bermel says.

If it’s a symptom you’ve never had before, it’s normal to feel anxious about it. But Brian Barry, MD, a neurologist and director of the MS clinic at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC, says it’s better to wait around 24 hours to see if the symptoms get better or worsen.

“Anybody can have numbness when they sleep on the wrong arm wrong or something that goes away after a few minutes or so. But if you’re having a new symptom, something you’ve never had before, or something that’s worse than you’ve ever had before, and especially if it’s lasting for more than a day, that’s definitely something that I would encourage people to talk with their neurology provider,” Barry says.

Certain things can also trigger a flare-up and make you feel worse. This can include things like stress, fever, urinary tract infections, overheating, or viral infections. Your symptoms may ease when the trigger subsides.

Experts say it’s best to wait and feel it out. This way, you don’t have to drop everything on your schedule on a moment’s notice. This can save you the hassle of a trip to your doctor’s office each time you notice a flare-up.

Tips to Manage Your Schedule With MS

The unpredictability of MS can be frustrating and may complicate your day-to-day life. But there are things you can do to manage your physical and emotional health in the long run. They include:

Conserve your energy. When you start your day, you may have limited energy. Use it earlier in the day and for tasks that are on top of your priority list. And Reilly says it’s OK to cut yourself some slack if you’re not able to hit everything on your to-do list.

“I think it’s important to give yourself permission to slow down, to say no. I think that’s super important to give yourself grace. Like maybe today I can’t do laundry, cook dinner, and meal prep or whatever,” she says.

Take rest when you need to. “We can manage it just by setting aside 15 minutes every 2 hours for physical and mental rest. That can be very helpful in avoiding things like overheating and dehydration,” says Barry.

This can help you feel recharged to get through your next task.

Get some exercise. Reilly notes that exercise not only boosts her physical health, but her thinking skills as well. She also stresses doing neuromotor exercises. This type of exercise can help with hand-eye coordination, agility, and balance — all of which help people with MS.

Doing this can be as simple as throwing and catching tennis balls, Reilly says. “Everyone can do it.”

Eat healthy. Eating a balanced and healthy meals regularly can get you the nutrition and energy you need to get through your day. But it’s best to avoid hot or spicy meals that can trigger a rise in body temperature.

If you’re not sure how to get started, talk to a dietitian to help you come up with a meal plan that works for you.

Communicate your limits at work. As MS can affect your productivity at work, it’s important to clearly communicate any limits you may have to your manager or co-workers. This can help manage expectations.

Barry says this can include “strategies that work to arrange for accommodation to have more frequent breaks.”

It can also include options like talking to your human resources department about remote work to accommodate your needs.

Don’t hesitate to ask for help. Chores around the house or other daily tasks may seem too much when you’ve barely got any energy. Ask your family and friends for help when you really need it.

“If you’ve got kiddos, maybe start having them help you around the house to help with some chores or really communicating with your spouse. It’s super important to let people know where they can help and step in,” says Reilly.

Find the treatment plan for you. While there’s no cure for MS, disease-modifying medications and other treatment plans can help you manage the condition. Ask your doctor what’s right for you.

“[If MS is] affecting someone’s quality of life, we have medication that we commonly use for their pain, if it’s difficulties with walking, then we’ll recommend the trial of physical therapy,” says Barry.

Occupational therapy is another option. Occupational therapists work with any limits you may have in terms of work or home life and can help find ways to adapt to living with MS in the long run.

But it’s important to keep in mind that MS affects each person differently. What works for one person may not always work for you. It’s best to work with your health care team to find solutions to manage your schedule.

“You can’t write the rules of someone else’s MS; you really have to personalize the approach and the management of it. That’s one of the things that’s really challenging about MS — the unpredictability and the heterogeneity of it. It’s a little bit different in everybody, and everybody makes their own story with MS,” Bermel says.

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December 12, 2022
MS Questionnaire Helps Measure Symptoms and Spot Early Disease Changes
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By Tjalf Ziemssen, MD, as told to Keri Wiginton

Ziemssen presented “Development and Usability Testing of a Patient-based Digital Tool to Understand Early Signs of Changes in Multiple Sclerosis Symptoms and Progression: Your MS Questionnaire” at the American Academy of Neurology’s 73rd Annual meeting, April 17-22, 2021, where scientists discuss the latest research in MS and other brain and nerve conditions.

I think it’s obvious to use digital tools or quantitative scores for certain things, such as a neurological exam. But up to now, there wasn’t a standard way to gather a patient’s history. With the MSProgression Discussion Tool (MSProDiscuss), we can measure someone’s neurological history in a structured way.

MSProDiscuss is a digital tool for health care professionals. They can use it to assess, track, or spot early changes in the course of multiple sclerosis (MS). But doctors don’t always get the full picture. We thought it would be helpful to involve the person with MS as well. That’s why we tried to make sure the “Your MS Questionnaire” was user-friendly.

We know that people with MS are happy to give us input, and they want to get more involved in their treatment. They can fill out the questionnaire at home or before they go into their doctor’s office. That gives their neurologist something in hand to start a conversation with. We found that both doctors and patients like this.

The hope is that a standardized patient history — something a doctor might update every 3-6 months — can give us more clues about the evolution and progression of MS. But it can also boost the “quality time” of an appointment. That’s something I want for my own practice. If I already have screening questions and I know where the problems are, then I can be more precise in how I tackle those issues.

Earlier Symptom Treatment

Most patients think in a different way than their doctors. For them, it’s not all about MRI activity or what happens at the pathological level. They’re driven by symptoms. This questionnaire offers an approach that puts their disease, and the management of that disease, into easy-to-understand categories.
For me, it’s not only important to use this tool to have information about potential disease progression. But if I have answers from a screening questionnaire — for example, about bladder function — I know that I should start symptomatic treatment for the bladder disorder. If we see there’s a problem with pain or spasticity, we can treat that right away.

So the questionnaire gives us information on two fronts: We learn more about the progression or evolution of MS, which could be important for disease-modifying strategies. And we learn things that can be helpful for each person’s symptom treatment.

It also covers all neurological symptoms, even the ones that aren’t so easy or fun to talk about. That can help us help people who might shy away from certain topics. And it gets some of the paperwork out of the way before the visit starts. That gives people more time to talk about important things. When we can do that, I think we’ve managed to have quite a successful visit.
The Your MS Questionnaire

We know that MS affects how the body works in certain ways. These are called functional domains. We ask first about whether there’s disease activity either through an MRI or relapse. Next, we ask about symptoms across different functions of the body. For example, we ask if there are any problems or changes in:

Eyesight

Fatigue

Walking

Balance or coordination

Pain

Unusual sensations or numbness

If someone does have worsening symptoms, they can answer some follow-ups. How often do they have them? Has it been a short time? Do they come and go? Are these issues there all the time? And if someone with MS answered these questions 6 months earlier, we could compare whether their symptoms are the same or different. That can shine some light on whether their MS is getting worse.

We also ask about the impact of symptoms on daily life. That includes activities such as:

Housework

Driving

Hobbies

Going to work

They can grade the seriousness of the impact from 1-5. That ranges from no impact to you can’t do the activity because your MS symptoms are such a problem.
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The questionnaire helps us know if MS symptoms are stable or not. That’s very important whether someone has secondary progressive MS (SPMS) or primary progressive MS (PPMS). If neurologists don’t ask for updates in a systematic way, they might miss a lot of symptoms. For example, people might not understand that their bladder function is linked to MS. They might think urinary problems are something they should tell their urologist about, not their neurologist.

We also believe that a graded symptom history gives us more sensitive information than simply doing a neurological test every 6 months.

What’s Next?

My dream would be that we would have a “checkbot” that people could use. It would be pre-loaded with standard screening questions that could go deeper into symptoms. History is getting more and more important. And if you collect it in a structured way that you can measure it, especially if you compare it to what’s happened within the last 6 months, I think you’ll get even more valuable information.

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November 17, 2022
Treating MS Pain With Virtual Reality

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By Leigh Charvet, PhD, clinical neuropsychologist, as told to Alyson Powell Key

Charvet and Martin Malik co-presented the study “Virtual Reality as an Intervention for Chronic Pain in Multiple Sclerosis” at the American Academy of Neurology’s 73rd Annual Meeting, April 17-22, 2021, where scientists discuss the latest research in MS and other brain and nerve conditions.

VR is developing rapidly, both from the technology aspect and its use in all kinds of health care applications. It provides a 3D environment that you’re psychologically immersed in, including all sensory experiences. It’s like a full 3D movie environment.

VR is being also used quite a bit now for medical education, allowing doctors to go into the heart, walk through the brain, or see diseases. It’s also being used in rehabilitation to make exercise more enjoyable and give feedback that can help with recovery.

Treating MS Pain With Virtual Reality

We’re very interested in the rehabilitation space and using VR for its sensory psychological benefits. It was first used in the research world for people who had acute burns, such as military veterans.

The basic idea is that the more immersed you are in VR, the less your brain can pay attention to other stimuli like pain signals. When the pain is overwhelming, you can go into a different world. That was the basis of our interest in using it for MS-related pain. Does VR strengthen the mind’s ability to harness attention away from pain or discomfort signals?

Most of our patients live with the burden of day-to-day pain. So we took a specific angle to see if repeated VR sessions can allow the mind to lower pain signal noise and provide an escape, both within and outside of the VR environment, over time.

Eight patients were enrolled in the study based on having high long-term pain related to their MS. We designed the intervention as 8 separate days of 35-minute VR sessions. The larger study is designed to compare different VR content. We categorized it as active, where you’re seated but move your hands and actively navigate the environment, versus passive, where you watch an emotionally neutral or pleasant video.

All participants were seated. For the “interactive” content, participants used hand controllers to move through a virtual 3D space. They navigated through virtual environments and did simple activities such as virtually catching or throwing a ball. For the “passive” content, they viewed the 3D space without any interactive navigation or activity. Instead, they viewed neutral and enjoyable VR videos such as tours through natural settings. In both conditions, all participants completed a guided VR mindfulness experience, viewing a relaxing VR environment with peaceful breathing prompts.

We measured pain ratings before and after each session. People had a significant reduction in how much pain they experienced at that time. The second thing we found is that patients’ chronic pain ratings dropped after back-to-back, repeated VR immersion. And everyone who completed the study reported that they enjoyed the VR sessions.

The Future of VR for Pain Management

VR technology is such a rapidly moving space, and now there’s at-home VR. It’s appealing because it’s not medication and could be on demand. The next step is to try home delivery and developing it to reach larger sample sizes. We want to compare and refine the content to identify what would be most helpful for the person. There’s interest in offering VR as a treatment for patients with different conditions.

There’s a lot of power in how we can apply it; it just needs to be studied to optimize the benefits.

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November 17, 2022
Christina Applegate makes first public appearance since MS diagnosis – getting her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

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Walking barefoot along Hollywood’s iconic Walk of Fame on Monday, award-winning actor Christina Applegate was beaming as she accepted her own mark among the stars. It was Applegate’s first public appearance in more than a year, since she disclosed in August 2021 that she had been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 14: (L-R) David Faustino, Katey Sagal, and Christina Applegate pose with Christina Applegate’s star during her Hollywood Walk of Fame Ceremony at Hollywood Walk Of Fame on November 14, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.

/ Getty Images

“This day means more to me than you could possibly imagine,” she said as she accepted her star decades after she got her start in the industry.

The actor, who will be 51 on November 25, has starred in dozens of productions, landing her first iconic role as Kelly Bundy in “Married… with Children” in 1987. She went on to star in “Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead,” “Anchorman,” “Samantha Who?” and most recently, “Dead to Me.”

Then in 2021, she said that she had been diagnosed with MS, a disease that attacks the central nervous system. Fellow actor Selma Blair has also been diagnosed with the disease, which can cause communication issues and pain, as well as cause people to lose their ability to see and walk, among other symptoms.

Speaking at the ceremony welcoming her to the Hollywood Star Walk of Fame on Monday, Applegate got emotional as she spoke abut the significant role her friends and family have played in her journey with MS.

“I don’t say that I have friends, I have family. These people take care of me. They take care of me every day of my life and without them, I don’t know what I would do,” she said, before addressing “the most important person in this world” – her 11-year-old daughter Sadie Grace LeNoble.

Christina Applegate tears up while thanking her family for always “taking care of her” as she receives her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. 💖 pic.twitter.com/p4LxJsyp9y

— Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) November 14, 2022

“You so much more than even you know. You are so beautiful and kind and loving and smart and interesting and I am blessed every day that I get to wake up and take you to your school,” she said to her daughter. “You are my everything. Thank you for standing beside me through all of this.”

In between the tears, she turned to the cameras and said, “Oh by the way, I have a disease, did you not notice? I’m not even wearing shoes.”

Applegate tweeted a photo from the event of her standing barefoot on her star, explaining her reasoning for doing so.

Barefoot. For some with MS the feeling of shoes may hurt or make us feel off balance. So today I was me. Barefoot pic.twitter.com/eJBGg1Wyug

— christina applegate (@1capplegate) November 15, 2022

“For some with MS, the feeling of shoes may hurt or make us feel off balance,” she said. “So today I was me. Barefoot.”

Many of her closest co-stars attended the event, including “Dead to Me” partner Linda Cardellini and “Married… with Children” co-stars Katey Sagal, who portrayed her mother Peggy Bundy, and David Faustino who played her brother, Bud Bundy.

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Li Cohen

Li Cohen is a social media producer and trending reporter for CBS News, focusing on social justice issues.

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November 15, 2022