By Alene Brennan
Tis the season to be merry and bright… unless you’re living with multiple sclerosis and wanting to just crawl under the covers at the idea of the holiday commotion.
It seems like all the symptoms of MS can be amplified during the holiday season. Why? Because as much as it is a wonderful time of year, it inevitably increases stress.
For some people, it’s “good” stress – the additional social events with Continue reading
It’s that time of year again when the leaves start falling off the trees in earnest, the weather turns cooler, and the sniffles start to spread around offices and schools. Welcome to cold and flu season. When it comes to preventing the common cold or the flu, there are different strategies Continue reading
Wow, I can’t believe its November already! I don’t know where this year has gone, but its end is quickly approaching and with it, the holiday season. Any time of year can be hectic and stressful. For many, the holidays bring an added helping of overload and chaos a lot of the time. While some are able to focus on Continue reading
Oh the weather outside is frightful… But not as frightening as the fact that Christmas is just 48 days away (48!). If you are anything like me you will get your shopping done roughly 48 hours to 1 week before Christmas. I don’t know if it’s the worry of finding the right gift or the rush of mall insanity that makes last minute shopping a favorite past time. Or if it’s the fact that Amazon Prime same-day delivery has essentially Continue reading
Election season is upon us and there are many important races all across the country awaiting the decision of the people. If you feel unsure about voting, or how to get to the polls, check out these five things to keep in mind before you cast your ballot.
Depending on the state you live in, there may be a specific deadline that you must register before. If you have already missed Continue reading
MSAA is very proud to present our 2018-19 Art Showcase – celebrating the work of artists affected by multiple sclerosis (MS), like Judy (below) who is a Seattle artist with multiple sclerosis.
We have received many wonderful submissions from across the country and are delighted to share their work and their stories with you. Please visit our online gallery to view all of the new submissions.
| Judy Oberto – Seattle, WA Charlie |
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About the Artist
“My mom always told me I was just like her mother who was ‘slow, artistic, had beautiful skin and had MS.’ Since I was over 50, I was breathing a sigh of relief that I had missed the MS part. Then at 57, in 2002, I was diagnosed with MS. The diagnosis did prompt some major changes in our life, including a move to a more accessible house in a lovely area near Hood Canal, WA. I am 72 now, and I am happy to say, MS has not affected my mobility or dexterity very much.”
The Multiple Sclerosis Association of America is proud to introduce the latest edition of The Motivator, available now in both print and digital editions! This edition’s cover story, “Revealing the Mysteries behind Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI),” covers how an MRI works, what it shows, the challenges it presents, and how the MRI is used to monitor disease activity.
Read an excerpt from our cover story here:
MS can sometimes be “clinically silent,” where active lesions are not causing any symptoms. However at other times, certain lesions observed through an MRI correspond specifically to some type of dysfunction, depending on where the lesion is located. For instance, a lesion on the optic nerve may cause optic neuritis, while a lesion on the brainstem can cause vertigo and/or double vision.
Lesions along the spinal cord cause very specific symptoms depending on their location, but in general, these typically relate to either motor (movement) or sensory (sensation) problems. When lesions occur within the anterior (front) portion of the spinal cord, motor or movement functions are affected. Difficulty with coordination and strength with moving one’s arms or walking are examples of symptoms that may occur. When lesions occur within the posterior (back) portion of the spinal cord, sensory problems are more likely. These might include numbness, tingling, burning, and/or loss of feeling, month other sensory issues.
Continue reading the cover story at support.mymsaa.org/motivator to learn more about MRI technology and how that helps monitor MS activity.
Although each individual’s journey with MS can be incredibly varied, there is one common factor experienced by nearly all individuals with MS at some point throughout their journey with the condition: relapse. Relapses are all too common for individuals across varying types of MS, despite common misconceptions. Contrary to the names of the various types of MS, relapses can Continue reading
There are lots of things that occur in the world that we don’t speak about. We could spend the better part of any day listing all the things that currently see our families, friends and neighbors at odds. Don’t worry, I won’t pester you with a list… I know you’re probably already more than aware of them anyway. But one that I did want to shed light on, for a moment if I may, is voting. Continue reading
No one likes to think about where multiple sclerosis may lead…not even me. But I can tell you from my own experience, ignoring the possibilities of progression is to live in denial and will only set you up for defeat. Trust me, I lived there my first year after diagnosis.
I chose to deny what was happening in my life because I was afraid of the unknown. Continue reading