Featuring Barry A. Hendin, MD
MSAA’s Chief Medical Officer
Question: What types of visual disorders may be caused by MS, and are any types of visual issues not typically associated with MS?
Answer: Visual signs and symptoms are common in multiple sclerosis and ultimately affect the majority of people with MS at some time in their lives. Problems occur when there is demyelination of the optic nerve or the brain stem centers that control eye movements.
Continue reading
For the average person, catching a cold is a minor inconvenience—a few days of tissues and cough syrup before bouncing back to work. But for those of us living with multiple sclerosis (MS), the narrative is often drastically different. We know that a “simple” bug can feel like a seismic event. As one community member vividly shared, “mundane ailments can knock us down for the count.” What might be a fleeting annoyance for our friends and family can hit us with the force of a freight train, leaving us drained and vulnerable.
Continue readingWe often talk about the “summer slide” when the heat wipes us out, but winter is just as complicated for our community. Some of us are celebrating the drop in temperatures, while others are dreading the daily pain. It really shows how different MS can be for everyone. We are all just trying to figure out how to handle the thermostat without losing our minds.
Continue readingFeaturing Barry A. Hendin, MD
MSAA’s Chief Medical Officer
Barry Hendin, MD
Question: What should care partners do if they suspect depression in their loved one with MS, and what are the treatment options?
Answer: Like other medical illnesses, depression is often a shared experience between the person experiencing it and their care partner. It’s helpful to be an empathetic listener and supporter, rather than believing that it’s up to you to fix it.
Continue readingAs we approach the season of giving, the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA) would like to bring special attention to the many wonderful community members that we serve. With our mission of Improving Lives Today, MSAA genuinely strives to advocate for and prioritize the well-being of all individuals who have been affected by multiple sclerosis. Over the years, we have collaborated with so many inspiring people, and we are honored to be able to highlight their stories.
In the spirit of the holiday season, we would like to share the heartfelt story of mother and son, Monica and Brian, who both live with multiple sclerosis.
“I’ve learned that in any situation, if you are not advocating for yourself, you’re not going to get anything. My name is Monica Proctor Wilson, and I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis on my 40th birthday after spending several years seeking answers to my symptoms. For four or five years, doctors kept saying that it was fatigue, and that I was overworked and needed to take a break. I believed it was multiple sclerosis, and I started asking about it. People would ask me, ‘Why would you want MS?’ I did not want MS. I just wanted to know what was going on with me,” Monica shared.
Continue readingDealing with changes to your vision due to multiple sclerosis (MS) can be one of the scariest and most stressful things you face. It’s a core sense we rely on every minute, and any trouble with it can feel overwhelming. If you’re struggling, please know you are absolutely not alone. Your challenges are valid. As one forum member shared, dealing with vision issues can truly “mess with your head.”
Continue readingSleep…. This word can generate a mixture of feelings for many. Some people find it so easy to just lay their head down, turn off the inside chatter of their mind for a bit, and fall into a good snooze. But for others, sleep is a tease- a taunting pleasure just out of reach, and for various reasons. For those living with MS, it’s very common fatigue symptom can be in constant conflict with sleep. Those who need to rest but find they can’t, or getting sleep at unwanted/inconvenient times, etc. We know that sleep is extremely important for our minds and bodies, but it’s not always easy to attain.
Continue readingFeaturing Barry A. Hendin, MD
MSAA’s Chief Medical Officer
Barry Hendin, MD
Question: What are the symptoms of anxiety, and how does anxiety differ from depression?
Answer: It is common for people with and without MS to experience anxiety from time to time. Anxiety can be helpful in fact, alerting us to dangers around us or focusing our attention on stressors. Anxiety, however, can become more problematic when it’s severe, pervasive, and persistent. Then it becomes a disorder: generalized anxiety disorder. At that point, it distracts from our quality of life.
Continue readingBy Stacie Prada
Being creative is generally accepted as a desirable trait, and the science supports it helps our well-being. When we look at our health physically, it’s often using objective measurements, lab test results, and diagnostic imaging. They provide numerical measurements and data to compare ourselves to a healthy range for most people.
To capture emotional well-being, we use more subjective measurements that consider mood, worry, stress, happiness, and level of confidence we feel about managing our health.
Continue readingBy Dr. Eva Jackson
Reflections on Life After Diagnosis
Over the past several years, I have had the privilege of hearing MS Warriors share their personal experiences following their diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. Their stories offer a unique perspective on how disease has influenced their lives.
For some individuals, the initial impact of MS was minimal, allowing them to maintain their routines and activities without significant disruption. However, for others—particularly those diagnosed during more advanced stages, the effects were much more profound and immediate, altering their daily lives in meaningful ways.
Despite these varying experiences, there is a shared understanding among all of us: the importance of making the most out of life while we can. This common outlook serves as a powerful reminder to cherish each moment and embrace opportunities for fulfillment, regardless of the challenges we face.
Continue reading