Tag Archives: multiple sclerosis education

MS Education – A 2014 Resolution

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By Matt Cavallo

I have been living with Multiple Sclerosis for eight years now. I have not had a major relapse since 2010. Today, I am living the life that I always wanted despite having MS. I am able to work fulltime, have a loving home life with my wife and kids and participate in activities like coaching my son’s baseball team. One of the reasons that I believe I am doing well battling this disease is because I am always seeking to increase my education and understanding of the disease.

Understanding Multiple Sclerosis and all the available options for chronic illness management is paramount to being successful despite having MS. Now, more than ever, the landscape of available options is changing due to advances in medicine and tireless research. Educating yourself on the MS pipeline will make you better equipped to continue your fight.

So, where should you go for resources? Your first and best resource is your neurologist. Each MS patient is different and your neurologist knows your story better than anyone else. I see a neurologist who specializes in Multiple Sclerosis and stays up to date on all the latest MS breakthroughs and research studies.

Second, get involved in community events. Patient education events are held all over the country and have excellent information for patients. For example, the MSAA has a calendar of community events. Other organizations like the National MS Society or pharmaceutical companies also hold similar patient educational events.

Third, seek out evidence-based printed material. The Internet can be a great source of information, but how do you know that what you are reading is coming from a credible source? I frequent support groups on Facebook, Twitter and other online outlets, but how do you know that the information that you are receiving in those groups is valid? Sadly, there is a lot of misinformation on the Internet and social media sites.  Listening to advice from unreliable or irresponsible sources can actually be detrimental to your health.  My favorite online reference for MS is Healthline.com, “What do you want to know about Multiple Sclerosis?” This is a one stop shop to get high level information on the cause, types and treatments for MS.

Another publication that I love is The Motivator. The Motivator is published twice a year by the MSAA and covers vital issues for people living with MS. You can have the print version of The Motivator mailed to you or read it online.

Staying educated about Multiple Sclerosis will put you in a position to live well despite your condition. Taking advantage of the resources available to you will ensure that you are up-to-date with the latest, most accurate information.  Establishing an open, honest and trusting relationship with your neurologist is vital to your overall health.  They should be your go-to before making any health-related decisions. Patient events and literature can provide you with useful information as long as they are from credible sources.  If your resolution for 2014 is to take control of MS then it all starts with educating yourself on how to fight the disease.

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Resources

http://support.mymsaa.org/site/PageServer?pagename=Calendar_of_Events

http://www.healthline.com/health/multiple-sclerosis

https://mymsaa.org/publications/motivator/

*Matt Cavallo was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2005. Matt is an MS blogger, author, patient advocate, and motivational speaker. Matt also has his Master’s degree in Public Health Administration. Matt is the proud father of his two sons, loving husband to his wife, Jocelyn, and best friend to his dog, Teddy. Originally from the Boston suburbs, Matt currently resides in Arizona with his family. To learn more about Matt, please visit him at : http://mattcavallo.com/blog/

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Greetings from the Northeast! An Update from Multiple Sclerosis Association of America Northeast Regional Director

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By Lauren Hooper

Greetings from your Northeast Regional Director! As summer begins to wind down and fall approaches, MSAA has a few educational programs lined up in the Northeast Region, and I hope you’ll consider joining us if there are any coming up in your area.

On Tuesday, August 27th, I traveled to Morristown, NJ for a program on symptom management in MS that focused on helping patients to identify the overall range of MS symptoms (especially symptoms with treatment options available) and how to best address them with their professional care team. Dr. Mary Ann Picone from Holy Name MS Center was the guest speaker, and she made sure to answer every attendee’s question during the Q&A session. It was such an interactive program, and as everyone was leaving, a few people stopped to tell me how nice it was to be able to talk to a physician outside of the clinical setting. Everyone seemed relieved to have had all of their questions addressed, and I was thrilled that they benefited so much from the program.

In September, my travels will take me to Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Maryland. On September 14th, I’ll travel to Bangor, ME for a patient program on “Tackling the Everyday Challenges: Recent Breakthroughs in MS Symptom Management & What’s to Come” (support.mymsaa.org/Bangor). On September 21st, I’ll be in Braintree, MA for a program designed for parents and children to help build a better understanding of MS, called “Bridging the Communication Gap between Parents with MS and their Children” (support.mymsaa.org/DBBraintreeMA). On September 25th, I will head to Burlington, VT for a patient program on “Cognition in Multiple Sclerosis” (support.mymsaa.org/Burlington). And I’ll wrap up September in Baltimore, MD on September 28th with a patient program focusing on the African American experience with MS entitled “A Closer Look at the African American Community and Multiple Sclerosis” (support.mymsaa.org/Baltimore).

Later this fall, I am also planning on holding programs in Pennsylvania and New Hampshire, and I hope to get back to New York before the end of the year as well. If you don’t see a program in your area, please keep checking our Calendar of Events (support.mymsaa.org/calendar) regularly, as we are constantly adding new programs. I hope to see you at a program soon!

* Lauren Hooper is the Northeast Regional Director at MSAA.

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