RealTalk MS

The CDC tells us that 36 million falls are reported each year, resulting in 3 million adults being transported to the emergency room and 32,000 adults dying from their falls. Studies have shown that, in any six-month period, more than 50% of the people living with MS fall at least once, and more than 30% fall multiple times. Falling can cause broken bones, brain damage, and worse. That's why I'm d...

Today, we're talking about a topic that you've told me is the topic that you'd most like me to cover on this podcast -- autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, or HSCT. And I'm dedicating this entire episode of RealTalk MS to a deep dive on the subject with the man who pioneered autologous HSCT as a treatment for relapsing-remitting MS, Dr. Richard Burt. We have a lot  to talk about! A...

Last week, in Episode 279 of RealTalk MS we talked with Professor Tanja Kuhlmann about a new framework for researching, diagnosing, and treating MS that was proposed by the International Advisory Committee on Clinical Trials in Multiple Sclerosis. This proposed framework represents the next evolutionary step in diagnosing and treating MS. Joining me this week to talk about how this proposed framew...

Every episode of RealTalk MS features updates and reports about emerging science. And, as you listen, some of you may wonder, ' When will these scientific achievements benefit me? When will these breakthroughs and advancements make their way from the laboratory workbench to the clinic? '   That's exactly what the panel of MS experts who comprise the International Advisory Committee on Clinical Tri...

When people ask me how I go about deciding who to interview for this podcast, my answer has always been the same. I look for difference-makers. People whose efforts are making a real difference in the MS community. They might be a researcher, clinician, rehabilitation specialist, MS Navigator, fundraiser...it's a long list. A difference-maker might also be someone who motivates and inspires all of...

For me, the holiday season is a time for joy, celebration, and reflection. And when I reflect upon the advances in MS research that we've seen in the past year, it's hard not to feel encouraged. 2022 will be remembered as the year when the National MS Society published the Pathways to Cures research roadmap, a bold initiative focused on stopping MS progression, restoring lost function, and ending...

This special episode of RealTalk MS is sponsored by EMD Serono and  MS in the 21st Century . In this special episode of RealTalk MS, I'm joined by Professor Peter Rieckmann, Stanca Potra, and Maria Paz Giambastiani. We're taking a look back at the advances that have been made in treating MS and focusing our eyes ahead to determine the work that still needs to be done.  Professor Rieckmann is the C...

Some of you might remember that at the end of October, I was in Amsterdam, attending the 2022 ECTRIMS Congress. ECTRIMS is an acronym for the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis, and their annual scientific congress is the largest MS research conference in the world. As the conference ended, I sat on some steps outside the conference center alongside the National MS...

The first step in living well with MS is establishing a treatment plan with your neurologist or MS specialist. And a disease-modifying therapy, or DMT, should be the foundation of that plan. Joining me to talk about what disease-modifying therapies can and can't do, and how to work with your doctor to find the best MS medication for you is the Clinical Pharmacy Specialist in Multiple Sclerosis and...

This special episode of RealTalk MS is sponsored by EMD Serono and  MS in the 21st Century . In this special episode of RealTalk MS, we're talking with Professor Dawn Langdon and David Yeandle about the impact of MS-related cognitive issues on employment.  Professor Langdon is a Professor of Neuropsychology with a special interest in cognition at the Royal Holloway University of London, in the Uni...

A quick scan of the news on any given day should remind all of us that natural disasters can strike anywhere at any time. Whether it's massive snowstorms, earthquakes, wildfires, hurricanes or floods, no one is immune when Mother Nature chooses to act up. That's why being prepared for a natural disaster is important for everyone. And if you're living with MS, it's especially important for you to h...

Spasticity is one of the most common symptoms of MS, impacting up to 80% of the people living with MS. It can feel like mild muscle tightness that you wish would just go away or it can be so painful and debilitating that it keeps you from moving. Dr. Michelle Cameron joins me in this episode to discuss what spasticity is and how to best manage it. Dr. Cameron is a neurologist and physical therapis...

This week's episode of RealTalk MS was recorded in front of a LIVE audience at the National MS Society's 2022 Leadership Conference.  Joining me in this special episode are Lori Turley, who was diagnosed with MS in 2021, and whose commitment to fundraising and advocacy is already producing dividends, and Dr. Bradley Zuchero, an MS Society-funded research fellow whose lab has discovered the biologi...

When we talk about managing MS on this podcast, we're usually talking about treatments based upon traditional Western medicine. But there are also complementary therapies that have been shown to improve MS symptoms. And acupuncture is one of those complementary therapies that's been shown to be effective in treating pain, spasticity, numbness or tingling, bladder problems, and depression.  Joining...

Last week, over 7,000 MS researchers and clinicians from more than 100 countries traveled to Amsterdam to attend the 2022 ECTRIMS (European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis) Congress, the largest MS research conference in the world. As has become an annual ECTRIMS tradition on RealTalk MS, the National MS Society's Executive Vice-President of Research, Dr. Bruce Bebo, and...

A couple of months ago, the Inflation Reduction Act was signed into law. And while it touches on many different areas, it will be remembered as the most consequential healthcare bill since the Affordable Care Act. From the emails I've received, I know that many of you are wondering how and when this new law will impact what you pay for your prescription medications. The National MS Society's Vice-...

If you're on Medicare, or you get your health insurance through the healthcare.gov marketplace or one of the state health insurance exchanges, then you might already know that the annual open enrollment period is about to get underway or, in some cases, is already underway. Health insurance policies change. Physician networks change. Drug formularies often change. Deductibles change. And if you're...

It's flu season and that makes it an excellent time to talk about vaccines. People living with MS often have questions about whether a particular vaccine is good for them or whether it might carry with it the risk of a relapse or other negative health consequence. Dr. Lisa Doggett joins me to brief us on all things related to vaccines and MS. Dr. Doggett is a family doctor as well as the Senior Me...

Living with MS can make everyday run-of-the-mill tasks like bathing, cooking, and driving more challenging than they have to be. The National MS Society's Associate Vice President of Research, Dr. Kathy Zackowski, joins me with a whole list of simple adjustments and easy modifications that you can make that will make the things you do every day easier. Get ready to take some notes! A lot of you ha...

Living with MS comes with its own set of sometimes significant challenges.  But being in the dark, unaware of the noteworthy and remarkable advances being made in MS research is one challenge that we're learning to overcome.  Sharon Roman is a patient-partner and writer for the British Medical Journal Group. Sharon lives with MS and she also writes a blog called Tremlett's MS Research Explained ....

We're celebrating the 5th anniversary of RealTalk MS and we're kicking it off with my exclusive conversation with CNN national correspondent and anchor, John King. John was diagnosed with MS in 2008. However, John didn't disclose his diagnosis until 2021 -- in an unplanned moment on national television. John shares his MS journey from the day he was diagnosed through his unplanned disclosure. And...

In addition to its physical symptoms, MS can also affect your emotional well-being. Depression, persistent anxiety, and extreme irritability are common. And, just like the physical symptoms of MS, they require treatment. But people living with MS tend to focus on their physical health and, too often, end up neglecting their mental health. Dr. Dawn Ehde joins me to talk about maintaining and streng...

The conversation between a doctor and patient is evolving from a time when that conversation was often limited to the doctor prescribing a particular disease-modifying medication and the patient silently nodding their head in agreement to something much more closely resembling a real conversation. Shared decision-making offers the patient an opportunity to discuss their treatment goals, explain th...

When you're living with MS, even the most mundane daily tasks can sometimes be challenging. There are days when opening a door, taking things out of a drawer or a cupboard, or picking something up from the floor can all seem out of reach. Those just happen to be some of the many tasks that a service dog can help you with. This week, attorney Trevor Hardy joins me to talk about the impact that his...

Women are roughly 3 times more likely to develop MS compared to men. But when men develop MS, they're more likely to experience a more aggressive disease course. Men are more likely to experience motor problems, loss of coordination and balance, and cognitive difficulties. When they experience a relapse, men are more likely to see their exacerbated symptoms continue, even during times of remission...