RealTalk MS

This special episode of RealTalk MS is sponsored by Sanofi.  By now, you may have come across the term smoldering MS and wondered what it means. An international panel of MS experts has published a consensus statement on the definition, biology, and clinical implications of smoldering MS. Joining me is the lead author of that paper, Dr. Antonio Scalfari. Dr. Antonio Scalfari has a research backgro...

More than half of the people living with MS live with pain. And, too often, the distraction and discomfort of MS-related pain can stop you from fully engaging in every aspect of your life. Dr. Bianca Weinstock-Guttman joins me to discuss treatment options for managing MS pain. Dr. Weinstock-Guttman is a neurologist and professor of neurology at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences...

Living your best life with MS means learning to overcome the stigma of having a disability, successfully navigating social relationships, and learning how to ask for and accept help. Joining me to share their perspectives and their experiences in overcoming some of these social obstacles are Denise Schnieders, who was diagnosed with MS just about a year ago, and Fox Rigney, who's been living with...

When we talk about myelin damage, most of us typically think of the brain. After all, that myelin is located in your central nervous system. But the inflammation that causes  myelin damage may be triggered by activity that's taking place well south of your central nervous system, in your gut microbiome, the colony of trillions of bacteria and microorganisms that live in your intestines.  Dr. Ashut...

The TEAAMS study examines the effects of a remotely delivered, racially-tailored exercise training program among African-Americans with MS, who are living in low-income areas of the Southeastern United States, which is a part of the country that doesn't have many primary care or MS clinics that provide full exercise and rehabilitation services for patients with MS. Ashli, who lives with MS and has...

MS symptoms can worsen, and relapses can occur. And when that happens, how do you know whether you require immediate medical care? When is it time to go to the hospital? Dr. Kalina Sanders joins me to talk about when it's time to seek immediate medical care for MS. Dr. Sanders is a board-certified neurologist who specializes in multiple sclerosis and spasticity management at Baptist Health in Jack...

This special episode of RealTalk MS is sponsored by EMD Serono and is only intended for a U.S. audience. EMD Serono is the healthcare business of Merck, KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, in the United States and Canada. In this special episode of RealTalk MS, Dr. Mary Rensel and Amanda Montague join me to explore HCP (Healthcare Provider) burnout and patient empowerment; and we'll be taking a close look a...

The new year brings with it several significant benefits for many people affected by MS. We're reviewing how the nearly 400,000 people with MS who rely on Medicare for their health insurance will save thousands of dollars, how people with MS who currently have medical debt will see a big improvement on their credit report, and how people who fly with their mobility device will see major improvemen...

There are genetic risks associated with MS, there are demographic risks of experiencing a more severe disease course, and there are also behavioral and lifestyle risks that will increase the chance that someone will be diagnosed with MS. Joining me today to discuss behavioral and lifestyle MS risk factors and how they can be mitigated are Doctor Jared Bruce and Dr. Amanda Bruce. Dr. Jared Bruce is...

One of the most important MS research events every   year is the annual European Committee for Treatment and Research in MS Scientific Congress, usually referred to by its acronym, ECTRIMS.    You've made our podcast episode that followed ECTRIMS the most downloaded episode of the year.  So, this week, I'm revisiting the two conversations that I had immediately after the ECTRIMS conference ended....

The holiday season provides me with an opportunity to indulge in what's become a RealTalk MS tradition. I reserve the last two episodes of the year to revisit the most compelling and important conversations that I've had over the past year. This week, I'm revisiting two conversations I had with two experts on MS and women's health issues. MS affects women almost 3 times more frequently than it aff...

There's an alarming shortage of neurologists in the United States. That shortage makes it hard to be seen by a neurologist and, in some regions of the U.S., you may not even find an MS specialist without having to travel hundreds of miles. The good news is now there's an app for that! Joining me to talk about how an app called BeCare is already changing the game when it comes to MS care is the Chi...

If you're living with MS, you've probably already learned that hot weather, hot baths, or anything that causes your body temperature to increase can quickly cause your symptoms to worsen. But winter can also be a challenging time. Less daylight, frigid temperatures, ice, and snow can all have an impact on MS. Dr. Lisa Doggett returns to the podcast with tips and strategies for enjoying winter whil...

Disease-modifying therapies work, and, as a result, people with MS are living longer. With half the MS population over the age of 55, it's never been more urgent to understand how the process of aging impacts MS and how MS impacts the process of aging. In this special episode of RealTalk MS, Dr. Leorah Freeman discusses the many factors associated with aging with MS. This special episode of RealTa...

More effective treatments and even cures for MS can only happen as a result of clinical research. And clinical research can only happen when people living with MS choose to become research participants. But what are the pros and cons that you should consider when you're thinking about participating in MS research? The National MS Society's Associate Vice President of Research, Dr. Kathy Zackowski,...

Too often, care partners remain invisible as they deal with the emotional, physical, and even financial burdens that go along with supporting a loved one who's living with multiple sclerosis.  November is National Family Caregivers Month, and I'm devoting this entire episode to a roundtable discussion with four remarkable care partners as they share their insights, experiences, and lessons learned...

There are some people who, once you meet them, it's impossible to forget them. They seem to leave an indelible impression. Lydia Emily is one of those people. Whether it's through her art that occasionally escapes the canvas to be expressed as massive urban murals proclaiming End MS , or through her outspoken MS advocacy. Lydia Emily is a force. Now, along with co-author Lenlee Keep, Lydia Emily h...

MS affects almost 3 times as many women as men, often affecting women of childbearing age. In this special episode of RealTalk MS, Dr. Riley Bove answers some of the important questions about the impact of MS on a woman's pregnancy and the impact of pregnancy on a woman's MS. This special episode of RealTalk MS is sponsored by Viatris. SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste...

On this podcast, we tend to talk a lot about new technologies, emerging treatments, the most recently approved disease-modifying therapies, and even some DMTs that haven't yet been approved.   And in the midst of all that cutting-edge research and evolving science, it's easy to lose sight of the fact that expressive therapies like dance and movement therapy, music therapy, and art therapy have all...

Being a teenager is hard. So, imagine for a moment that in addition to everything else that teenagers have to endure, you're a teenager who's been diagnosed with MS. Your ability to participate in after-school activities or just hang out with your friends is impacted by MS-related fatigue. The typical adolescent anxiety over something someone posted on social media evolves into depression. And cog...

Learning to live with MS is learning to live with loss. For some, those losses may be minor and seem relatively insignificant. For others, those losses can be huge and life-altering. The definition of grief is an emotional response to a significant loss . It's not unusual to grieve over those things in your life that have been lost due to MS. In fact, healthy grieving is a necessary emotional step...

Now that he's had a chance to digest all of the research presented at ECTRIMS, Dr. Bruce Bebo, the National MS Society's Executive Vice President of Research, is back to share the key research presented at the largest MS research conference in the world. This episode of RealTalk MS is the perfect follow-up to my initial conversation with Bruce, which occurred just minutes after ECTRIMS ended. (If...

Open enrollment is underway! And if you're one of the 25% of people living with MS who get their coverage through Medicare, there are some major changes coming in 2025. So, it's especially important that you review your prescription drug coverage to make sure you're enrolled in the Medicare Part D plan that's best for you.   Sarah Anderson, pharmacist and senior director of clinical resources and...

In the seven years that I've been hosting RealTalk MS, no one has ever described a mobility device as life-changing . That is until listener Dee Ecklund reached out to tell me about her experience with the Alinker.  One of my goals in producing this podcast is to introduce the RealTalk MS listener community to people who are difference-makers. And Dee's initial DM led to my conversation with Dee a...

With more than 9,000 MS researchers and clinicians in attendance, the 2024 ECTRIMS meeting in Copenhagen was the largest MS research conference in the world. During the meeting, I had an opportunity to talk with some of the best and brightest minds in MS research and clinical practice. This is your invitation to listen in on my  ECTRIMS EXTRA conversation with Dr. Jiwon Oh. Dr. Oh is a neurologist...