RealTalk MS

When you're living with MS, managing your pelvic floor health may not be among the first things you think about. But pelvic floor dysfunction, and the problems that arise from it, like bladder and bowel issues, can seriously impact your health, well-being, and quality of life.  Jill Ehrmantraut, a physical therapist and women's health clinical specialist with advanced training in pelvic rehabilita...

Fire, flood, record-setting heat, tropical storm, earthquake -- we've seen it all in the past several weeks! Natural disasters can present a whole series of unique challenges for people affected by MS.  Last year, I had an opportunity to talk about disaster preparedness for people affected by MS with Mary Casey-Lockyer, the Senior Medical Advisor to Disaster Operations at the American Red Cross. A...

Contrary to what was once believed to be true, we now know that exercise and physical activity can deliver several important benefits for people living with MS, and actually improve your quality of life. Experts recommend exercise and physical activity for everyone living with MS, at every level of ability.  Dr. Gretchen Hawley joins me this week to talk about what kinds of exercises you can and s...

Rehabilitation can help people regain, keep, or improve the physical or cognitive abilities they need to successfully navigate their daily lives, which makes it an important aspect of managing MS.  In this episode of RealTalk MS , we're focusing on a concept that may not be as familiar to you --  prehabilitation, a proactive approach to maintaining your mobility and independence longer.  Returning...

Dr. Stephen Hauser's research as a physician-scientist has revolutionized our understanding of the genetics, immunology, and treatment of MS. It was Dr. Hauser's research that led to the development of a b-cell therapy for MS, which has been shown to be highly effective in treating all forms of MS and the only treatment approved for treating progressive MS. Dr. Hauser joins me this week, to discus...

The ability to speak is something so basic to our day-to-day lives that you may not ever stop to consider it until you realize something about your speech may be changing. And swallowing is something that's so automatic, we take it for granted. Until, that is, something changes, and you find yourself choking on a sip of water. Speech and swallowing problems are fairly common MS symptoms. And joini...

This special episode of RealTalk MS is sponsored by Sanofi. In this special episode of RealTalk MS, Dr. Aaron Boster walks us through everything you need to know about clinical trials.  If you've ever wondered what the difference is between a Phase 1 clinical trial, a Phase 2 clinical trial, or a Phase 3 clinical trial, you're about to find out. If you're curious about how a clinical trial partici...

Experiencing difficulty walking is one of the most common mobility challenges faced by people living with MS. The good news is that there are things you can do -- both with a physical therapist and by yourself, at home -- that can make a real difference. Joining me to discuss improving your gait, avoiding falls, and what experts are learning from the latest research in this area is the Director of...

Learning to effectively manage stress and anxiety is important for everyone. And if you're living with the unpredictability of MS, it may be doubly important.  Joining me to discuss the impact that stress and anxiety can have on your physical and mental health, along with strategies you can use to manage the stress and anxiety in  your life, is Dr. Bree Wannamaker. Dr. Wannamaker lives with MS, an...

Living your best life with MS often means planning ahead and, when circumstances require, knowing when and how to adapt. Many of us find ourselves in the kitchen every day. And, while cooking can be pleasurable, it can also be a chore that only gets worse if you're dealing with pain, fatigue, mobility issues, tingling in your hands and arms, unsteady balance, or other MS symptoms. Award-winning au...

2023 marks 30 years since the very first MS disease-modifying therapy received FDA approval. To say that changed everything would be an understatement. Two of the top MS experts in the world have published a reflection, looking back at how MS research and treatment has progressed over the past 30 years and looking ahead at the challenges that remain in solving the riddle of MS. Joining me this wee...

Just a couple of weeks ago, the International Progressive MS Alliance convened its fourth Scientific Congress in Vienna, Austria, bringing together nearly 200 international scientists and MS leaders, including people affected by progressive MS, to report and review the progress being made in developing new, effective treatments for progressive MS. In Part 2 of our coverage, we're taking you back i...

Last week, the International Progressive MS Alliance convened its fourth Scientific Congress in Vienna, Austria, bringing together nearly 200 international scientists and MS leaders, including people affected by progressive MS, to report and review the progress being made in developing new, effective treatments for progressive MS. In Part 1 of our coverage, we're taking you inside this Scientific...

When you're living with MS, air travel can sometimes get complicated. We're heading into the summer vacation season, so the timing couldn't be better to talk with Dr. Scott Crawford. Dr. Crawford is a neuropsychologist who lives with MS and has extensive experience as a passenger on commercial airlines. Dr. Crawford is also an MS Activist and he's joining me to walk us through how to de-stress air...

Last week, the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers brought together over 2,000 neurologists, MS nurses, rehabilitation specialists, and other healthcare professionals in Aurora Colorado, for their annual conference. This week, we're taking you inside the meeting and sharing our conversations with some of the difference-makers i n the MS Movement. Next week, we're traveling to Vienna, Austria...

Welcome to the 300th episode of RealTalk MS! Yikes! In last week's episode of the podcast, Dr. Bruce Bebo walked us through the latest research on the prevalence of MS in the United States, and the data serves as a clear reminder that anyone can get MS.  However, not everyone with MS receives the same quality of care. My guest today is clinician-researcher Dr. Lilyana Amezcua, and we're discussing...

Evidence shows that MS can affect members of minority communities differently. But how does that impact the total number of people who are living with MS? For multiple reasons, it's a tricky problem to solve. Yet, it's important that the numbers reflect everyone living with MS and no one is left behind.   This week, the National MS Society's Executive Vice-President of Research, Dr. Bruce Bebo, is...

Don't miss the second installment of our Pathways To Cures Global Summit coverage. For this unprecedented event, the National MS Society brought together the best and brightest minds in MS research, the CEOs of major MS Societies, representatives from the pharmaceutical industry, and people affected by MS to update the scientific foundation of the Pathways To Cures research roadmap and set the glo...

This past week, the National MS Society hosted the Pathways To Cures Global Summit, bringing together the best and brightest minds in MS research, the CEOs of major MS Societies, representatives from the pharmaceutical industry, and people affected by MS to update the scientific foundation of the Pathways To Cures research roadmap and set the global MS research agenda for the next 3-5 years.  In P...

This week, we're in New York, attending the Pathways To Cures Global Summit. The National MS Society is convening the world -- bringing together the best and brightest minds in MS research, the CEOs of major MS Societies, representatives from the pharmaceutical industry and people affected by MS -- to update the scientific foundation of the Pathways To Cures research roadmap and set the global MS...

In this week's episode, we're talking about a set of MS symptoms that can range in intensity from mildly annoying to completely debilitating. These symptoms include numbness, tingling, pain, that "electric shock" feeling you might experience traveling down the back of your neck, and the infamous MS hug .  Joining me to walk us through how to best manage these sensory symptoms is Dr. Jeffrey Hernan...

Welcome to Part 2 of a special two-part RealTalk MS series highlighting conversations with past recipients of the Barancik Prize for Innovation in MS Research.  The Barancik Prize is awarded at the annual meeting of the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis, a meeting better known as the ACTRIMS Forum. Several past Barancik Prize winners gathered at the 2023 ACTRIMS F...

Disclosing your MS to your employer is an important decision that can sometimes be tricky and can sometimes lead to unintended consequences. Joining me to discuss some of the things you want to be thinking about when it comes to disclosing your MS in the workplace is a Manager on the Benefits, Employment, and Insurance Team at the National MS Society, Christina Forster.  We're also extending an in...

Welcome to Part 1 of a special two-part RealTalk MS series highlighting conversations with past recipients of the Barancik Prize for Innovation in MS Research.  The Barancik Prize is awarded at the annual meeting of the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis, a meeting better known as the ACTRIMS Forum. Several past Barancik Prize winners gathered at the 2023 ACTRIMS F...

You've told me that the subject of diet and MS is one of your top three interests. And a quick scan of social media platforms reveals that a lot of people living with MS agree! This week, Dr. Ilana Katz Sand, the Associate Director of the Corinne Goldsmith Dickinson Center for Multiple Sclerosis at Mount Sinai, joins me with an update on what the latest research is revealing about the impact of di...