Living With MS Episodes

Chris Holland had a successful career working as a paralegal when he was diagnosed with MS in 2004. And, while everyone reacts differently to being diagnosed with MS, no one could have predicted what happened next, as Chris lost everything battling demons he never imagined he would ever face. But it would be a mistake betting against Chris Holland's resilience. Bouncing back, Chris decided to pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a chef. Today, Chris is a three-time Food Network Chopped champio...

According to the CDC, 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 30% fall multiple times. As falls at home are common, occupational therapist Tracy Carrasco joins me to share tips and strategies for making your home safe and accessible. We're also sharing a research roun...

MS is misdiagnosed too often, which leaves some people who don't have MS receiving expensive disease-modifying therapy that they don't need, while leaving other people who do have MS still not receiving treatment with a disease-modifying therapy that will slow disability progression and preserve their quality of life longer. My guest, Dr. Andrew Solomon, is the lead author of a paper published by a team of international experts that provides updated guidance for healthcare professionals on clin...

Rachel Horne is a journalist who was diagnosed with MS in 2009. Since then, Rachel has developed a first-hand understanding of the knowledge gaps that remain when it comes to understanding the impact of MS on women's health and the impact of women's health issues on MS. As Rachel reviewed MS research, she also observed that when it came to acknowledging outstanding MS research, it was rare that a female researcher was singled out to receive recognition for their work. This year, Rachel took act...

RealTalk MS is now 6 years old! We've covered a lot of ground in more than 300 episodes over the past 6 years. And I'm marking our 6-year anniversary by highlighting the most impactful conversations we've had in each of the past 6 years. We have a lot to talk about! Are you ready for RealTalk MS??! SHARE THIS EPISODE OF REALTALK MS Just copy this link & paste it into your text or email: https://realtalkms.com/317 ADD YOUR VOICE TO THE CONVERSATION I've always thought about the RealTalk MS podc...

It's not unusual to see sex and intimacy become unintended and unnecessary collateral damage in the day-to-day-challenges of living with MS. But it doesn't have to be that way. Madelyn Esposito, LPC, NCC, CST, joins me to discuss some of the common sexual problems faced by people living with MS, ways to maintain intimacy in your relationships, and tips for maintaining a healthy sex life. Kristine Werner-Ozug and Cheryl Weeks-Frey take you inside the workings of the MS Society's Community Revie...

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 rehabilitation, joins me to explain what pelvic floor rehab is all about, why it's important, and how you can ...

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. As extreme weather events become a more frequent and regular occurrence in our everyday weather patte...

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 should be doing -- at your level of ability. We'll also tell you about an experimental Epstein-Barr ...

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 to RealTalk MS to discuss the value and benefits of prehabilitation is the National MS Society's Assoc...