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MS Society's Weekly "Ask an MS Expert" Program
The MS Society's weekly Ask an MS Expert program series focuses on trending topics of interest to the MS community. We ask MS experts the questions you want answered. During weekly virtual programs, MS Navigators provide live resource support through chat. View on-demand episodes at a time that’s convenient for you. Segments streamed on Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch
Balancing Employment and Caregiving
Working while taking care of someone with MS can be complex, as it can affect both your job and your personal life. Diana Grazio, a professional with over 30 years of experience in the Events industry, will join us to share her story of how she balances a full-time career while also being a care giver to her partner. In addition to her career and role as a care partner, Diana serves as a MS Ambassador and a member of her company’s Employee Resource Group (ERG) that advocates for those with visible and invisible disabilities.
Building a Healthy Brain While Living with MS
Living with multiple sclerosis means your brain's health deserves extra attention, and there's a lot you can do to protect and even improve it. MS can affect memory, attention and processing speed, but proactive strategies can help preserve cognitive function and quality of life. Learn about research on brain health and MS from Erin Wilkinson, nurse practitioner in the Multiple Sclerosis Department of the Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health. She joins Ask an MS Expert to discuss her findings.
Caring for a parent or family member with multiple sclerosis can be life changing, especially when that journey begins in childhood. Join Michaela Pohl, who began to care for a parent living with MS in her teenage years. Explore what daily life looked like for her, the emotions and challenges of balancing her teenage years with caregiving, and the lessons and strengths that continue to shape her life today.
Chiropractic care can be beneficial for people living with multiple sclerosis. It can help reduce pain, manage symptoms and increase mobility. Chiropractic care can also provide overall health benefits that improve quality of life, even with MS. Learn about the possible uses and benefits of chiropractic care for MS from Megan Frost, Physical Therapist and Co-Owner at STEP Therapies, Inc., in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Ask an MS Expert.
Gait and Balance: Managing and Treating Difficulties
Gait or walking difficulties can hinder the ability of people with multiple sclerosis to move around. In this episode of Ask an MS Expert, learn how to manage walking difficulties from Nora Fritz, PhD, PT, DPT, NCS. Fritz, who also discusses fall prevention and the latest research on the subject, is the director of research and associate professor at the Department of Health Care Sciences at Wayne State University School of Medicine.
Getting diagnosed with multiple sclerosis later in life can be unexpected. Sometimes it’s hard to know what changes are from MS and what is typical aging. In this episode, learn what late-onset MS means, how to get ready for it and how to stay in charge of your health. Joining us is Dr. Jacqueline Nicholas, system chief of neuroimmunology and multiple sclerosis at the OhioHealth Multiple Sclerosis Center.
Living with MS: A Story of Strength & Advocacy
Living with MS can feel isolating, like no one truly understands what you are going through. Learning to ask for help isn’t a weakness, it's a strength. It can build confidence and help people living with MS to reach their goals. In this episode of Ask and MS Expert, we meet Jan Bonville, a writer, consultant, and advocate for inclusive travel. Jan lives with MS and shares her powerful story about how asking for help changed her life and how it can help others, too.
Long-Term Disability: Saving and Investing
Living with multiple sclerosis costs more than $88,000 each year, according to estimates. This high cost can make it very hard to save money or invest for future needs. Joining us is Paula Cole, head of Pension Risk Transfer at Nationwide, who also manages life with MS. She’ll share practical advice on how to work toward financial wellness while living with MS.
McDonald Diagnostic Criteria Updates: What's New in Diagnosing MS
The updated McDonald Diagnostic Criteria will help doctors diagnose multiple sclerosis faster and more accurately. When MS is diagnosed earlier, people can start treatment sooner, which can lead to better health outcomes. Learn about the new criteria and how they may impact the MS community on Ask an MS Expert from Dr. Andrew Solomon, neurologist, professor and chair of the Department of Neurological Sciences at the Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont.
MS Medications Understanding and Accessing
Medications are vital for people with MS to live their best lives. Learn about the different types of MS medications from Dr. Carolyn Bevan. Discover how to access medications through the VA and how to work with your doctor to find the best fit for you. Dr. Bevan is Assistant Professor of Neurology at Northwestern Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, and Director of the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center Multiple Sclerosis Regional Center of Excellence in Chicago.
While MS is more common in women, men may experience differences in the severity of their symptoms and disease progression. Dr. Robert Shin, professor in the Department of Neurology at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and director of the Georgetown Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Center, discusses the impact of MS on men and the importance of early diagnosis, treatment and support.
Pain is a very personal experience and a little understood but common side effect of multiple sclerosis. Those living with MS may feel pain that others do not quite understand. Explore MS pain, its impact on quality of life and management options available with Dr. Bianca Weinstock-Guttman, a neurologist and professor of Neurology at the Jacobs School of Medicine at the State University of New York at Buffalo.
Finding peace in uncertain times involves acknowledging and processing your emotions, as well as focusing on what you can control to create mindfulness and connection. It also means developing a sense of resilience and adaptability. Learn about creating calm in this episode of Ask an MS Expert with Andrea Arzt, a licensed clinical social worker with extensive experience working with those affected by multiple sclerosis.
Getting quality sleep can be life-changing for people with multiple sclerosis who deal with issues such as fatigue, spasticity or cognitive changes. But the science behind good sleep is often misunderstood. Learn on Ask an MS Expert about research on the 4 domains of sleep health from Katie Siengsukon, professor of Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation Science and Athletic Training at the Kansas University Medical Center.
Smoking, Alcohol and Caffeine Effects on MS
Everyday habits like smoking, drinking alcohol, and caffeine intake might seem harmless, but for people living with MS, these choices could make a big difference in how the disease affects their body and mind. Barbara Giesser, an MS neurologist and the director of the MS Comprehensive Care Clinic at the Pacific Neuroscience Institute joins Ask an MS Expert to talk about the effects of various stimulants and depressants on MS.
Spirituality can play a significant role in helping people cope with life’s challenges, such as living with multiple sclerosis. Learn about its positive effects on the mind and body on Ask an MS Expert from Dr. Mana Ali Carter, a rehabilitation psychologist at MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington, D.C. She provides psychological assessments and psychotherapy to help people cope with disabilities and improve their quality of life.
How to Help Loved Ones Understand MS
Helping your loved ones understand your multiple sclerosis diagnosis and symptoms can be challenging. The invisible symptoms, along with the many unknown aspects of the disease, can be very difficult on those living with MS and their loved ones. In this episode of Ask an MS Expert, Kris Inman, whose wife Mariah lives with MS, shares how her 2020 diagnosis impacted each of them in different ways. Inman also describes how they have helped their loved ones better understand daily life with MS.
Living with multiple sclerosis means making daily choices to protect your health. Understanding when and how to get vaccines while managing MS treatments can help you feel confident and in control of your well-being. Learn more about vaccinations with MS from Dr. Lisa Doggett, a family and lifestyle medicine physician at the MS and Neuroimmunology Center at Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin, and the senior medical director at Sagility.
Blending traditional medicine with integrative treatments can support people with multiple sclerosis through better health outcomes and improved well-being. The whole-person approach to healthcare includes treating the mind and body, and can be a helpful way for people living with MS to feel their best. Learn more about whole-person health on Ask an MS Expert from Dr. Lynne Shinto, professor of Neurology and MS specialist in integrative medicine at the Center for Women’s Health at Oregon Health and Science University.
Work Incentives and Disability Programs While Living with MS
Work incentives are special rules within Social Security disability programs. They allow people to work without losing their cash payments and healthcare coverage right away. Join Beth Scott, director of Case Management at the Patient Advocate Foundation, to understand more about how work incentives and disability programs can benefit people living with MS.