Brass and Ivory: Life with MS and RA

Healthline has created such a positive network, community, and resource for those of us living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or rheumatoid disease (RD). It’s been almost a month since the R...

http://www.brassandivory.org/2020/06/finding-community-and-support-through.html

This post is sponsored by Healthline, a partner of mine. I am so excited to be working with them to help get the word out about their new app, RA Healthline. This will be a great resource offe...

http://www.brassandivory.org/2020/06/ra-healthline-new-app-designed-for-ra.html

MRIS ARE FUN! Wait, you haven’t heard that before?  MRIS ARE DREADED TORTURE CHAMBERS! Maybe that’s the way you feel about the tool which is ubiquitous with multiple sclerosis diagnosis ...

http://www.brassandivory.org/2020/04/8-tips-for-surviving-your-next-mri.html

Living with one chronic disease, such as multiple sclerosis, can be challenging. Living with more than one chronic disease can make diagnosis and treatment difficult. Living with comorbidity can...

http://www.brassandivory.org/2020/04/impact-of-comorbidity-and-multiple.html

Competitive bodybuilding is one way that David Lyons conquers multiple sclerosis (MS). Diagnosed with MS in 2006, David is motivated to educate and inspire people living with the disease to focus...

http://www.brassandivory.org/2018/03/an-interview-with-body-builder-david.html

SELF-INJECTABLE MEDICATIONS Several of the medications used to treat multiple sclerosis are injectable drugs. The requirements for storage and administration differ for each drug, but here ar...

http://www.brassandivory.org/2018/03/how-to-reduce-pain-of-injections.html

Maybe you have heard the term “Spinal MS.” What is that? I thought MS could be relapsing, primary progressive, secondary progressive , or “benign.” The lesions caused by multiple sclero...

http://www.brassandivory.org/2018/03/what-is-spinal-ms.html

Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the central nervous system (CNS) with symptoms that can affect almost anything from head to toes. The disease is so variable that no two people with MS are like...

http://www.brassandivory.org/2018/03/common-multiple-sclerosis-symptoms.html

One test which my neurologist, ophthalmologist, and primary care doctor each conduct during every office visit is the “swinging flashlight test.” You know the one. The doctor asks you to look...

http://www.brassandivory.org/2018/02/marcus-gunn-syndrome-and-multiple.html

Nystagmus is a condition that causes the eyes to make quick, repetitive, uncontrolled movements — from side to side, up and down, or in a circular pattern — making the eyes appear to bounce a...

http://www.brassandivory.org/2018/02/nystagmus-and-multiple-sclerosis.html

Pain is not a symptom of multiple sclerosis, right? Wrong. That has got to be one of the more frustrating myths for those of us living with MS. Pain in MS can show up as neuropathic pain or musc...

http://www.brassandivory.org/2018/02/ms-pain-what-is-ms-hug.html

The neurologist is looking to see if there is a finger flexor response.  The finger flexor response is demonstrated by a sudden flexing of the thumb and/or index finger.  There are two ways to ...

http://www.brassandivory.org/2018/02/why-does-neurologist-tap-my-finger.html

The latest disease-modifying therapy, called Ocrevus (ocrelizumab), was approved in March 2017 for relapsing and primary progressive forms of MS. Ocrelizumab works differently than other DMTs for...

http://www.brassandivory.org/2018/01/staying-with-rituxan-rather-than.html

When someone experiences a single demyelinating or inflammatory attack of the central nervous system that causes neurological symptoms resembling MS, it is called clinically isolated syndrome, or...

http://www.brassandivory.org/2018/01/is-cis-same-as-ms.html

Each New Year brings hope and a sense of optimism amidst a potentially gloomy season with brittle cold weather and often gray skies. It is a time to begin with a proverbial clean slate. A time to...

http://www.brassandivory.org/2018/01/focus-on-yourself-at-least-once-every.html

People with MS may be at higher risk of getting shingles because of reduced immune system function due to disease-modifying treatments. High-dose steroids, often used during relapses, may also in...

http://www.brassandivory.org/2018/01/shingrix-versus-zostavax-for-people.html

Currently available disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) are primarily used in relapsing forms of the disease, including relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), secondary-progressive MS (SPMS) in patients s...

http://www.brassandivory.org/2018/01/using-disease-modifying-therapies-to.html

From personal stories, embarrassing stories, and inspirational stories to research news, bizarre symptoms, and talks of life changes due to MS, we covered a little of everything in 2017. LIFE...

http://www.brassandivory.org/2017/12/2017-top-healthcentral-multiple.html

Kathleen G. was diagnosed with MS in 2006 after a very long year of testing. We spoke with Kathleen about her MS. Here is an excerpt from our discussion. Q: How has MS impacted your life? Kathle...

http://www.brassandivory.org/2017/10/real-ms-profiles-meet-kathleen-g.html

Living with a chronic condition, such as multiple sclerosis, brings with it a heavy load of emotional, physical, and social challenges. The symptoms  alone can be perplexing and are never the ...

http://www.brassandivory.org/2017/10/what-do-i-mean-when-i-say-im-fine.html

My multiple sclerosis diagnosis took multiple years. It wasn’t a quick affair. Years separated early attacks, including five years between a case of temporary blindness from optic neuritis  ...

http://www.brassandivory.org/2017/10/remembering-life-before-ms-what-i-miss.html

Although osteoarthritis (OA) is generally considered to be a “wear and tear” condition affecting older adults, it can also affect individuals in their 40s and 50s. I was first diagnosed with...

http://www.brassandivory.org/2017/08/ms-symptoms-may-aggravate-osteoarthritis.html

During a routine visit with your neurologist, there is much material to cover. Your doctor will ask about symptoms, watch you walk, and conduct a neurological exam. He or she may also ask about y...

http://www.brassandivory.org/2017/08/sex-and-ms-speak-up-your-doctor-may-not.html

Results from a recent study, published in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine , demonstrate that acupuncture may improve walking in people with MS. The study included 20 people...

http://www.brassandivory.org/2017/08/does-acupuncture-improve-walking-in-ms.html

There is nothing predictable or constant with multiple sclerosis. People living with the disease may have periods of time where not much seems to be going on. Other times, there may be relentless...

http://www.brassandivory.org/2017/08/fear-of-change-relapsing-ms-moment.html