Words by Cheyanne Bryan
Multiple Sclerosis – or MS as it is commonly known as – is a condition that affects the spinal cord and brain. It is one of the most common causes of disability in young adults and symptoms present themselves differently to everyone. MS Society UK estimates there are over 130,000 people with MS in the UK, with nearly 7,000 new diagnoses happening every year.
Keep on reading to find out more about the lifelong condition, what treatment is out there and public figures that change the narrative.
MS can develop in a person’s 20s, 30s or 40s. Like other conditions that affect the central nervous system, the symptoms are individual to each person and there are different types. However the common ones include: fatigue, issues with balance, mobility problems and muscle stiffness.
Remarkable studies into MS have developed over the past couple of decades, which has had an influence on the way MS patients receive care and diagnosis . A recent article from Bloomberg highlights a new development in MS treatment and critiques how this could be potentially groundbreaking in diagnosing MS earlier – before symptoms are present. Not only would this possibly enable researchers to understand the causes of the condition better but it brings medical staff closer to finding treatment.
One of the best ways to understand MS is to hear from the people who have it. Many content creators across different social media platforms share their experiences with a range of health issues and you can find MS representation on there too.
On Instagram, you can find the amazing work of Lindsey Holcomb, founder of the #colorsofMS project. In her works Lindsey takes MS patients’ MRI scans and transforms them into bright and colourful works of art. As someone who has MS herself, she is able to show some representation of what having MS is like.
On TikTok, athlete and world record holder Kadeena Cox, shares a personal video on her diagnosis day anniversary. She has multiple videos about her experience with the condition and you can find various others by using hashtags.
At Smiley Movement, we like to elevate the work of charities across the world. Here are three charities whose causes align with the themes in this article.
Multiple Sclerosis Trust. This is a UK-based charity that helps people make sense of MS. From people with the condition and their families. Learn more here.
Multiple Sclerosis Society (MS Society UK). This is a charity that funds world-leading research, shares the information and campaigns and creates a community for people with MS. Find out more here.
The Brain Charity. This is the leading charity in the UK that supports people with a wide range of neurological conditions. Support them here.
This article aligns with the UN SDG Good Health And Wellbeing.
