Best Multiple Sclerosis Discovery Forum Podcasts (2025)

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Episode 427: Science-Based Vaccine Guidance for People Living with MS with Dr. Lisa Doggett 27:45

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17m ago27:45

27:45

When you're living with a chronic condition like MS, you want to be sure you're doing everything you can to preserve and promote good health. And, right now, you may be feeling confused about whether you should be getting vaccinated, and which vaccines are safe. It's understandable. Unfortunately, there's a lot of confusing information about vaccin…

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Episode 426: Fighting Her Way Through the Health Insurance Maze with Cassandra Ashby 32:42

5d ago32:42

32:42

Some disease-modifying therapies can change the trajectory of your MS journey. But gaining access to those medications isn't always as easy or straightforward as it should be. In the United States, insurance companies are most often the gatekeepers to prescription medications. This week, Cassandra Ashby shares a story that many of you may already b…

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Episode 425: The ECTRIMS 2025 Deep Dive with Dr. Bruce Bebo 33:58

12d ago33:58

33:58

Just about a month ago, 9,600 researchers, clinicians, and representatives from patient advocacy organizations gathered in Barcelona for the European Committee on Treatment and Research in MS annual scientific congress, better known as ECTRIMS, the largest MS research conference in the world. Now that he's had an opportunity to review his notes and…

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Episode 424: I'm a Participant in a Clinical Trial for CAR-T Cell Therapy and MS with Jan Janisch-Hanzlik 33:05

19d ago33:05

33:05

Jan Janisch-Hanzlik lives with MS and is a participant in one of the clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of CAR-T cell therapy for MS. Jan is the first person in the world to receive this one-and-done treatment, and this week, she's joining me to share her experience participating in the clinical trial. But you'll be especially inter…

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Special Episode: The Risks and Rewards of Participating in Clinical Trials with Dr. Kathy Zackowski and Mimi Brown 21:04

22d ago21:04

21:04

Welcome to a RealTalk MS special series on MS clinical trials. This special series is made possible through a generous grant from Sanofi. In today's episode, we're exploring the risks and rewards of participating in a clinical trial with Dr. Kathy Zackowski and Mimi Brown. Dr. Zackowski is the Associate Vice President of Research at the National MS…

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Episode 423: Understanding Infections and MS with Dr. Robert Fox 33:17

26d ago33:17

33:17

From the earliest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, people living with MS have been justifiably concerned about how a COVID-19 infection might impact their MS. As the new "Stratus" strain of COVID-19 is currently surging in the United States, research is providing answers we didn't have five years ago. Dr. Robert Fox, the Managing Director of the NARC…

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Episode 422: From ECTRIMS 2025 with Dr. Bruce Bebo and Kristine Werner Ozug 23:33

1M ago23:33

23:33

Last week, over 9600 MS researchers and clinicians gathered in Barcelona for the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis annual scientific congress -- ECTRIMS 2025. Minutes after the conference adjourned, in what has become an annual tradition, Dr. Bruce Bebo, the Executive Vice President of Research at the National MS S…

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Episode 421: Optimizing Your Brain Health with Nurse Practitioner Erin Wilkinson 42:26

1M ago42:26

42:26

Happy birthday to us! RealTalk MS is 8 years old today! It's hard for me to believe that the podcast I launched in 2017, with the goal of one day reaching 300 listeners, today reaches thousands of people living with MS, their care partners, MS researchers, and clinicians in more than 100 countries. So, let me start this week's show notes with a pro…

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Special Episode: Dr. Aaron Boster Explains MS Clinical Trials 33:37

1M ago33:37

33:37

You're living with MS, and maybe you're thinking about participating in an MS clinical trial. But how do they work? Are they safe? What's the difference between Phase 1, 2, and 3 trials? What are the real patient risks and benefits of participating in a clinical trial? In this special episode of RealTalk MS, we're getting answers to those questions…

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Episode 420: A DIY Kit for Improving Your MS Journey with Julie Polisena 34:51

2M ago34:51

34:51

Disease-modifying therapies are the cornerstone of MS treatment, but they're not the only piece of the puzzle. Beyond prescription medications, self-care that includes making healthy lifestyle choices can significantly improve your quality of life with MS. Julie Polisena knows this firsthand. Julie lives with MS, and in a recent blog post, she shar…

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Episode 419: A Whole-Person Health Approach to MS Care with Dr. Lynne Shinto 33:11

2M ago33:11

33:11

Some people living with MS adhere to a treatment plan based exclusively on what we might consider traditional medicine. Others opt for alternative treatments. And, still, others take a whole-person health approach, blending integrative medicine with traditional treatments designed to support an individual's mind and body. Dr. Lynne Shinto joins me …

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Episode 418: The Importance of Developing a Growth Mindset When You're Living With MS with Dr. Mirian Franco 35:40

2M ago35:40

35:40

Living with MS means living with uncertainty, possible physical disability or cognitive dysfunction, bouts of crushing fatigue, mood changes, and let's not forget the very real irritation of well-meaning people telling you how healthy you look. Just processing the world around you can feel challenging. In this episode, psychologist Dr. Miriam Franc…

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Episode 417: Music and the Body with Emmy Award-Winning Composer Jeff Beal 32:05

2M ago32:05

32:05

If you've watched the critically acclaimed series, House of Cards, on Netflix, or the OCD detective series, Monk, on the USA Network, you've already listened to some of five-time Emmy award-winning composer Jeff Beal's work. This week, Jeff joins me to discuss his journey as an artist and as someone living with MS. We're also sharing all the detail…

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Episode 416: The Updated McDonald Diagnostic Criteria for MS with Dr. Andrew Solomon 27:52

2M ago27:52

27:52

Since 2001, clinicians have relied on the McDonald Diagnostic Criteria as the gold standard for diagnosing someone with multiple sclerosis. As science continues to add to our understanding of MS, the McDonald Criteria have been updated in 2005, 2010, 2017, and most recently in 2024. This latest iteration of the McDonald criteria will be published i…

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Episode 415: Your Money -- Ways to Earn and Hold Onto More of It When You're Living with MS with Beth Scott and Paula Cole 29:04

3M ago29:04

29:04

Living with MS is expensive. Very expensive. It's estimated that the average cost of living with MS is over $88,000 per year. How, in the midst of financial stress and uncertainty, can you formulate a financial plan that takes MS into account? Paula Cole lives with MS, and she also lives with a lot of financial planning savvy. Paula joins the podca…

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Episode 414: Finding Peace in the Midst of Uncertainty with Andrea Arzt, LCSW, MSCS 33:45

3M ago33:45

33:45

Living with MS has always meant living with uncertainty. Left unchecked, that uncertainty can lead to anxiety, which can make your MS symptoms feel worse. This week, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Andrea Arzt, joins me to share tips and strategies for finding peace in the midst of uncertainty. You'll also meet the CEO of the MS International Fede…

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Episode 413: How AI Will Impact MS Patient Care with Dr. Brad Willingham 34:48

3M ago34:48

34:48

We're witnessing the early stages of a paradigm shift, as artificial intelligence is beginning to impact virtually every aspect of healthcare, from research to patient care. And there's much, much more to come. This week, Dr. Brad Willingham, the Director of MS Research at Shepherd Center in Atlanta, joins me to discuss how AI will impact MS patien…

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Episode 412: Understanding Late-Onset MS with Dr. Jacqueline Nicholas 30:58

3M ago30:58

30:58

More people over the age of 50 are being diagnosed with MS than ever before. When you consider the other health conditions that often develop as we age, and you add the fact that our immune system changes with age, there's a lot to think about when it comes to diagnosing and treating late-onset MS. This week, Dr. Jacqueline Nicholas, the System Chi…

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Episode 411: An Encouraging Clinical Trial for Progressive MS with Jason Tardio 31:34

4M ago31:34

31:34

Back in Episode #401, we reported promising results from a Phase 2 clinical trial for vidofludimus calcium and its impact on progressive MS. This therapy is being developed by Immunic Therapeutics, and this week, Jason Tardio, Immunic's President and Chief Operating Officer, joins me to share some of the specifics of that clinical trial. Jason will…

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Episode 410: From the International Progressive MS Alliance Digital Tools Workshop -- Part Two 44:53

4M ago44:53

44:53

Over the past few months, we've shared news about an algorithm that can accurately predict whether someone living with MS will experience worsening symptoms or a relapse in the weeks ahead. You've heard about a three-quarter-of-a-million-dollar investment by the International Progressive MS Alliance to support the development of an AI-based tool th…

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Episode 409: From the International Progressive MS Alliance Digital Tools Workshop 39:11

4M ago39:11

39:11

Last week, I was in Philadelphia, attending the Digital Tools Workshop hosted by the International Progressive MS Alliance. Welcome to Part One of our coverage! As we look around us, it's hard to imagine a single aspect of our lives that hasn't been impacted by the constant and rapid evolution of technology. Just consider the capabilities of the de…

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Episode 408: Explaining Your MS to All Those Well-Meaning Family Members and Friends Who Get It Wrong with Kris Inman 30:43

4M ago30:43

30:43

Have you experienced those familiar feelings of frustration when the people closest to you don't seem to get your MS? Do you find yourself explaining and re-explaining things to well-meaning friends, co-workers, and even family members? Kris Inman's wife, Mariah, was diagnosed with MS in 2020, and, since then, Kris has been Mariah's care partner an…

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Episode 407: Overcoming Sleep Issues When You're Living with MS with Dr. Katie Siengsukon 35:02

5M ago35:02

35:02

Getting a good night's sleep is something that benefits everyone. And if you're someone who's living with MS, it's perhaps even more important. But research suggests that more than half the people living with MS experience poor sleep. Dr. Katie Siengsukon, the Director of the Sleep, Health, and Wellness Lab at the University of Kansas Medical Cente…

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Episode 406: From the 2025 Consortium of MS Centers Annual Meeting: Part Two with Dr. John DeLuca, Dr. Brian Sandroff, and Kristine Werner Ozug 32:46

5M ago32:46

32:46

Welcome to Part Two of our coverage of the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers annual meeting! In this week's episode, Dr. John DeLuca shares research that has identified an effective behavioral treatment for MS-related fatigue. Dr. Brian Sandroff discusses how MS rehabilitation has evolved and then answers some of your questions about exercis…

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Episode 405: From the 2025 Consortium of MS Centers Annual Meeting -- Part One with Dr. Kathy Zackowski and Dr. Stephen Krieger 33:30

5M ago33:30

33:30

Last week in Phoenix, Arizona, the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC) held its annual meeting, and we had a chance to talk with some of the top MS experts in the world. Welcome to Part One of our coverage! First, you'll hear Dr. Kathy Zackowski, the National MS Society's Associate Vice-President of Research, share her overview of the s…

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Episode 404: World MS Day 2025 with Meredith O'Brien 26:26

5M ago26:26

26:26

Every five minutes, someone somewhere in the world is diagnosed with MS. But getting that diagnosis can be challenging. And the evidence is clear that early intervention makes a difference. The sooner someone can begin a disease-modifying therapy, the better their outcome is going to be. World MS Day is May 30th, and this year, World MS Day is focu…

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Episode 403: Moving Toward a Biologically Based Description of MS with Dr. Bruce Bebo, Dr. Daniel Ontaneda, and Kathy Smith 37:14

6M ago37:14

37:14

Last week, the National Multiple Sclerosis Society and the European Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis convened a meeting in Dublin, Ireland, to dive deeper into what a new framework for describing MS might look like. There's still a tremendous amount of work to be done here. But, considering that whatever language is eventu…

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Episode 402: The Importance of Asserting Your Personal Style When You're Living with MS with Jeri Zink Denz 31:00

6M ago31:00

31:00

If you're living with MS, you might experience days when it feels like you're losing your sense of who you are, as your sense of self gets redefined by your symptoms. Reasserting your personal style can be a powerful way to rediscover joy in who you are while reclaiming your identity. Jeri Zink Denz lives with MS and works in the luxury fashion ind…

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Episode 401: The Things That (Should) Happen at Your Appointment With Your Neurologist with Dr. Barbara Giesser 32:09

6M ago32:09

32:09

Most people living with MS don't see their neurologist often. For many, it might be only once or twice a year. A lot of important things take place during that appointment. Symptoms are assessed. Decisions about disease-modifying therapies are made or, sometimes, changed. Questions get asked and, hopefully, answered. Dr. Barbara Giesser returns to …

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Episode 400: The President and CEO of the National MS Society Looks Back at the Past and Shares a Vision of the Future with Dr. Tim Coetzee 35:02

6M ago35:02

35:02

Welcome to the 400th episode of RealTalk MS! Over the past nearly eight years, it's been my absolute honor to bring you insights from leading experts, researchers, advocates, and, perhaps most importantly, from people living with MS themselves. And we have no intention of stopping here! We're excited to continue bringing you the information and con…

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Episode 399: How Spirituality Can Make a Difference If You're Living with MS with Dr. Mana Ali Carter 32:14

7M ago32:14

32:14

Research shows that spirituality can benefit mental health and improve overall well-being. And it can play a meaningful role in helping people cope with life's challenges, like living with MS. This week, Dr. Mana Ali Carter, a rehabilitation psychologist at MedStar National Rehabilitation Hospital in Washington D.C., joins me to discuss the positiv…

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Episode 398: How Breakthrough Discoveries in MS Research Will Impact MS Care with Dr. Amit Bar-Or 24:05

7M ago24:05

24:05

Last week, at the American Academy of Neurology annual meeting, Dr. Amit Bar-Or received the John Dystel Prize for Multiple Sclerosis Research for his multiple achievements that have advanced our knowledge of neuroimmunology, precision medicine, and biomarkers in MS. We talked with Dr. Bar-Or about how some of the latest discoveries in MS research …

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Episode 397: Managing Grief and MS with Dr. Mary-Frances O'Connor 35:34

7M ago35:34

35:34

For many people, it can be difficult to talk about the feelings of loss that can accompany MS. For some, it's the loss of the way they imagined their life would turn out. For others, it's the more specific loss of function. Perhaps the loss of their mobility. Or a decline in their cognitive skills. It's painful to imagine any of these scenarios, le…

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Episode 396: The Importance of Cancer Screenings for People Living with MS With Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie 31:35

7M ago31:35

31:35

Managing MS means staying focused not only on your MS but also on your overall health. That includes getting routine health screenings to stay ahead of potential complications. Recent research has shown that, compared to healthy people, people with MS are more likely to develop some cancers. Clinician-scientist Dr. Ruth Ann Marrie joins me to discu…

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Episode 395: Things You Need to Know When You're Managing MS While You're Managing Menopause with Dr. Riley Bove 34:28

7M ago34:28

34:28

When you look at a list of the typical symptoms associated with perimenopause, you'd think you were looking at a list of MS symptoms. And, for women living with MS, that's where the confusion begins. With an estimated 30% of the current MS population now in peri- or post-menopause, researchers are beginning to focus on how menopause and MS interact…

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Episode 394: Probably The Most Important Conversation About MS Advocacy That We Will Ever Have with Steffany Stern 27:18

8M ago27:18

27:18

Next week, a couple of hundred MS activists will gather in Washington, D.C. for the National MS Society's Public Policy Conference. As we're seeing devastating cuts in funding for MS research, layoffs in every major governmental agency that impacts our healthcare, including the National Institutes of Health, the FDA, CDC, Health and Human Services,…

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Bonus: An ACTRIMS Forum Conversation with Kristine Werner Ozug 18:36

8M ago18:36

18:36

Just a couple of weeks ago, 1,800 scientists, clinicians, postdoctoral fellows, and medical residents gathered in West Palm Beach, Florida, for the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis annual meeting, better known as the ACTRIMS Forum. Kristine Werner Ozug lives with MS and, full disclosure, she's a member of the Real…

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Bonus: An ACTRIMS Forum Conversation with Dr. Emanuelle Waubant 9:26

8M ago9:26

9:26

Just a couple of weeks ago, 1,800 scientists, clinicians, postdoctoral fellows, and medical residents gathered in West Palm Beach, Florida, for the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis annual meeting, better known as the ACTRIMS Forum. Dr. Emanuelle Waubant is a neurologist who specializes in treating patients with MS…

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Bonus: An ACTRIMS Forum Conversation with Dr. Mikael Simons 7:46

8M ago7:46

7:46

Just a couple of weeks ago, 1,800 scientists, clinicians, postdoctoral fellows, and medical residents gathered in West Palm Beach, Florida, for the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis annual meeting, better known as the ACTRIMS Forum. Dr. Mikael Simons is a neurologist and researcher at Technical University Munich an…

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Bonus: An ACTRIMS Conversation with Dr. Daniel Reich 6:04

8M ago6:04

6:04

Just a couple of weeks ago, 1,800 scientists, clinicians, postdoctoral fellows, and medical residents gathered in West Palm Beach, Florida, for the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis annual meeting, better known as the ACTRIMS Forum. Dr. Daniel Reich is a neurologist and neuroradiologist. He is the Director of the T…

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Bonus: An ACTRIMS Forum Conversation with Dr. Christina Azevedo 8:27

8M ago8:27

8:27

Just a couple of weeks ago, 1,800 scientists, clinicians, postdoctoral fellows, and medical residents gathered in West Palm Beach, Florida, for the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis annual meeting, better known as the ACTRIMS Forum. Dr. Christina Azevedo is an Associate Professor of Neurology at the University of S…

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Bonus: An ACTRIMS Forum Conversation with Dr. Peter Calabresi 6:22

8M ago6:22

6:22

Just a couple of weeks ago, 1,800 scientists, clinicians, postdoctoral fellows, and medical residents gathered in West Palm Beach, Florida, for the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis annual meeting, better known as the ACTRIMS Forum. Dr. Peter Calabresi is the Director of the Division of Neuroimmunology and the Dire…

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Episode 393: MS Awareness Week with Case Jernigan and Suni Conway 37:43

8M ago37:43

37:43

It's MS Awareness Week, and the National MS Society is asking everyone in the MS community to tell MS exactly what they think of it. We're kicking off MS Awareness Week by introducing you to two difference-makers in the MS community who have each found their own way of talking back to MS. Case Jernigan is an experimental animator, narrative gamemak…

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An ACTRIMS Forum Conversation with Dr. Nara Michaelson 7:16

8M ago7:16

7:16

Just a couple of weeks ago, 1,800 scientists, clinicians, postdoctoral fellows, and medical residents gathered in West Palm Beach, Florida, for the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis annual meeting, better known as the ACTRIMS Forum. Dr. Nara Michaelson is a Multiple Sclerosis Fellow at Harvard's Massachusetts Gener…

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An ACTRIMS Forum Conversation with Dr. Darin Okuda 11:23

8M ago11:23

11:23

Just a couple of weeks ago, 1,800 scientists, clinicians, postdoctoral fellows, and medical residents gathered in West Palm Beach, Florida, for the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis annual meeting, better known as the ACTRIMS Forum. Dr. Darin Okuda is the Director of the Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology Imagi…

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Episode 392: From the 2025 ACTRIMS Forum with Dr. Lilyana Amezcua and Dr. John Corboy 23:22

8M ago23:22

23:22

Last week, 1,800 scientists, clinicians, postdoctoral fellows, and medical residents arrived in West Palm Beach, Florida, for the Americas Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis annual meeting, better known as the ACTRIMS Forum. I'm kicking off our coverage of this important conference by sharing two of the conversations I had a…

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Episode 391: Choosing the Right Mobility Device with Dr. Evan Cohen 32:26

8M ago32:26

32:26

MS can limit your ability to get around and do the things you like to do. And when that happens, the right mobility device can be a game-changer when it comes to staying safe, staying active, and improving your quality of life. This week, Dr. Evan Cohen joins me to discuss how to know when it's time to consider a mobility device, and how to choose …

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Special Episode: A Consensus Paper on Smoldering MS with Dr. Antonio Scalfari 21:19

9M ago21:19

21:19

This special episode of RealTalk MS is sponsored by Sanofi. By now, you may have come across the term smoldering MS and wondered what it means. An international panel of MS experts has published a consensus statement on the definition, biology, and clinical implications of smoldering MS. Joining me is the lead author of that paper, Dr. Antonio Scal…

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Episode 390: Managing MS Pain with Dr. Bianca Weinstock-Guttman 30:49

9M ago30:49

30:49

More than half of the people living with MS live with pain. And, too often, the distraction and discomfort of MS-related pain can stop you from fully engaging in every aspect of your life. Dr. Bianca Weinstock-Guttman joins me to discuss treatment options for managing MS pain. Dr. Weinstock-Guttman is a neurologist and professor of neurology at the…

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Episode 389: Overcoming the Stigma of MS with Denise Schnieders and Fox Rigney 34:17

9M ago34:17

34:17

Living your best life with MS means learning to overcome the stigma of having a disability, successfully navigating social relationships, and learning how to ask for and accept help. Joining me to share their perspectives and their experiences in overcoming some of these social obstacles are Denise Schnieders, who was diagnosed with MS just about a…