News

• NICE approves injectable drugs for relapsing MS
• Gilenya approved for young Americans
• AAN meeting round up
• RCN supports medical cannabis
• Vitamins and dietary supplements

We'd like to wish the best of luck to longstanding MS Trust supporter Jim Thompson as he begins a 1,300 mile trek. 

Having kept her MS secret for eight years, MS Trust supporter Jenna decided to open up about life with the condition earlier this year – and says it was the best decision she’s ever made. Here she tells us about the empowerment she felt sharing her story and raising awareness of MS.

NICE approves Avonex, Extavia and Rebif, Copaxone and Brabio, does not recommend Betaferon and will assess Plegridy separately.

• Social care crisis
• Managing fatigue online
• Spinal fluid test for risk of progression

Caring for a loved one with advanced MS can bring all kinds of challenges, with many families feeling like they have nowhere to turn. Here, we speak to Lisa and Tony Tanner, who care for Lisa’s mum Georgetta, about the ups and downs of being a carer, and how the MS Trust's Advanced MS Champion programme will make a difference. 

Lots of you share your views on issues affecting people with MS in the letters and emails you send us, your phone calls and on our social media channels. Here  we focus on a couple of burning issues that have got many of you talking. 

Laws on how your data is protected are changing and here at the MS Trust we’re committed to ensuring you feel confident that we’re looking after your data properly and communicating with you fairly.

Last year, 64 daring MS Trust supporters took a leap of faith and jumped out of a plane with a parachute, raising over £44,000 to help others affected by MS. Adventure lover Sarah Harper explains why she wanted to take part in a sponsored skydive.

Talking about your toilet troubles can sometimes be embarrassing - there’s no getting away from it!  But bowel and bladder symptoms in MS are common and often easily managed, so it’s important to be open about what you’re going through so you can get the support you need. We put some of your questions about these issues to MS specialist nurse Noreen Barker. 

• Northern Ireland patient recall
• New measure of walking developed

When Isobel was diagnosed with MS aged just 22, she vowed it would “make me not break me”. Determined to help other young people in a similar situation, she decided to start vlogging about her journey with MS. Over a year later, Izzy’s YouTube channel, Izzy MS (youtube.com/izzyms), has thousands of subscribers and her videos have proved an invaluable source of support for people with MS from all over the world. We caught up with Izzy to find out more. 

Whether it’s the everyday tasks that keep you independent, like getting dressed in the morning and cleaning your teeth, or being able to do those things you enjoy, like baking or painting, the dexterity and coordination of your hands and arms is essential. This was acknowledged by the MS team at Barts in 2016 when they launched their #ThinkHand campaign and began raising awareness on the importance of upper limb function in the MS community. The awareness campaign has been steadily gaining momentum, so we decided to catch up with Professor Gavin Giovannoni to find out more about the campaign and learn why we should all be ‘thinking hand’

Following a shock diagnosis in 2015, Lucy Pritchard decided to take on a remarkable running challenge to raise vital funds for the MS Trust and show that MS doesn’t have to mean the end of your world. This is her story. 

Amy was diagnosed with MS at just 17. Here she tells us about the challenges of being diagnosed at such a young age, living with an 'invisible' condition, and why she's determined MS won't stop her.

• Exposure to toxin a possible MS trigger
• Anticholinergics and dementia risk

David, whose mum has MS, talks about his project with the Fixers campaign to create a short film to help other young people talk about MS.

• Plan to extend personal health budgets
• Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) a year on
• Differences in cognition for people with SPMS

Understanding MS is hard enough as an adult, but for the increasing numbers of young people affected by MS, it can be huge challenge. This MS Awareness Week (23-29th April), the MS Trust is highlighting the impact MS can have on young people.

• Lemtrada and possible new side effects
• Tysabri study in SPMS
• Fighting for housing rights
• Risk of infections when on DMDs