KCTCS - Elizabethtown

Multiple Sclerosis

Critical Analysis

When Montel Williams was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis he responded, “When the neurologist said those words- You have MS, it hit me like a brick. I thought the diagnosis was a death sentence” (Williams, Montel). This response is like many of others who find out the same devastating news. MS affects every person differently even though many of the symptoms are the same. Having MS changes your life, from that persons’ social life to their work, and even their everyday activities. MS has a tremendous effect on those diagnosed in their everyday lives.

David L. Lander was “Squiggy” who played in the comical show “Lenny and Squiggy” that aired back in the late 70’s to early 80’s. The show ran for eight seasons and 178 episodes (Rucker, Allen). Only David’s wife, daughter and a few close friends knew about his condition, he was also diagnosed with MS (Rucker, Allen). “It is particularly hard to scroll onto a stage or in front of a camera and hide a physical disability, especially one that often gets worse in strange and unpredictable ways” Allen emphasizes about David. Some people live their life pretending nothing is wrong with them, they deny the truth because it hurts too much to face it. Even celebrities can’t escape from MS, this can happen to anyone.

 

“MS is a disease of the central nervous system that results in death” says Charlie Kuhn’s ophthalmologist (Kuhn, Charlie). “I sat there stunned, scared and mad” Charlie recalls (Kuhn, Charlie).Charlie went to his ophthalmologist because of his blindness in his left eye which was caused by MS. Charlie was a 37 year old man, married with two children, worked daily and volunteered for many projects and organizations(Kuhn, Charlie). But he soon found out through research that his ophthalmologist had been wrong, he wasn’t dying, MS is not fatal. “That said, MS is still quite formidable; it can cause blindness, dizziness, loss of cognizant function and mobility, incontinence and other dastardly ills” explains Charlie (Kuhn, Charlie). Charlie began to lose leg mobility due to his MS (Kuhn, Charlie). He quit coaching, volunteering, he was able to hold his job but not his marriage (Kuhn, Charlie). Even though Charlie went through some very tough times because of his disease, he learned to deal with the situation that was given to him. Those with MS have to make these same changes as their disease takes its course. 

“The patient is a 34 year old black female who presents with intermittent right facial numbness. She has no other complaints” reports the doctor (Vanjar, Julie). The patient has had numbness “on and off” for 12 months now (Vanjar, Julie). The doctor requests an MRI as some other tests as well. The MRI reveals she has MS. “MRI is useful in evaluating patients with suspected MS” states Julie Vanjar. “Patients with MS are usually 20 to 50 years old at onset, and women are more likely than men to be affected” (Vanjar, Julie). MS also causes unpredictable relapses and remissions through its process (Vanjar, Julie). MS obviously takes a mental and a physical toll on the body. Many who have MS experience these same symptoms, like my mother.

Multiple Sclerosis is a uncontrollable, unpredictable and incurable disease.  250,000 to 350,000 people in the United States have been diagnosed with MS (eMedTV), these numbers are staggering. When having MS your life changes, some of these changes you cannot control. Medications and therapy is a couple of ways to help slow down the disease effects on the body. MS has changed the lives of those with the disease and their families. Seeing a loved one in pain and having problems doing everyday things are very hard to cope with. Whether the person has just found out they have MS or if they have had it for years, they are all in the same battle every day.  MS has a tremendous effect on those who have the disease and are affected in their everyday lives.