March is MS Awareness Month. The goal? To educate people about multiple sclerosis (MS). That’s a good thing because most people have no idea what MS is or how it affects those of us who live with it every day.
When I was diagnosed I didn’t fully know what it meant to have MS. My neurologist gave me no information, pamphlets, or even let me know there was an MS Society to help. He told me to buy a book—this was before the internet. I didn’t even have a follow-up visit to see how I was doing. All I had were bits and pieces of information, most of which painted a terrifying picture. It was confusing and scary.
That’s why awareness matters. People should understand what MS is, how it impacts lives, and what options exist for managing it. But here’s the problem—MS Awareness Month isn’t really about that. If you look closely, a lot of the “awareness” efforts focus more on raising money.
Money for more…
drug studies.
pharmaceutical research.
classes teaching patients that they need to be on medications.
It’s all about the next big treatment, the next breakthrough drug. But what about other ways to manage MS? What about lifestyle changes, nutrition, stress management, and holistic approaches? Where’s the big awareness for those options?
For those of us actually living with MS, it’s worth asking the question. Is MS Awareness Month really about helping patients, or is it just about pushing drugs?
What MS Awareness Month Gets Right
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MS Awareness Month isn’t all bad. There are some good things about it.
Most people don’t know what MS is. They either think everyone with MS is in a wheelchair or they don’t know anything about it at all. But the truth is, only a small percentage of people with MS use a wheelchair. Most of us deal with invisible symptoms. These include vision changes, numbness and tingling, fatigue, and muscle weakness. Just because someone looks fine doesn’t mean they aren’t struggling. Awareness campaigns help clear up these misconceptions.
Early diagnosis is another big benefit. When people know the signs of MS, they can get help sooner. This can make a big difference in how they manage their symptoms.
One of the best things about MS Awareness Month is its focus on patient stories. It helps bring their experiences into the spotlight. When I was first diagnosed, I felt completely alone. No one talked about MS and I didn’t know anyone who had it. Back then, people kept their diagnosis private. It was before the Americans with Disabilities Act, so they had good reason to stay quiet.
Now, things are different. More people share their experiences. There are many ways for people with MS to connect. They can find support through books, blogs, social media groups, and communities. That kind of support is important. It reminds us that we’re not alone.
So yes, raising awareness is a good thing. But it needs to go beyond just telling people what MS is. It should also help those of us living with it every day. My experience highlights exactly why awareness and better education are so important.
There are many resources for people with MS including:
The Problem: Where Does the Money Go?
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MS Awareness Month isn’t just about educating people. It’s also about raising money. Everywhere you look, there are fundraising events. Walks, bike rides, donation drives. It all sounds great. But where does all that money actually go?
Most of it goes toward pharmaceutical companies and drug research. The goal is to develop new medications. MS organizations, like the National MS Society, focus heavily on disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). These drugs are expensive and don’t work for everyone. But they are still the main treatment pushed by doctors and MS organizations.
Very little money goes toward holistic research, diet studies, or alternative therapies. Less than 5%! More studies are finding that nutrition and lifestyle changes can help people manage MS. But you won’t see big funding campaigns for those.
Why not? Because there’s no profit in it. Drug companies make billions from MS medications. There’s no big money to be made from diet changes, stress management, or natural supplements. So those areas get ignored.
This is frustrating for people who have improved their symptoms through non-drug approaches. Many of us have experienced real benefits from eating better and reducing stress. But those options aren’t being researched or promoted.
Shouldn’t MS Awareness Month support all ways to manage MS? Why is the focus only on pharmaceuticals? If the goal is truly to help people with MS, research should focus on everything that works. It shouldn’t be limited to treatments that make the most money.
The Lack of Awareness About Natural Approaches
MS Awareness Month rarely talks about natural ways to manage MS. The focus is almost always on medications. But what about diet? What about lifestyle changes? What about stress reduction and detoxing?
Studies show that nutrition, stress management, and holistic health can help people with MS. Reducing inflammation through diet improves symptoms such as fatigue. Detoxing from heavy metals and infections also plays a big role. But you won’t hear about these options during MS Awareness Month.
Why? Because they don’t make money. Drug companies can’t profit from people eating more vegetables or lowering stress. So these approaches get ignored, even though they’ve helped many people—including me.
I tried the DMT route, just like my doctor told me to. But instead of helping, the medications made my flares worse and more frequent. After one horrible flare, I knew I had to find another way. I started researching, and that’s when I discovered I could manage my MS naturally.
I changed my diet, focused on healing my body, and took control of my health. After just one year, I felt so much better. I decided to stop all MS medications, even though my neurologist warned me against it.—That was in 2005. It was the best decision I ever made.
Every person with MS deserves to know all of their options. Not just the ones that come in a prescription bottle. Why isn’t MS Awareness Month raising awareness about that?
What Real MS Awareness Should Look Like
MS Awareness Month should be about more than just medications. It should give people real choices. It should focus on everything that can help—not just drugs.
If it were truly about helping patients, there would be more research on lifestyle changes and diet. Environmental factors would also be studied more closely. Studies would look at how food affects inflammation. They would explore the link between toxins, heavy metals, and MS. Many people with MS have high levels of mercury, aluminum, or other heavy metals in their bodies. Could detoxing help? We need studies to find out.
We would hear more patient stories. Not just from people on DMTs, but from those managing MS in different ways. People who improved through diet. People who found relief with stress reduction, supplements, or detoxing. Their voices should be heard too. Right now, if you go to the MS Society’s website, most of the stories are about people using medications. But what about the people who have managed MS naturally? Their stories deserve to be shared too.
There would also be more financial support. MS drugs are expensive. Many people struggle to afford them, even with insurance. What about those who can’t work because of MS? Where is the awareness about that?
Most of all, the focus should be on supporting patients. We should be given all the facts, not just the ones that push us toward medication. People should know there are options. They should be encouraged to take control of their health. It shouldn’t be just about following a treatment plan because it’s the only one being promoted.
When I first told my neurologist I was going to eat and live healthy to manage my MS, he lectured me. He said “diet doesn’t work.” Then he lectured my husband. Fortunately, my husband was 100% supportive of me. Eating and living healthy is beneficial for all diseases.
MS Awareness Month could be so much more. It could truly help people. But that won’t happen unless the conversation changes.
How You Can Take Action
MS Awareness Month shouldn’t only focus on medications. Everyone needs to help spread the word. We can raise awareness in a way that helps all people with MS—not just those using pharmaceuticals.
Remember when you were first diagnosed with MS and how scary it was? The thought of taking a DMT with all its side effects felt overwhelming. Wouldn’t it have been nice if your doctor had shared all the options with you?
Here are some ways you can make a difference:
- Speak out about alternative ways to manage MS. Talk about diet, lifestyle changes, and holistic approaches. Let people know there are options beyond medication.
- Share your story on social media. If you’ve improved your symptoms naturally, tell others. Your story might help someone who feels stuck and hopeless.
- Educate others about MS management. If someone asks about MS, share what you’ve learned. Recommend books, blogs, or studies that go beyond pharmaceuticals.
The more we talk about all MS treatment options, the more awareness will grow. People with MS deserve choices, not just one path pushed by big organizations.
True awareness isn’t just about raising money. It’s about giving real information so people can make the best decisions for their health. Let’s be part of that change.
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The Truth About MS Awareness Month
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