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On friday I was watching EXTRA and they were doing a story about Terri Garr and her battle with MS. Of course they mentioned Richard and other celebs with the disaease. Then they showed Rain Pryor and she said that she was having symptoms of MS too. I was not even aware that MS was hereditary. I guess I need to study up about the facts on this disease.

Spencer

rsmayton,
Rain doesn't know what she has -so far noone know if it's hereditary or not.

Jennifer,

This is certainly not for you since you know all of this already, but since I wanted to know more myself, I thought I'd share with the Man's fans just what the Man's got:

Multiple Sclerosis, or MS, is thought to be an autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord, and the optic nerves).

Surrounding and protecting the nerve fibers of the CNS is a fatty tissue called myelin, which helps nerve fibers conduct electrical impulses. In MS, myelin is lost in multiple areas, leaving scar tissue called sclerosis. These damaged areas are also known as plaques or lesions. Sometimes the nerve fiber itself is damaged or broken.

Myelin not only protects nerve fibers, but makes their job possible. When myelin or the nerve fiber is destroyed or damaged, the ability of the nerves to conduct electrical impulses to and from the brain is disrupted, and this produces the various symptoms of MS.

Important Facts About MS:
MS is a chronic, unpredictable neurological disease that affects the central nervous system.
MS is not contagious and is not directly inherited.
MS is not considered a fatal disease.
The majority of people with MS do not become severely disabled.
There is no cure for MS yet, but drugs can help slow the course and/or symptoms in many patients.

Visitor,
and it's not this clear cut either:
other ancillary diseases and health problems are born out of this primary one.

Jennifer,
Maybe not so precise but informative. It was a good thread.

Tifah,

I have an aunt with MS and the shit is more frustrating than depressing. The person is a prisoner within themselves. The brilliance, humor, and humanity is still there, it just can't get out.

MS is a mutherfucker. There are general signs and symptoms, but no clear cut rules. They don't know if it is hereditary or not and can not predict who will get it or how fast or slow the disease process will be. What works for one patient won't work for others. Some patients have it for years before a definate diagnosis can be made.

Jennifer,
Here's an interseting read...at the bottom of the page is a link to the Mass General Hospital....so it might be legit.
http://neuro-www.mgh.harvard.edu/forum/ ... AMEALERTre - here'

(Edit)I just noticed a disclaimer on the page

And more MS stuff!

Anyone gonna be in the Edinburgh Area for the Fringe? (I doubt it, but I'm going to type on anyway...)

http://jimsweeney.co.uk/ - Jim Sweeney'is doing a show called My MS and Me. The dude is funny and the Fringe Fest always looks like a blast, so if you're UK bound in August, it might be worth a visit.

Oh and Jim Sweeney...UK impro(v) guy.

Jane

jane_haze,
thanks for this-very interesting!!!