Living With and Managing Multiple Sclerosis
- Jack Osbourne, 37, the son of rocker Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, has been living with multiple sclerosis for more than a decade now.
- Jack is a producer and actor who was featured in "Austin Powers in Goldmember" and "Dancing with the Stars." Now, he uses his platform to advocate for people living with MS.
- Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an incurable disease that impacts the brain and spinal cord leading to feelings of tingling, numbness, and pain in parts of the body.
- Although MS does not have a cure, common tools such as wheelchairs, canes, leg braces, and some medical treatments called disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) may improve the quality of life for people living with the disease.
However, he has faced much adversity including an addiction to drugs and alcohol and battling multiple sclerosis.
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Jack began dealing with his own health challenge when a string of concerning symptoms led to a multiple sclerosis (MS) diagnosis.
This disease is one of the brain and spinal cord that causes the immune system to attack cells that form the protective sheath that covers nerve fibers in the spinal cord. The disruption leads to communication problems between the brain and the rest of the body.
Jack Osbourne's MS Journey
Jack Osbourne's MS journey began in 2012 after he noticed unusual pinching in his nerves and numbness. He admitted he initially dismissed the early signs until he started experiencing problems with his eyes.
"I ignored the pinching in my leg because I thought I just pinched a nerve," he told Healthline in an interview.
"Even when I got diagnosed, I thought, 'Aren't I too young to get this? Now, I know the average age of diagnosis is between 20 and 40," he continued.
Jack’s diagnosis came about after he saw an eye doctor for optic neuritis, an inflammatory condition that impacts the optic nerve leading to vision problems. These eye problems coupled with numbness in his limbs that lingered for months were actually symptoms of multiple sclerosis.
"When the doctors told me, 'I think you have MS', I kind of freaked out," Jack Osbourne said.
He then poured countless hours into researching the disease to learn what he could. He managed to connect with other people living with MS including former talk show host, Montel Williams.
Jack Osbourne has since learned to live with the disease and manage his symptoms.
"I exercise regularly and watch my diet, and have tried to minimize stress but that's nearly impossible when you have kids and work," he said.
He's since used his platform to become an advocate for people living with MS. Among his talking points are the advancements in treatment so people liwith multiple sclerosis can live fuller lives.
"The fact that there are so many amazing advances out there and knowledge about the disease, [people need to know] that they can continue [even with limitations] especially if they are on the right treatment plan," he said.
Understanding Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic disease that causes symptoms that come in waves. "Most people with MS…will have short periods of symptoms followed by long stretches of relative dormancy" according to the National Institutes of Health.
Although the disease is incurable, it is rarely fatal and brings with it a "normal life expectancy."
Symptoms associated with the disease include:
- Vision problems
- Muscle weakness in the limbs
- Feelings of tingling, numbness, or pain
- Difficulty balancing
- Bladder problems
It's important to know that experiencing these symptoms does not automatically mean you have MS. If you notice changes to your body or mood, or are concerned about any symptoms you have, you should discuss them with your doctor promptly.
Treating Multiple Sclerosis
With treatment, people with MS can live full lives just as Jack Osbourne has more than a decade since his diagnosis.
Common tools MS patients use to improve their quality of life include wheelchairs, canes, leg braces and some medical treatments called disease-modifying therapies (DMTs).
More on Multiple Sclerosis
A study in American Family Physician found DMTs "has been shown to slow disease progression and disability; options include injectable agents, infusions, and oral medications targeting different sites in the inflammatory pathway."
While chemotherapy is widely known as a cancer treatment, it is also effective at slowing down or stopping disease activity in MS. Fellow MS warrior and actress Selma Blair shared on her Instagram, she underwent chemotherapy to help her MS symptoms.
Corticosteroids can be prescribed that enter the body intravenously to manage symptoms. The steroid "suppresses the immune system and reduces inflammation" according to the National Institute of Health.
Ocrevus (Ocrelizumab), is an FDA-approved drug that helps "relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis in adults, which include clinically isolated syndrome, relapsing-remitting disease (RRMS), and active secondary progressive disease (SPMS with relapses)," according to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Questions for Your Doctor
If you find yourself experiencing some of the symptoms associated with multiple sclerosis, consider asking your doctor a few questions below.
- What goes into diagnosing someone with MS?
- How to distinguish the symptoms of this disease?
- What kind of multiple sclerosis do I have?
- Will my symptoms worsen?
- What can I do to manage my symptoms at home?
- What kind of medications or treatments do you recommend for me?
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