Living With Multiple Sclerosis
- Montel Williams, turning 70 this summer, recently discussed how living with multiple sclerosis (MS) has shaped his disciplined fitness routine. He claims he feels physically younger than 51 due to consistent intense workouts, careful sleep/hydration habits, and lifestyle adjustments.
- Williams says he manages pain, fatigue, and inflammation by adjusting his diet, using prescribed medication along with supplements and other supportive therapies, and maintaining an active lifestyle.
- Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is a disease of the brain and spinal cord where the immune system attacks the protective layer of nerve fibers called myelin causing communication issues between your brain and the rest of your body.
- If you’re an MS warrior in need of inspiration, check out SurvivorNet’s Multiple Sclerosis page for moving content including films about other MS warriors.
Williams, who recalls his MS symptoms showing up before graduating the Naval Academy in 1980 and credits a mitochondria targeted supplement called Oral mitoquinone (MitoQ) for reducing his fatigue while living with the disease, has shared insight into how well he’s aging, with Dr. Kara Fitzgerald on her podcast “New Frontiers in Functional Medicine, Longevity, Epigenetics.”
Read More“I’m one of those people, I don’t do that three days a week, four days a week … I work out until I can’t. And then if I have to take a day off, I’ll take a day off. Then I’ll work out until I can’t. I’ll take a day off.
Williams, who admitted to subtly enhancing the color of his goatee, said that when he looks in the mirror, he realizes he still fits into the same pants he wore after graduating from the Naval Academy and continues to wear the same size shorts.
He also expressed immense confidence in his appearance and fitness level in the gym, believing he can compete with anyone there.
Williams also pointed out how he may be “a little obsessive” when it comes to paying attention to things like his water intake, how much sleep he gets, or how many times he wakes up in the middle of the night.
“I pay attention to input/output and always trying to make sure … one of the things I have not been able to tackle, and a lot of my other MS warriors out there will know what I’m talking about, is that I have an extreme heat aversion,” he explained further.
“Now that may sound crazy from a guy who lives in Miami, but starting from now until probably December, I don’t go outside that much. I do go outside to try to get some vitamin D from the sun every day, but I’m not out once that temperature hits 79, 80. And then when it starts getting to 85, 89, I’m like Superman with kryptonite. It just starts to weigh my body down. There’s no ifs, ands, or buts.”
Recalling how he previously experienced excruciating pain in his feet and face, prompting him to educate himself about MS and adjust his lifestyle. He said that as a result, he adopted a healthier diet, changed his workout routine, and lost 20 pounds.
Highlighting his strong discipline and commitment, Williams told Dr. Fitzgerald, “When I’m weighed down, then I try to go to the gym as a pick-me-up, and most of the time it is. However it makes things tough. And there are days—I don’t want to give the impression that I’m kicking MS’s ass completely, because I’m not.
“I have days where the pain in my feet can be overwhelming. I have days with pain in my face. However, no matter how I feel, I always know there’s something I can do in my brain that helps me feel better. So if I put the work in, it pays back. It gives me the dividend I need. And that’s what I suggest to anybody listening.”
Helping Multiple Sclerosis Patients with Resources
Williams then explained how he has a “large number of scars” found on his MRI imaging, noting how MS refers to “multiple scars” in the brain and spinal cord.
He said he has scarring in his spinal cord and a significant number of lesions in the pons area of the brain near the cerebellum, pointing out that this region is linked to a condition that can affect how emotions are expressed and regulated.
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Williams, who strives to “regulate inflammation” in his body through his diet and exercise, says his diet is focused on blended fruits and vegetables.
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He said he cut out red meat, avoided animal products for some time, and eventually moved to a pescatarian diet, believing these changes helped minimize his MS symptoms by reducing inflammation.
Williams also said he pairs standard medical treatment with alternative approaches, including supplements, neuromodulation [pain relieving approach], other wellness strategies. He also hasn’t stopped looking into additional therapies that may be beneficial.
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Montel Williams’ MS Journey
Multiple sclerosis is a potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord. The disease 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.
Once the protective barrier is damaged, the spinal cord struggles to send messages to arms, legs, and other parts of the body to function normally.
Williams previously explained how he was misdiagnosed for 20 years before learning he had MS. “The entire time I was in the military, I would go to doctors. I was going to the doctors once every three to four months.”
In a more detailed conversation on the “Frankly Seniors” podcast, Williams described how his symptoms began surfacing as early as 1979 while he was serving in the military at peak physical condition.
“Throughout my entire military career, every three to four months, I went to the doctor, trying to figure out what was going on with my shoulder, back, leg, and hips,” he recalled.
Despite experiencing recurring issues like tingling, pain, and visual disturbances, Williams said he was repeatedly dismissed. At the time, MS was widely believed to affect mainly white women of northern European descent—an image that didn’t match his own.
“Back then, in the physician’s desk reference, when they looked up MS, it said a disease that mostly affected women of northern European descent,” Williams said. “So, here I am, an African-American male getting ready to graduate from the Naval Academy, and I was probably in the shape of my life, and I’m demonstrating so many symptoms that nobody can explain.”
Williams attributes his diagnosis in part to his maternal ancestry. “Part of the reason for that is my family lineage. My mother happens to be half Caucasian, and her mother was from Scotland, and her father was African-American. Through her, that gene came through, skipped a generation, and hit me.”
Eventually, after nearly two decades of unexplained symptoms, Williams was formally diagnosed with multiple sclerosis—a chronic illness that affects the brain and central nervous system. He described his condition as largely stable today but acknowledged that it remains a constant presence in his life.
“Luckily, I have not had a bout in the last four to five years, and my disease has been very stable,” he said. “However, I still have symptoms that I deal with on a daily basis. However, I’m one of those people who can say that I have MS, but MS is never going to have me.”
Williams Says Cannabis Has Been a ‘Lifeline’ Amid MS
“It’s been a lifeline for me,” William said in an earlier Instagram post where he said that medical cannabis helps with pain management.
Williams’ incorporation of medical cannabis into his MS management routine is not unheard of, and some research studies say cannabis has provided other MS patients with medical benefits.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society says, “Some [people living with multiple sclerosis] use non-inhaled cannabis products to manage symptoms. Although the FDA has not approved any cannabis-based medications to treat MS symptoms, you and your healthcare provider may consider medical cannabis for symptom management.”
Research published in May 2022 in the peer-reviewed journal “Life” that studied The Efficacy of Cannabis on Multiple Sclerosis-Related Symptoms found that, “indications that cannabis will support the efficacy of cannabinoids, namely through an oromucosal spray (mouth spray) and orally, in the treatment of pain and spasticity, which are the most common symptoms in MS patients.”
Additional research released in December 2022 in the peer-reviewed “International Journal of MS Care” found that within its own study involving 141 patients with multiple sclerosis, “Patients experienced extensive MS symptom improvement after initiation of MC, with alleviation of pain (72% of patients) and spasticity (48% of patients) and improvement in sleep (40% of patients) the most common.”
Understanding Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis 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.
Once the protective barrier is damaged, the spinal cord struggles to communicate to the body’s arms, legs, and other parts to function normally.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society lays out the different types of multiple sclerosis:
- Clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) is when an individual experiences a single neurological episode lasting 24 hours or less. CIS is what MS is diagnosed as until there is a second episode.
- Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS): The most common MS among the million people battling the disease in the US, RRMS is marked by sudden flare-ups, new symptoms, or worsening of symptoms and cognitive function. The condition will then go into remission for some time before reemerging with no known warning signs.
- Primary progressive MS (PPMS): These individuals have no flare-ups or remission, just a steady decline with progressively worse symptoms and an increasing loss of cognitive and body functions.
- Secondary progressive MS (SPMS): This almost transitional form of MS progresses from RRMS to PPMS.
In addition to balance issues, numbness, and tingling in the limbs, other common MS symptoms include vision and bladder control problems. Mood changes and mental and physical fatigue are other symptoms people living with MS may experience, according to the National Institute of Health.
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The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke explains this disease as: “An unpredictable disease of the central nervous system, [MS] can range from relatively benign to somewhat disabling to devastating, as communication between the brain and other parts of the body is disrupted.” Investigators of the disease believe it to be an autoimmune disease.
Many people fighting MS experience muscle weakness and difficulty with coordination and balance, so it’s absolutely incredible and encouraging to hear Montel Williams is still working out and focusing on his fitness.
Currently, there is no cure for MS, although some people treat the disease using chemotherapy, medications, or steroid drugs.
Recommendations for a Healthy Lifestyle
Although Williams didn’t battle cancer, his choice to be healthy and prioritize her nutrients, hydration, and fitness, remind us how the experts we have spoken with have all made it clear that there is no “cancer diet,” meaning there are no guidelines that are recommended for every person with cancer.
The general recommendations for a healthy lifestyle are the same whether you have cancer or not. But Dr. Ken Miller, the Director of Outpatient Oncology at the University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center, has some guidelines for cancer survivors who are concerned about a recurrence:
- Exercise at least two hours a week — and walking counts.
- Eat a low-fat diet. The Women’s Intervention Nutrition Study, which looked at early stage breast cancer patients, found that a low-fat diet was associated with reduced risk for cancer recurrence, particularly in those with estrogen receptor-negative cancers. Other studies have found that foods with a high glycemic index that are digested quickly and cause a spike in blood sugar may lead to tumor growth in lung cancer patients.
- Eat a colorful diet with lots of fruits and vegetables. The American Cancer Society recommends aiming for two to three cups of vibrant vegetables and fruits each day.
- Maintain a healthy weight. Studies have shown that being obese can increase your risk for several types of cancer.
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Dr. Andrea Tufano-Sugarman of NYU Langone Health explained to SurvivorNet the benefits of losing weight.
“While all cancers cannot be prevented,” she said, “losing weight is a great way to reduce one’s risk.”
Dr. Tufano-Sugarman said that this is especially true for women; they lower their risk of developing breast cancer and endometrial cancer when they lose weight and keep it of.
Even without losing weight, adopting a more nutritious diet can help.
“Food choices, independent of weight loss, may also help to reduce risk,” Dr. Tufano-Sugarman said.
“Research has shown that the Mediterranean diet (rich in fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes, fish and olive oil) is associated with a decreased risk of cancer. Whereas diets rich in red meat may be associated with an increased risk of colorectal and prostate cancer.”
Additional research published in “Cancers” noted that “Physical activity has been shown to reduce the side effects of treatment and fatigue in cancer patients.”
“Lack of exercise actually begets fatigue,” Dr. Marleen Meyers, a medical oncologist and Director of the Cancer Survivorship Program at NYU Perlmutter Cancer Center, told SurvivorNet in a previous conversation about how to deal with some of chemo’s most challenging side effects.
“So the best treatment for fatigue is exercise. And what we have to do is get people over the hump, to get initial exercise going.” Dr. Meyers treats patients with breast cancer, but she said her advice applies to many other cancers as well.
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Mental Health: The Basics
The term mental health refers to both our emotional and psychological well-being. Our mental health can affect how we think, feel, and behave. Certain triggers like stress, traumatic events, or change in your physical health can affect mental health. It’s really important to keep tabs on your mental health and, if necessary, seek treatment. This doesn’t necessarily mean traditional therapy because while it may be really helpful (even life-changing) for some, that doesn’t mean it’s for everyone.
Problems with mood and overall mental well-being can be attributed to several factors. For some people it’s genetic, while others may be experiencing a response to some sort of stressor or past trauma.
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In order to keep your mental health in check, it’s important to be aware of signs which can be subtle that there is something affecting your mind. These signs include:
- A change in eating or sleeping habits
- Losing interest in people or usual activities
- Experiencing little or no energy
- Numb and/or hopeless feelings
- Turning to drinking or drugs more than usual
- Non-typical angry, upset, or on-edge feelings
- Yelling/fighting with loved ones
- Experiencing mood swings
- Intrusive thoughts
- Trouble getting through daily tasks
These symptoms can be wide-ranging and vary a great deal from person to person. Everyone experiences grief differently, for example. However, if you are feeling unusually sad, on-edge, or like you’re no longer interested in activities you used to love, know that there are many treatment options available and many different healthy ways to help you cope.
Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff
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