His Military Service Helped Uncover His Multiple Sclerosis
- Former daytime talk show host Montel Williams says Memorial Day holds deep personal meaning because of his own military service, which began when he enlisted at 17. He urges people to go beyond a quick “thank you” and truly listen to service members when they respond.
- Williams, a decorated veteran and outspoken multiple sclerosis advocate, says his MS symptoms began as early as 1979 while he was in peak physical condition, leading to decades of unexplained health issues before finally receiving a diagnosis.
- Multiple sclerosis is a disease of the brain and central nervous system that causes numbness or tingling in the limbs, fatigue, lack of coordination, blurry vision, and unsteady gait.
- 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.
- A study in American Family Physician found that DMTs “have been shown to slow disease progression and disability; options include injectable agents, infusions, and oral medications targeting different sites in the inflammatory pathway.”
- Williams says he’s used medical cannabis to help him manage MS-related symptoms.
- Research published in peer-reviewed journals, including the International Journal of MS Care, supports cannabis use for MS symptom relief, with studies showing improvements in pain (72%), spasticity (48%), and sleep (40%)—especially through oromucosal sprays and oral forms. Talking with your doctor is recommended before exploring cannabis as an option.
“Memorial Day has always been special to me. I started serving in the military when I was 17 years old and went to boot camp at 18,” Williams says in an Instagram post.
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Williams’ connection to service runs deep. Long before he became a household name, he built a distinguished military career.
Today, he’s equally known for his outspoken advocacy around multiple sclerosis, a disease he battled for decades before finally receiving a diagnosis.
His symptoms began as early as 1979, during his years of peak physical fitness in the military. He dealt with a long period marked by unexplained neurological issues, countless medical appointments, and years of uncertainty.
“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 on the “Frankly Seniors” podcast.
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.”
Over the years, Williams says doctors often pointed to other potential causes, including his past time as a competitive bodybuilder. He remembers one physician advising him, “Quit putting all of that weight on your back, and you’ll feel better.”
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.
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“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’s candid reflections not only highlight the challenges of diagnosing MS in underrepresented communities but also underscore his resilience—a trait that continues to define his life both on and off the public stage.
Helping Patients Cope with a Multiple Sclerosis Diagnosis
Living with Incurable 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 with the body’s arms, legs, and other parts to function normally.
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There is no cure for M.S., but M.S. warriors battling the disease do have methods to manage their symptoms.
Common tools M.S. patients use to improve their quality of life include wheelchairs, canes, leg braces, and some medical treatments called disease-modifying therapies (DMTs).
A study in American Family Physician found that DMTs “have been shown to slow disease progression and disability; options include injectable agents, infusions, and oral medications targeting different sites in the inflammatory pathway.”
Research published in Frontiers in Neurology last year says autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) (also called bone marrow transplantation, with autologous meaning a patient’s own cells) used for multiple sclerosis therapy helps “reset the immune system.” Several studies and clinical trials using AHSCT have shown promise.
“In a meta-analysis of published studies using AHSCT for M.S. treatment, the pooled estimated transplant-related mortality was 2.1%, the two-year disease progression rate was 17.1%, the five-year progression rate of 23.3%, and a pooled 83% of patients had no evidence of disease activity at two years. Patients who had the most benefit and least mortality rate were patients with relapsing-remitting M.S. (RRMS).”
Additional research published by NEJM Journal Watch says that AHSCT helps MS patients reduce relapses better than other forms of MS treatment.
The National Multiple Sclerosis Society outlines 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 M.S. is diagnosed as until there is a second episode.
- Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS): The most common M.S. among the million people battling the disease in the U.S., 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 M.S. (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 M.S. (SPMS): This is an almost transitional form of M.S. that progresses from RRMS to PPMS.
Williams Says Cannabis Has Been a ‘Lifeline’ During His Multiple Sclerosis Journey
“It’s been a lifeline for me,” William said in an Instagram post where he added that medical cannabis helps with pain management.
Williams’s 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.”
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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 published 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.”
Why You Should Tell Your Doctor If You Use Cannabis
Although some experts disagree with cannabis use, SurvivorNet understands it is legal in parts of the country, and there are some medicinal uses for it. If you are using cannabis, Dr. Brian Berman, professor of family community medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, says users should tell their doctor about their smoking habits.
“I think that you should always tell whichever therapy we’re talking about, you should always inform your oncologist and your physician, this is (using cannabis) what you’re doing,” Dr. Berman tells SurvivorNet.
Each state has its own requirements for obtaining a medical marijuana card. If you live in a state where medical marijuana use is legal and you think it might be the right treatment for you, start by talking to your doctor.
“Medical cannabis, if you think about it, is the only botanical medicine that can help nausea, increase appetite, decrease pain, and elevate mood,” Dr. Junella Chin, an integrative cannabis physician in New York, tells SurvivorNet.
Dr. Chin says she often sees patients seeking relief from the side effects of chemotherapy, which may include nausea, pain, decreased appetite, and depression. She says some physicians prescribe Marinol, or synthetic cannabis, to treat these side effects. However, she believes using the actual cannabis plant is much more helpful when used to relieve symptoms.
The cancer risks associated with smoking cigarettes are well-documented. However, some experts believe with conviction that cancer risks extend to smoking cannabis as well. Dr. Raja Flores, who is the Chairman of the Department of Thoracic Surgery for Mount Sinai Health System, is among those who believe cannabis fuels cancer risks.
“Smoking marijuana likely causes lung cancer independent of cigarette smoking status,” Dr. Flores told SurvivorNet.
“I do think for cigarettes, there is a genetic predisposition to get lung cancer. As well as a genetic predisposition for substance abuse. So, it would not surprise me that there is a genetic link to lung cancer from smoking weed,” Dr. Flores continued.
“As someone on the front lines, who sees this every day, I’ve seen lung cancer caused by marijuana that is incredibly aggressive,” Dr. Flores previously told SurvivorNet.
“There is no really good population-based study that looks at marijuana smoking, and that has had enough time elapsed to show it’s associated with lung cancer, [but] I’ve seen it. I’ve seen multiple cases of it. I see it every day,” he added.
Questions for Your Doctor
If you are diagnosed with MS or are concerned you have the chronic disease due to symptoms you’re experiencing, consider asking your doctor the following questions.
- Although there’s no cure for MS, which treatment option do you recommend to manage my symptoms?
- Are there any potential side effects of MS treatment?
- What if the treatment to manage symptoms doesn’t work?
- Will exercise or therapy help my symptoms?
- Are there any MS support groups you recommend to help me cope?
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