“While it is true that many people with multiple sclerosis have a ‘benign’ course, it is difficult to predict who will be in this lucky group,” says Dr. Kantor.
“There is a lot of controversy surrounding the classification of benign multiple sclerosis,” says Daniel Kantor, MD, director of the Neurology Residency Program, Florida Atlantic University.
Dr. Kantor explains, “While it is true that many people with multiple sclerosis have a ‘benign’ course, it is difficult to predict who will be in this lucky group.
“This is why many of us MS specialists see ‘benign multiple sclerosis’ as an after-the-fact diagnosis that can only be made retrospectively.”
MS occurs when the immune system turns against itself, and attacks the sheath that covers nerves and the nerves themselves. This disorder can come and go, yet also rarely leave people bedridden.
I’m a certified personal trainer and one of my clients had multiple sclerosis in remission; she was able to perform all sorts of workout routines.
Sometime after our sessions ended, I heard she had a relapse and was temporarily bedridden.
“There are probably many more people with multiple sclerosis than the 450,000 in the U.S. (and 2.5 million worldwide) commonly quoted,” says Dr. Kantor.
“Firstly, this is an old number from a study years ago; multiple sclerosis remains under-recognized and most people with MS live and die (after a normal life) with multiple sclerosis and don’t even know it.
“Most people with multiple sclerosis do extremely well and respond dramatically to the disease modifying agents (mostly injectables).”
Many famous people have MS, and perhaps the most famous contemporary person who has it is talk show host Montel Williams. Other famous people with MS include:
Neil Cavuto, Fox News Channel anchor; Lena Horne, actress/singer; Alan Osmond, one of the Osmond brothers; and Richard Pryor, comedian.
“There is another problem with the ‘benign’ multiple sclerosis category,” continues Dr. Kantor.
“Even if someone has no problem walking or feeling, they may have invisible symptoms that others don’t recognize or acknowledge.
“This can be very frustrating for the person with multiple sclerosis and they certainly wouldn’t call it ‘benign.’”
Symptoms of MS include: numbness or weakness in a leg or arm, usually beginning on one side of the body or both legs or both arms at the same time; vision problems (though rarely complete loss); pain; tremors and balance/gait problems; fatigue and dizziness.
When someone speaks of benign multiple sclerosis, perhaps they’re thinking in terms of mortality; MS rarely is fatal, and has been called the “best” nerve disease to have, since many other nerve diseases are terminal.
Dr. Kantor is also President Emeritus, Florida Society of Neurology.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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