Your Questions Answered – Hear Directly From Dr. Cramer on What This Change Means for You
With a deep sense of gratitude for her years of dedicated service to the Multiple Sclerosis community, the MS Alliance of Virginia presents this candid and informative farewell interview with Dr. Jill Cramer. As she embarks on a new chapter, Dr. Cramer graciously shares the personal reasons behind her transition, offers crucial guidance for her patients navigating this change, and reflects on her impactful journey. We extend our sincerest thanks to Dr. Cramer for her unwavering commitment and wish her the very best in all her future endeavors.
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Katie Meyer to Speak to VTCSOM Students.
The Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine (VTCSOM) is employing an innovative educational method known as Problem-Based Learning (PBL) to prepare its students for future careers. Through this approach, students interact directly with individuals living with conditions like Multiple Sclerosis (MS), gaining real-world perspectives on the diseases they will one day treat.
MS patient and advocate, Katie Meyer, will soon be sharing her experience with students in the program for the third year in a row. Katie, who was diagnosed with MS in 2013, has been a dedicated volunteer with the MS Alliance of VA (MSAV) since its founding and currently serves as a co-facilitator for our online MS Support Group Meetings. Katie hopes students will understand the individuality of this disease, “MS manifests differently in each person, and symptoms can change rapidly. Despite these challenges, those of us with MS must constantly advocate for ourselves – with insurance and pharmaceutical companies, employers, and sometimes even our own families who may not fully grasp the nature of this invisible illness. If our doctors can understand all of the moving parts that make up the MS patient, they can then give us better care.” Read full story HERE.
MS Treatments Don’t Raise Miscarriage, Birth Defect Risk: Study
Most treatments for multiple sclerosis (MS) don’t increase the risk of major problems when used during pregnancy, an analysis showed. “We found that most therapies were not associated with an increased risk of miscarriage, premature birth or major birth defects,”...
Changing Neurologists Yet Again to Treat My MS
I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 2014. Over the past 10 years, my MS has been managed by five healthcare providers. That’s not how I envisioned my MS care. I’ve had the same primary care provider for almost 20 years, and I naively thought I’d be able to...
If I Knew Then What I Know Now – Neurologist Visit Considerations
It’s true and I know a good majority of you have thought the same thing. If we only knew then, what we know now, we would have acted sooner rather than later. My journey began sometime around 1985. I assumed my physical changes were due to getting older and I adjusted...
Phase 2 Trial Testing Foralumab in Nonactive SPMS Adds 6 US Sites
Tiziana Life Sciences is expanding its Phase 2 clinical trial testing foralumab nasal spray for the treatment of nonactive secondary progressive multiple sclerosis (SPMS), with six additional clinical sites across the northeastern region of the U.S. The new sites, all...
Finding a Way to Treat the Irritability That Can Come With MS
Too often, I’d find myself amid joyful moments with loved ones, struggling to keep irritability at bay. At those times, my mind would stagger between living in the happiness of the moment or an overwhelming sense of overstimulation, annoyance, and frustration. Most of...
The Virginia Energy Assistance Program (EAP) assists low-income households in meeting their immediate home energy needs. The EAP consists of four components: Fuel Assistance, Crisis Assistance, Cooling Assistance and Weatherization Assistance. Click on the flyer for more information.
Our Mission Statement
Provide programs, events, activities and services for people living with MS in Southwest Virginia and the surrounding areas, including veterans.
Educate and empower people with MS, their care partners, friends and family. We will guide people to organizations that may be able to assist with their needs.
Contribute to awareness in the community, including educational programs to young people, first responders and community organizations.
Encourage and expand support groups to include assisted-living facilities, homebound people and help others start upbeat groups like ours.