According to a story from Disability Today, Gary Campbell was just 30 years old, but his severe multiple sclerosis made him feel like someone who was three times older. His disease was so serious that he was in almost constant pain and was practically bedridden as a result. He couldn’t work and he couldn’t enjoy play time with Kye, his step son. However, Gary has gotten much better after participating in a clinical trial.
About Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis is a neurological disease which is characterized by damage to the myelin sheath, an fatty, insulating, protective covering that surrounds nerve cells and allows the to communicate effectively. Although a precise cause has not been determined, multiple sclerosis is considered an autoimmune disease, in which a certain trigger, such as an infection, may cause the immune system to mistakenly attack healthy tissue. Smoking and certain genetic variants are also considered risk factors for the disease. Symptoms include blurred vision, double vision, blindness in one eye, numbness, abnormal sensations, pain, muscle weakness, muscle spasms, difficulty speaking and swallowing, mood instability, depression, loss of coordination, and fatigue. There are a number of treatments available for the disease, but no cure. Life expectancy for patients is slightly reduced. To learn more about multiple sclerosis, click here.
Gary’s MS
Gary has the progressive form of multiple sclerosis. The disease can appear in relapsing-remitting form also. The progressive type is less common and more serious as it tends to worsen gradually over time. Gary was part of a clinical trial testing the drug ocrelizumab as a treatment for progressive multiple sclerosis. The drug has already been approved in the US for treating multiple sclerosis, but the NHS in Gary’s native Scotland and the broader UK has stopped funding it.
Up and Moving
He first started treatment in July and the results have been remarkable. He is now able to walk with the use of sticks, which is a great improvement compared to how he felt before. Gary wants other patients to be able to experience the benefits of ocrelizumab, and its fate now lies in the hands of the Scottish Medical Consortium. Hopefully, stories like Gary’s will encourage them to make the right decision.
