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Let us hear from you!
editor@nmss.org or send mail
to Momentum Editor, National
MS Society, 733 Third Avenue,
3rd floor, New York, NY 10017.
We need your name and address,
but we won’t print your name if
you so request.
report that most of my clients’
neurologists and family
physicians have been good
patient advocates.
David S. Bross, Esq.,
New Jersey
Momentum
wants to know
about your cognitive
challenges
nationalMSsociety.
org/cogchallenges
Clarifying the
doctor’s role
In “Banking on a life with
MS” (Fall 2012), the author
describes the SSDI/SSI disability
process as one that “involves
your doctor presenting your
case to the Social Security
Administration.” While the
doctor(s) frequently plays a
critical role in the disability
claims process, SSDI/SSI
cases are—for good reason—
presented by attorneys (and
occasionally non-attorney
advocates). In 32 years of
disability practice, I have
never heard of an instance in
which a physician “presents”
a case to the government. On
the other hand, I’m happy to
A misleading statistic
I am concerned about your use
of the statistic in “Banking on a
life with MS,” which states that,
on average, a person with MS
leaves the work force 10 years
after diagnosis. I do not see the
value of creating a numerical
average for this situation when
so many conditions influence
the need to leave the work
force. I believe the statistic
irresponsibly disregards such
factors as age, severity of disease,
field of work, household income
or disability discrimination.
I am a dedicated fan of
Momentum and feel educated
and empowered when I pore
over its resources in each issue.
But this statistic is not the kind
of useful knowledge that we all
depend on.
Christy, via email
Editor’s note: While statistics never
tell the full story, particularly for
a disease like MS that is, by its
nature, highly variable, they can
be useful guideposts, and can
help emphasize the importance of
planning for the future—because
there’s no way for any individual to
know how long he or she will be
able to remain in the work force.
For more detailed information
about employment and finance
issues, please visit nationalMS
society.org/employment or call
1-800-344-4867.
If You or Someone You Know Has MS
Studies show that early and ongoing treatment with an FDA-approved therapy can reduce future disease activity and improve
quality of life for many people with MS. Talk to a healthcare
professional or contact the National MS Society to learn about this
and other ways to help manage MS.
Address Drop, Add or Change
Enclose your label and request in the Join the Movement envelope
on page 34. Alternately, you may email mailinglist@nmss.org or
call 1-866-675-4787.
More caregivers with MS
Thank you to letter-writer
Susan Alonso from Connecticut
(“When the caregiver has
MS,” Fall 2012). I am 50 with
relapsing-remitting MS. I have a
family and my parents are four
minutes away, but I am with
them at least two times a day.
They are both in their late 80s
and one has Alzheimer’s. I am
their sole caregiver. I think it’s
actually making my cognition
issues worse because I have to
keep track of so much. I can
only keep praying and having
faith that God believes I can
