World Multiple Sclerosis Day 2025.

This year, we wanted to share Christine’s story, who has MS.

Christine is 65 years old, an engineer, and was diagnosed with MS 43 years ago.

In your own words, what is Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and what does it mean to you?

Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory neurological autoimmune disease with different forms of progression, or in short: the body’s own immune system attacks the myelin layer – the outer layer of nerves.

MS changes the lives of my family and me. Life is different, but life is beautiful!

My first symptoms appeared in 1982 while I was at university. Suddenly, I got a severe tingling sensation from my foot to my thigh. The tingling lasted a day and disappeared just as quickly as it had come. It wasn’t until 14 years later – in 1996 – that I was diagnosed with MS. As a working mother, I interpreted the MS symptoms, such as lack of strength, constant tiredness (fatigue) and exhaustion, as being caused by stress at work and at home.

How did you feel upon receiving your MS diagnosis?

 I was shocked at first. As I knew that there are different forms of MS, I tried to stay as calm as possible, inform myself about the disease, think positively and live as before. I had no symptoms at the time.

 How has MS influenced your personal and professional life?

Since my diagnosis, I’ve been living more consciously and listening to my inner voice. I have accepted the illness and deal with it openly. I think that’s very important. My family and colleagues were informed of my MS diagnosis. Walking difficulties increased, walking distances became shorter, I was exhausted more quickly, tired (fatigue) and my strength diminished.

I quickly learned to take breaks to relax, not to exhaust myself, to avoid stress, to accept aids such as a walking frame and later a wheelchair, and to ask for and accept help.

Professionally, I took on more and more office work instead of field work.

To stay active in sports, I bought a sports wheelchair and played wheelchair badminton.

I try to make the best of every situation – in other words, to think positively.

What support systems have been most helpful to you after your diagnosis?

 The regional association of the DMSG, which I joined straight away, supported me with information material, advice and seminars. I quickly made contact with the local self-help group. In the self-help group, you are not reduced to the disease, but the focus is on socialising, the community. Upcoming questions or problems are discussed there, and appropriate specialist lectures on the subject of MS are offered. The meetings with other sufferers have strengthened me. The national association and the self-help group have helped me to deal better with myself and the disease MS and its effects on my life. Today, I have been leading the self-help group for over 25 years.

What message would you like to share with others who are newly diagnosed?

Each case is unique. With today’s medications and therapies, it is possible to lead a normal life with MS – depending on how it progresses. There is no need to give up the desire to have children. A positive attitude to life, sport, avoiding stress, a healthy diet and relaxation, such as yoga or autogenic training, supports a life with MS. Everyone deals with the diagnosis differently and finds their own way of coping with the disease.