Thousands of people across East of England living with multiple sclerosis
New stats show 14,480 people are living with the condition locally
More than 14,000 people in the East of England are living with multiple sclerosis (MS) – with close to 700 people newly diagnosed each year.
Today, the MS Society is raising awareness and campaigning for those with the condition, to mark World MS Day.
Annabelle Stigwood, 41, from Essex, was diagnosed with relapsing multiple sclerosis in 2011 and lives with daily chronic fatigue.
She said: “There was a time when it was so bad that I found it difficult to hold a knife and fork. Weakness, tingling, spasms. The worst thing currently is the extreme fatigue, and I don't think the word fatigue quite encapsulates how challenging it is. I'll be doing something and then it just hits you like a train and you just need to sit or go to bed and you just need to rest.
“I used to be able to run 7 miles four times a week. Now I can probably walk a couple of miles, but I might need assistance with stairs. I might get very fatigued at the end, need to hold somebody's hand, or lean on somebody.”
Mrs Stigwood continued: “World MS Day is so important. There are so many people that are affected by MS or have a loved one that's affected by the condition. There's amazing research going on, but obviously we need continued enthusiasm and resources to continue the research, with the aim of stopping the progression.”