A volunteer for the Sheffield and Rotherham MS Group said she suffered years of being misdiagnosed by doctors before being told she had multiple sclerosis (MS).
Joanna Mason, 43, from Bramley, Rotherham first went to the doctors with symptoms when she was 19, however it wasn’t until November 2021 when she was officially diagnosed.
Joanna said: “My entire adult life, I have been passed from pillar to post and misdiagnosed. So it was actually a relief for me when I was finally diagnosed with it.”
MS is a lifelong neurological condition that affects the brain and nerves. It disrupts the flow of information between the brain and body, leading to common symptoms including tiredness, vision problems and problems with walking or balance. Currently it cannot be cured, but medicines and other treatments can help ease symptoms.
Due to the different symptoms people experience, neurologists use a set of guidelines called the McDonald criteria to diagnose MS.
Joanna’s misdiagnoses arose due to her type of MS called Relapsing Remitting MS. She experiences periods of symptom exacerbation (relapses) followed by periods of recovery (remissions).
Joanna said she believes an earlier diagnosis could have prevented her 2021 relapse which ‘took away her career’.
She said: “I used to be a teacher and I would get poorly at least three times a year where my whole body would switch off and now we know that they were MS relapses.
“It completely changed my life.”
She shared her journey on TikTok as a way to connect with others – now she has over 100,000 followers.
She also described Paralympian Kadeena Cox as an ‘absolute inspiration’, for her advocacy for people with MS and showing the dynamic nature of the condition.
Joanna shared her story as MS Awareness Week (Monday 28 April – Sunday 4 May) brings together the UK’s biggest charities to encourage MS Conversations, the theme for this year.
The Sheffield and Rotherham MS Group run activities to raise awareness and provide support for MS patients.
Re-established in 2022 post-COVID, over 50 people each month participate in exercise classes, gym-based classes and monthly gatherings.
People can join the group, attend activities, or volunteer by contacting Sheffield and Rotherham MS Group on their helpline on 0808 800 8000, email sheffieldrotherham@mssociety.org.uk or find them on Facebook.
