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Note from the editor: Multi-platinum Country music
artist #ClayWalker won’t let MS slow him down. Diagnosed 20 years ago with RRMS
at age 26 he continues strong and sat down to speak with Stuart Schlossman of
MS Views and News at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple
Sclerosis Center (CMSC) in National Harbor, Maryland.
artist #ClayWalker won’t let MS slow him down. Diagnosed 20 years ago with RRMS
at age 26 he continues strong and sat down to speak with Stuart Schlossman of
MS Views and News at the 2016 Annual Meeting of the Consortium of Multiple
Sclerosis Center (CMSC) in National Harbor, Maryland.
written by Jennifer Falk –
Read about Clay Walker discussing the
importance of his relationship with his neurologist, staying active while
living with MS, family life and work.
importance of his relationship with his neurologist, staying active while
living with MS, family life and work.
When asked about his
relationship with his neurologist:
relationship with his neurologist:
Clay Walker: Since
being diagnosed 20 years ago with MS my relationship is second only to my relationship
with my family. My original medication did not work, I relapsed 3 times and my
opinion of MS meds was very low.
being diagnosed 20 years ago with MS my relationship is second only to my relationship
with my family. My original medication did not work, I relapsed 3 times and my
opinion of MS meds was very low.
My current doctor, he started me on Copaxone and looking
back I was leaning towards just trying to get healthy through diet. I was in a
very dark place and it was through his insistence and persistence that I got on
meds. Being relapse free for 18 years that was the best (looking back) decision
I could have possibly made.
back I was leaning towards just trying to get healthy through diet. I was in a
very dark place and it was through his insistence and persistence that I got on
meds. Being relapse free for 18 years that was the best (looking back) decision
I could have possibly made.
My original doctor told me my prognosis was that I would be
in a wheelchair and dead in 8 years. Physician patient relationship is
important, along with love and support from family is important.
in a wheelchair and dead in 8 years. Physician patient relationship is
important, along with love and support from family is important.
I am now doing #Copaxone 3x a week and there has been no
difference, I do not feel any change.
difference, I do not feel any change.
I feel that my doctor is one of the brightest MS doctors
around. He has dedicated his entire life to finding a cure and helping every
patient he has, finding out which medication will work for them. There is
nothing that makes him feel better than seeing a good patient outcome.
around. He has dedicated his entire life to finding a cure and helping every
patient he has, finding out which medication will work for them. There is
nothing that makes him feel better than seeing a good patient outcome.
Stuart Schlossman: Has
MS affected your career?
MS affected your career?
Clay Walker: I am
touring, active and I have never missed a show, never called in sick. Today I
golfed, most people will say, “that’s the life” but I do it to keep moving and
keep walking. I have a bit of, maybe you can say, guilt because I don’t have
fatigue. So
MS has not affected me in the work space. It’s actually only encouraged me to
actually love my job more because when I was originally diagnosed by the
neurosurgeon, he told me that I’d be in a wheelchair in four years and dead in
eight. So if you would have asked me, Clay, what would you do for 20 years on
this earth, I’d say I’ll give you everything I own.
touring, active and I have never missed a show, never called in sick. Today I
golfed, most people will say, “that’s the life” but I do it to keep moving and
keep walking. I have a bit of, maybe you can say, guilt because I don’t have
fatigue. So
MS has not affected me in the work space. It’s actually only encouraged me to
actually love my job more because when I was originally diagnosed by the
neurosurgeon, he told me that I’d be in a wheelchair in four years and dead in
eight. So if you would have asked me, Clay, what would you do for 20 years on
this earth, I’d say I’ll give you everything I own.
Stuart Schlossman: Do
you ever have symptoms that affect your performance?
you ever have symptoms that affect your performance?
Clay Walker: Once
in the beginning I could not hold a guitar pick…I could not feel my fingers. Although
you can’t cure MS, now I wanted to prove through some physical exercises and
stretches you can improve certain functions. I got evaluated by a neuro PT and
I had weaknesses, and when I came back after working with a PT, stretches/exercise-
I improved so much! Significant improvements.
in the beginning I could not hold a guitar pick…I could not feel my fingers. Although
you can’t cure MS, now I wanted to prove through some physical exercises and
stretches you can improve certain functions. I got evaluated by a neuro PT and
I had weaknesses, and when I came back after working with a PT, stretches/exercise-
I improved so much! Significant improvements.
“Even if you are in a wheelchair, if you have one limb- use it and you
can see improvement”
can see improvement”
Many people with MS think they can only go down, that all
you can do is go down, but I am in the best shape of my life.
you can do is go down, but I am in the best shape of my life.
Stuart Schlossman: Tell
us more about your symptoms
us more about your symptoms
Clay Walker: The
biggest symptom that I had came early on –loss of dexterity in my right hand.
It took about two years to fully regain it all back. The symptom I live with
now is a cold right foot – but I noticed when I ride horses my foot feels
perfect! I had balance issues and started working with a physical trainer,
standing on 2×4’s, balancing work on one foot, and it has really corrected
itself. Although we can’t cure MS, we can make physical gains. Just recently I
started noticing it was hard for me to recall a name, of someone I had written
a song with. I wondered if this was cognitive MS stuff, but I don’t think so.
biggest symptom that I had came early on –loss of dexterity in my right hand.
It took about two years to fully regain it all back. The symptom I live with
now is a cold right foot – but I noticed when I ride horses my foot feels
perfect! I had balance issues and started working with a physical trainer,
standing on 2×4’s, balancing work on one foot, and it has really corrected
itself. Although we can’t cure MS, we can make physical gains. Just recently I
started noticing it was hard for me to recall a name, of someone I had written
a song with. I wondered if this was cognitive MS stuff, but I don’t think so.
#StuartSchlossman: Age,
memory or just forgetting!
memory or just forgetting!
Clay Walker: That’s
true! I think we worry about MS a lot. I believe it is healthy you combat fear
with good sensible reason.
true! I think we worry about MS a lot. I believe it is healthy you combat fear
with good sensible reason.
Stuart Schlossman:
How do you talk about MS with your children?
How do you talk about MS with your children?
Clay Walker: My children have fortunately grown up with me
and my MS. I am a jovial Dad- I believe it is a father’s role to build the self-esteem
of their children. They have seen me take my shot, they ask,“does it hurt?’ I say no. My kids are
7, 6 and 2 (years old) and they see me speak with an open mic in front of live
audiences about MS, and they were listening when they heard me speak about my
original prognosis of dead in 8 years. While I was giving that talk I thought I
was not going to say that part, I knew it would affect the children, but I said
it anyway.
and my MS. I am a jovial Dad- I believe it is a father’s role to build the self-esteem
of their children. They have seen me take my shot, they ask,“does it hurt?’ I say no. My kids are
7, 6 and 2 (years old) and they see me speak with an open mic in front of live
audiences about MS, and they were listening when they heard me speak about my
original prognosis of dead in 8 years. While I was giving that talk I thought I
was not going to say that part, I knew it would affect the children, but I said
it anyway.
This was the first time I had to explain this to them.
I have been able to live an authentic and fulfilled life
with MS. By being authentic, this is whole and I do not hide.
with MS. By being authentic, this is whole and I do not hide.
I always talk to my
kids about getting frustrated, frustration begins, where knowledge ends. Let’s
get knowledge. The more good true knowledge that a person living with #MS has
through others living with MS and doctors that feeling alright starts to
happen, and that’s when you get your MS under control.
kids about getting frustrated, frustration begins, where knowledge ends. Let’s
get knowledge. The more good true knowledge that a person living with #MS has
through others living with MS and doctors that feeling alright starts to
happen, and that’s when you get your MS under control.
There is a confidence that comes with that. 18 years without
a relapse is an amazing feet for someone with MS.
a relapse is an amazing feet for someone with MS.
Stuart Schlossman:
Thank you Clay, it has been a real pleasure speaking with you again!
Thank you Clay, it has been a real pleasure speaking with you again!
Clay Walker: Absolutely
Stuart this was great, see you at the concert tonight (June 2, 2016)
Stuart this was great, see you at the concert tonight (June 2, 2016)
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