Hi folks,
I wondered if anyone was involved with their local MS Society group?
I have been to two events with my local group and have found people to be so kind and welcoming and friendly, it’s been wonderful.
My local group is quite active with two regular meet ups per month, a weekly Pilates class (I keep meaning to go) plus other things on offer too. It’s really good.
I’d love to hear about your experiences 
Alison
Hi Alison. Before the covid pandemic I used to go to a group that met monthly. It closed during those times like lots of things had too but, unfortunately it never reopened. So, having a search for local groups I tried to find another one. Found two about 25 miles away. Unfortunately none of them have any kind of physical meetings. One of them used too but their social gatherings stopped several years ago. So, it was back to the drawing board. Found another one. This one about 35+ miles away from home. I live in quite a rural area, so it’s quite a trek to get to lots of things anyway. But, yay, this group does have physical meetings. I joined up with them a few months ago. There’s a variety of people who attend with various mobility issues. About 20 of us whenever I’ve been. Plus the coordinator is there and half a dozen volunteers/carers who are there. I’m lucky, fortunate if you care, that I am still walking. There’s a few others in that category. The majority there are in wheelchairs. It’s a place to go and meet other ms sufferers. This group actually meets up weekly. Five hours per week, or there abouts. Think from what I see from the couple of months I’ve been there most of them just like the company of fellow ms sufferers. I enjoy it. Although I know that it wouldn’t be for everyone. There really is a wide range of mobility issues there. I would go more often but unfortunately I have other commitments, so I usually go fortnightly. If people like to meet up with other people who have ms it’s well worth seeking out a group. Hopefully most people wouldn’t have to travel the distance I do to get there. I do it because I missed the physical contact with others who have ms that I used to have before the pandemic came.
Hi Inp8acr, I used to go to my local group many years ago, here in Huddersfield the local group don’t do as much now, before covid they did a weekly yoga (sit down) but that stopped, they do do coffee mornings and I think some shopping trips, shopping doesn’t interest me.
I’m virtually house bound now, I have a host of problems, but the one that stops most things is the chronic fatigue, I just can’t push through it.
I want to find something, I just don’t know what it is, I was always into exercise, but in my area there’s nothing aimed at people like me, but after Christmas I’m going to go to my local leisure centre and see what they have to offer, 
they do something, I would really like something in the pool.
Anyway I’m so glad you’ve found something and that you enjoy it, keep going, it’s do you good.
Jean
Good morning Alison.
I hope you’re keeping well. I sign onto this forum through the society website and, I do often see details for local groups that sound nice but, as of now I’m still undiagnosed. My issues are mostly cognitive and poor vision so, I don’t really want to go along as a bit of an imposter. If my consultant does hit me with MS, I think I’ll take some nice cake to one of their coffee mornings. My in-laws neighbour has MS and is quite disabled and, she’s a nice lady so, I imagine the groups to be pretty similar.
Do give the Pilates class a whirl - I reckon it can only help.
Take care x
Jon.
Hi Inp8acr, Just wanted to say thank you for putting this post on, after my first reply I contacted my local group and guess what, they’ve started running weekly sit down exercise classes, so that’s me sorted for the New year.
Tanks again Jean
That’s good news Jean.
I’ve noticed that one our local groups does chair exercise classes. I’m grateful to be nowhere near that stage but, it does sound like a good thing.
Well done for going for it, I hope you get some real benefit from it x
Jon.
Can be quite tricky getting to these if there isn’t sufficient disabled parking and wheelchair access is tricky; too many raised surfaces, etc
Frustrating😔
Ah Freshairman, I’m glad you’ve found a group that has physical meetings, allbeit one that’s a bit of a distance from you. Are they a nice bunch?
The group near me also has a lot of wheelchair users and some people that use sticks or crutches. I’m not at that stage yet (and hopefully the Kesimpta will keep me mobile for a long time), but there are some people who don’t use mobility aids too. I think the majority of folks who go are older than me.
The neurologist said to me that the really effective drugs have only been around ten years or so, so older folks won’t have had access to them when their MS started, so it will have progressed more and they are more likely to use mobility aids, and that made sense to me.
The people were so friendly. And it’s good to be able to talk about symptoms without embarrassment, particularly things like bladder issues.
But most of the conversation was not about MS, and that was nice too.
X
Hi Greenhouse, you’re not far from me The Calderdale group is my local group. They run a Pilates for MS class weekly (Tuesday at 12pm in an accessible church hall) and I know the instructor, she’s very lovely
Might be worth a try if the fatigue lets you. Feel free to private message me if you want to chat.
Best wishes
Alison
Thanks for the encouragement Jon
I hope you get some clarity soon. It might be worth contacting the group coordinator for the MS group local to you - they might welcome you. I don’t know if you have to be diagnosed to go to a group but it might be worth checking.
Look after yourself x
That’s tricker Clucker if the groups aren’t accessible, particularly as many of the people going have physical disabilities. I wonder if it is worth contacting them to say you’d like to go but accessibility requirements make is difficult. They might be able to do something.
I think the MS Society nationally also offer a befriending service if that’s something you might be interested interested in.
Jean, I’ve just see your second reply - that’s great news!
Quite fortunate with where they hold this group. It’s a village hall with plenty of parking outside. Low level access throughout. Disabled toilet with a hoist in for those people who need it. A smooth pathway into the building. Wide access doors to enter and inside to the main hall.
Yes, they’re a very nice bunch of folk and have welcomed me into the fold, Alison. Women outdo men by four to one. Not sure why there’s not more men who go there.
Freshairman, this might explain why you have more women than men:
“Women are up to four times more affected than men are”.
https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/13/10/5881
Ben