Television host Montel Williams recently shared details about his diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS), the chronic pain that followed, and his experience with opioid use during an interview. Williams spoke about receiving a blunt warning from a doctor in 1999 regarding the progression of the disease for individuals of his race.
The doctor indicated that the type of MS affecting him could be significantly debilitating and suggested he might be in a wheelchair within five years. Williams expressed surprise at the diagnosis, noting that at the time, MS was widely believed to primarily affect White individuals of European descent. Organizations now acknowledge MS impacts members of the Black community, sometimes with a more aggressive disease progression.
The diagnosis was confirmed after Williams experienced intense pain in his feet and legs following a flight. He described the sensation as if a hot poker was continuously applied to his heels and shins. Looking back, he believes he may have experienced earlier symptoms dating back to his time around graduating from the Naval Academy.
Multiple sclerosis is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting the central nervous system. There is currently no cure, but treatments aim to help manage pain. Doctors initially advised Williams to reduce stress by slowing down and stepping away from his demanding television career, suggesting activities like heavy weight-lifting and hosting his show were too stressful.
However, Williams continued working, and as his pain worsened, he began depending heavily on prescription opioids. He admitted to using his public profile to obtain various pills, including Vicodin, Percocets, and Vicocets.
He described a period of about six months where he considered himself addicted, taking multiple pills throughout the day and even using a morphine drip at one point. Williams stated that the more he took, the less effective they became, noting that opioids were not intended for long-term use.
Breaking the cycle involved a doctor's intervention. Williams sought alternative ways to manage his condition, crediting a vegan diet with helping to reduce inflammation. He also mentioned that CBD played a role in relieving pain.
Williams also highlighted developing a psychological approach to managing the pain. By learning to mentally contain and compartmentalize it, he found he could better cope.
"The biggest nemesis of MS is inflammation, so I wanted to reduce the inflammation. Once I learned how to reduce inflammation, that started mitigating a little bit of pain," he said. "Then I started learning some things of how to literally psychologically grab it, put it in a box, stick it away. As long as I keep it in that box," he added, he is better able to cope.