A DUNFERMLINE man has described how how he feared he had only "months to live" just before he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS).

Iain Elder, 59, had been suffering from debilitating headaches and an ankle injury that just wouldn't improve before he was sent to the Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy to see a neurologist.

The former recruitment professional was convinced that he had a brain tumour but doctors revealed it was MS in 2009.

Twelve years on, he is now living with secondary progressive MS, which means that the condition is worsening despite treatment.

Iain said: “I’m affected by poor sleep, fatigue and I get drop foot on my left side. I use a wheelchair almost all the time, I can go a few steps but it’s more of a shuffle.

“I was first diagnosed when I went over my ankle playing badminton. It stayed limp for months and, after doing all the normal thing like resting, elevating it and icing it, nothing had improved.

“After about 12 weeks, I started getting debilitating headaches. It was like someone driving their fist into the back of my neck and it was awful – I had to stop driving because of it.

“I tried all different kinds of painkillers all the way up to things like tramadol but it didn’t help so I was sent to the Vic to see a neurologist.

“At that point, I was expecting the worst. I thought I had a brain tumour and that I was going to be told I had months to live.

“Of course, I was told I had MS which I didn’t know much about at the time. The doctor told me it was very varied and affects everyone differently.

“My symptoms have changed since then. It’s not so much headaches anymore but more muscular."

The pandemic has been a big barrier to people like Ian, who retired in 2016 following 25 years working in recruitment, but he has found help through MS Society Scotland's Wellbeing Hub.

The service has enabled people living with MS, along with their families and friends, to access physical and emotional group activities, such as counselling and physiotherapy.

More than 15,000 people live with MS in Scotland – one of the highest rates in the world – and the range of services has already helped hundreds of people nationwide.

“The pandemic hasn’t helped things," Ian said. "Between lockdowns, we were able to get out for a walk and a roll but now things have closed down again that has stopped.

“The Wellbeing Hub is a fantastic thing. The fact that it’s online, in your house and there’s a big range of things to do, is great. The combination of things throughout the day has really helped.

"So far, I’ve done a couple of sessions of physiotherapy and four meditation classes too.

“I’ve been lucky with the people I’ve met through MS and things like this help hugely moving forward as people are isolated and even scared to go out."

MS Society Scotland’s Wellbeing Hub has received funding from the Scottish Government and classes, calls and consultations will continue to be available into the summer.

To find out more, email WellbeingScotland@mssociety.org.uk or call 0131 335 4050.