Living through the pain

Louise and Trevor Burnett with their two boys Brady, 7, and Oliver, 5.

LOCAL woman Louise Burnett was just 23 when Multiple Sclerosis took hold.

Ms Burnett told the Wollongong and Northern Leader that her initial symptoms were sudden and extreme.

“I woke up and bent my neck and felt electric shocks all down my body…I just screamed,” she said.

Months later, after rigorous testing, Ms Burnett received the news that would change her life - she had MS.

Multiple Sclerosis is a mysterious and unpredictable disease that randomly attacks the brain and spinal cord.

People with the condition can become physically and emotionally disabled and it can cause symptoms as serious as paralysis and blindness.

Ms Burnett has been relatively lucky so far - unless she informs people of her condition, they are none the wiser.

However, she said the day-to-day battle of keeping the disease under control was often exhausting.

“You're meant to do what you are meant to do,” she said, meaning that, for her, pushing through sickness or tiredness in everyday life has the potential to bring on disabling physical or emotional symptoms.

When Ms Burnett is tired, she has to sleep, and if she is too sick to go to work, she must stay at home.

She also has to exercise caution with things such as heat.

The mother-of-two boys exercises regularly, but has to go out early in the morning while it's still cool.

Because the disease makes its presence felt between the ages of 20-40 in most cases, Ms Burnett said it can have a huge effect on people's lives, especially in career terms.

“Financially you're not as capable as what you planned to be,” she said.

On November 4 Ms Burnett's husband Trevor will one of about 10,000 people to take part in the Portfolio Partners Sydney to the Gong Bike Ride.

This year’s ride has a fundraising target of $1million - money that will go towards supporting people with MS and research into a cure.

While her husband does the 90km slog from Sydney, Ms Burnett will be helping out at the barbecue at the finish line in Wollongong.