DaytonDailyNews.com

There have been more sleepless nights than Mike Campaner can count.

So many what-ifs, so much uncertainty, so many tests.

"It was extremely difficult just getting up some mornings," the Dayton Bombers defenseman said. "It was the scariest thing in my life."

Unexplained numbness, pain and fatigue led to more than a month of medical tests for the then-Colgate University senior. Process of elimination left Campaner with the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. The 23-year-old hockey player, who had laced up his first pair of skates almost two decades earlier, thought his career had ended.

"I was absolutely devastated," Campaner said. "I only knew of one person who had MS and I was scared I was going to be in a wheelchair like they were."

Campaner soon discovered that he wasn't alone. More than 2.5 million people worldwide have been diagnosed with the chronic, frequently unpredictable disease of the central nervous system. The Bombers rookie wasn't even the only hockey player battling the incurable autoimmune disorder.

Goalie fights disease

Three years earlier, Providence Bruins goalie Jordan Sigalet endured a similarly scary situation.

"At one point, I could barely feel my body below my neck," Sigalet said.

Sigalet suffered in silence after his diagnosis for fear of not being signed to a contract after the 2001 NHL Entry Draft.

"That was the biggest reason I didn't go public at first," said Sigalet, who plays in the American Hockey League. "It was five months before I talked to pretty much anyone but my family about it."

Campaner and Sigalet have both been diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS, which is characterized by clearly defined attacks or flare-ups that are followed by a period of remission. Approximately 85 percent of MS patients are initially diagnosed with relapsing-remitting.

"My MS is dormant right now," Campaner said. "But the next attack could be tomorrow. You just never know."

Sigalet, now 27, can attest to that uncertainty. His legs gave out during a game in November, and he was knocked unconscious by the fall. That relapse led to a month in the hospital and extensive rehabilitation.

"Sometimes it will sneak up on you, so you really have to pay attention to your body," Sigalet said. "But MS is not the end of the world. With the right attitude and the right support system, you can get through it."

Positive outlook

While there is no cure, there are an increasing number of treatments available to manage the symptoms, treat the relapses and modify the course of the disease.

"There's an explosion in MS research right now, mostly centered around the immune system," said Dr. Kenneth Pugar, a board-certified neurologist with the Dayton Center for Neurological Disorders. "There are tons of treatments on the horizon, and we are much more optimistic about the outlook than we were even a few years ago."

The 5-foot-8, 170-pound Campaner self-administers a shot of the disease-modifying drug Copaxone daily — an initially challenging task for the Thunder Bay, Ontario, native.

"It took awhile. In fact I practiced with an orange for a week before I could give myself a shot," he said with a smile. "Now, it's no problem. It's just part of my daily routine."

Campaner is aware, however, that the unpredictable disease could disrupt that routine at any moment. Even with treatment, his legs and arms still hurt, and exhaustion has become the rule, not the exception. But Campaner is determined to suit up for every game.

"The way I look at it, there are always worse things than MS," Campaner said. "You can still achieve your goals with MS. The disease won't hold you back — only you can do that."

Contact this reporter at djunie@aol.com.

Multiple sclerosis Q&A

What is MS? A chronic disease of the central nervous system thought to be an autoimmune disorder.

How many people have MS? Approximately 400,000 Americans and 2.5 million people worldwide.

What are the typical symptoms? Symptoms vary greatly from person to person, but can include abnormal fatigue, episodes of numbness and tingling, slurred speech, tremors, difficulty with vision, balance or coordination and, in severe cases, paralysis.

Who gets MS? Anyone may develop the disease, but more than twice as many women than men have MS. Most people are diagnosed between the ages of 20-50.

Is there a cure? No. There are disease-modifying drugs to lessen the frequency and severity of MS attacks.

Source: National MS Society