Montel Williams Opens Up About His Battle with Multiple Sclerosis and Opioid Dependency

Television personality Montel Williams has bravely shared the moment his life changed forever after receiving a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS). In a sincere discussion with Sean Hannity on Fox Nation, Williams delved into the challenges of living with this debilitating disease and the consequent struggles he faced with chronic pain and opioid use.

Reflecting on his diagnosis in 1999, Williams recalled the stern warning from his doctor. He stated, “He looked me in the face in his office and said, ‘You know the type of MS you’re in, when it hits people of your race, it normally is really very debilitating.’” Williams, known for hosting “The Montel Williams Show” from 1991 to 2008, was taken aback by the doctor’s assessment.

The physician ominously predicted, “You’re probably going to be in a wheelchair in five years, so you need to, like, get your sh** together.’” Such words left Williams in shock. He thought, like many others at the time, that MS primarily affected individuals of European descent. However, research has since established that MS also significantly impacts the Black community, often leading to a more aggressive progression of the disease.

The Journey to Diagnosis

After disembarking from a flight, Williams experienced severe pain in his feet and legs, prompting him to seek medical attention. A specialist confirmed the MS diagnosis, describing the pain as “like you took a fire poker, shoved it right up to my heel, into my shins, and it was there 24 hours a day.”

Williams now realizes that he may have overlooked early symptoms dating back to his time at the Naval Academy many years earlier. Multiple sclerosis primarily affects the central nervous system, disrupting communication between the brain and the body. While there are treatments available, no definitive cure exists for this chronic autoimmune disease.

Adjusting to Life with MS

In the aftermath of his diagnosis, physicians advised Williams to reevaluate his hectic television career. They recommended less stress, stating, “When I got off the plane, my friend, who was a doctor, sent me to another doctor. And that doctor told my ex-wife, ‘your husband’s got MS.'” This concerned friend emphasized the need for Williams to step back from high-stress activities, including weightlifting and his television show.

However, Williams chose to forge ahead. As his pain intensified, he increasingly turned to prescription opioids for relief. Williams candidly admitted to using his celebrity status to obtain various painkillers. He mentioned, “I was on Vicodin, I took… Percocets, Vicocets. Any one of the sets I took.”

Over the next two years, Williams found himself in the grips of addiction, particularly during a six-month period in which he relied on pills extensively. He shared, “It was about a six-month period of time where I know I was addicted because I wouldn’t walk out the door without throwing four of them in my mouth at the beginning of the day, another four about two hours later, another four about two hours later.” Eventually, his usage escalated to the point where he was even using a morphine drip.

The Road to Recovery

Williams’ turning point came when a doctor stepped in to help him address his addiction. He realized that increasing doses did not yield the desired relief. He stated, “The more I took, the less they worked and that’s something that we know for a fact. Science knows that these opioids were never created for long-term use.”

Determined to regain control of his health, Williams sought healthier alternatives to manage his MS. He credits adopting a vegan diet with significantly reducing inflammation, and he believes CBD has also contributed to alleviating his pain.

Finding Inner Strength

Beyond dietary changes, the most transformative aspect of Williams’ journey came from within. He shared, “I went on a vegan, vegetarian diet for about five years. I didn’t do anything but liquid food. 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.”

Moreover, he emphasized the importance of psychological strategies in managing his condition, adding, “Then I started learning some things about how to literally psychologically grab it, put it in a box, stick it away. As long as I keep it in that box, I’m better able to cope. While we have to talk about it, it comes back.”

The Full Interview

Montel Williams’ discussion with Sean Hannity provides profound insights into coping with multiple sclerosis and the perils of opioid addiction. This compelling conversation is now available for streaming on Fox Nation.