well, as someone who has lived for nearly 2 years now with neuropathy (a form of neuralgia; neuralgia just means "nerve pain"), i can tell you that it ain't no kind of a picnic.
a professor of mine in college (who later became my mentor) was afflicted with MS in her early 40's -- that's about the time in life when it tends to strike people. i watched her go from a gorgeous, vibrant woman (she looked like meryls streep only, ya know, HOT! lol) to a shell of a woman, a shadow of who she was before MS. she went from being an energetic scientist working for the USAF to being wheelchair bound and barely able to have a short talk about the weather.
it's a devastating disease, and i hated to see her go through it. i wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy.
i didn't see the show, but KUDOS to montel for doing this. there are a lot of advances being made and many more on the horizon; we need to keep on pushing through for treatments, medication and also just understanding this disorder, which is truly crippling.
there's a group of nuns in the US, all of whom have donated their brains to science upon their deaths -- all to help in looking for treatment and a cure for MS.
my old prof, mentor and good friend is in remission now, thank god, but it's taken a hell of a toll on her.