St. Louis, MO (KMOX) - One day you're running -- the next you can't walk.
That's been the battle for a St. Louis man living with a frustrating disease.
"I describe MS as being a thief," explains Shane Mendez, "I think most people with it can relate because MS takes away your ability to do things."
Mendez has what's called Primary Progressive MS, a form of multiple sclerosis that gets worse over time.
With MS the immune system attacks the protective layer of the nerve fibers -- that interferes with communication between the brain and body in multiple ways.
For Shane that means he's in some level of pain most days. It impacts his ability to walk and his fine motor skillls.
But it took nearly two decades to get that diagnosis.
He had his first episodes in college. "That's when my whole world started to change."
The first time he found himself unable to walk was the morning after a summer concert. Another time he'd been on a riding mower in the heat. While doctors knew the heat triggered his symptoms, they couldn't provide answers. "And all the time I went to the doctors they never figured out what it was... ...they're were like, you're actually really healthy."
Mendez says he became his own lab rat, learning to manage body and lifestyle to minimize his symptoms.
Two years ago, he finally had a definite answer. He had spiked a fever while on a family trip and once again lost power over his legs. Another round of testing concluded Shane has multiple sclerosis. The disease manifests itself in different ways for each person. Shane has a progressive form -- his symptoms will likely get worse over time.
"Having MS it limits what you can do and makes you limit what you want to try to do and that's terrible because life is short."
In our next report Tuesday, Shane shares how MS also impacts the people around him.