> Her questions:
>
> Is there hope to get over this illness?
Yes, there is. Recovery varies: many people recover almost completely, except
for some numbness and tingling; some have almost no recovery at all. Most of
us are somewhere inbetween. Often the most, or the most dramatic, improvement
is within the first six months, but many report continuing improvement over a
number of years. There is always a chance of some symptoms being permanent,
but there is also a chance of improvement.
>
> Is this burning sensation a good sign?
>
I think it is just one of the symptoms TM patients deal with.
> Will there be an end to the constant pain?
>
Hopefully! Though some do continue to have pain, some improve. There are a
number of medications available to help. She should consult with her
neurologist to try which ones, or which combinations, help. A lot of us prefer
to be off medication, but it is really up to each individual patient -- what
symptoms they have and how bad they are and what side effects they can live
with.
> Where can she get more info? (She is not on-line.)
>
The Tranverse Myelitis Association sends out a newsletter. To be put on the
mailing list, she can contact:
Transverse Myelitis Association
c/o Deanne Gilmur
3548 Tahoma PL W
Tacoma, WA 98466-2141
Phone: +1 (253) 565-8156
- or -
Email Sandy Siegel at srulyosef(AT)aol.com
Their web site is http://members.aol.com/tmassocwa/
and the Transverse Myelitis Internet Club web site is
http://www.eskimo.com/~jlubin/disabled/tmic/
Both have other links where you could get more information to print out and
give her, especially the Medline searches. I haven't looked at the Medline
info, but others have referred to them. The most recent TMA Newsletter has a
couple of really good articles by two drs. It is at the TMIC web site listed
above. Click on the archives listing for Messages 13-Oct-1997 thru
17-Nov-1997; it is near the bottom of that page listed in several "volumes."
> Nancy has been suffering through this trauma for 15 weeks now. Has anyone
> out there been through this who can give her advice and comfort? She is
> married, with 3 children.
>
> Please help.
>
> Thank you and God bless you,
>
> Teresa
>
> Please reach me at tmeester(AT)timberidge.com
>
I am also married with 3 children. I've had TM for 2 years and almost 4
months. I'm sorry to be so non-specific with some of the answers, but that's
kind of how it is with TM. It varies so much depending on where and how
severely each person is affected. Is she still seeing a neurologist? I would
find one who listens well and can help her try different things. Sometimes
they can only say they don't have any answers, but for me, having a dr. who
was at least willing to listen and explain as much as he could was a big help.
This list has also been a big source of information and encouragement. I had
physical therapy for three months, and I feel that helped me immensely with
mobility. Regular good health principles, like eating right, trying to get
some measure of exercise (even when that's the last thing you want to do) and
getting enough rest are also helpful. I haven't found anything to help with
numbness. For me it decreased gradually, but hasn't gone away completely and
sometimes increases again. Also, for me and some others, the knowledge that
God has some purpose in it and would be with me and help me through it helped
most of all.
Thank you for being such a good friend to Nancy! I hope some of this helps and
some of these other sites will provide you with more specific info for her. If
you think she would want to write, since she's not on-line, I can send you my
address to pass along to her.
Best Wishes,
Barbara
John 17: 3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true
God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.