help with rehabilitation
Bernard Fransen (fransen(AT)sympatico.ca)
Sun, 25 Jan 1998 17:32:51 -0800
This is the first time that I have written to your association although
I read the messages several times a week.I live in the northern part of
Ontario,Canada and there is no one else around here that I am aware of
that has ever had this disease.Needless to say,the service that you
provide has been a real life saver to me.
I have had tm for a year and a half.
My background is as follows.
I am a 55 year old professional career woman with a grown family.I have
always been extremely active and health conscious.Previously, my health
was excellent and I participated in sports and camping.The first time I
was aware that there was a problem was when I was at the golf course and
both feet fell asleep.Within 2 days,I was hospitalized and paralized
from the waist down-T8 level.I was flown out to Toronto where I had an
MRI.I also had a spinal tap,cat scan myelogram and vaious blood tests. I
was originally diagnosed with having a tumour inside the spinal cord.I
learned to take steps with a walker.After 3 months,I recovered a little
feeling around my waist.Several neurologists decided that I had tm.I was
treated with steroids.None of the doctors I have dealt with have had a
patient with this before.However,they have all tried their best to help
me in any way possible.
At present,I am getting 6 hours of pt a week and this has made all the
difference to me.I am now walking with 2 canes and ,I feel, that I am
doing quite well.
The problem I have now is that I would like to be able to get to the
point where I only need 1 cane. However,my left leg is rather weak and
my balance is not great as I really have no feeling in my feet .My
doctor has agreed to refer me to a person who fits braces if I wish to
proceed in that direction.
I would dearly like to know if anyone has had experience using a brace
and if it has a label to identify it.If you can help me,I will check
this list each day to see if I receive a reply. Best wishes to all,Lin