I'll begin with the walking. I felt some numbness in both
feet on 11/9/81. I was admitted to the hospital on 11/10/81.
The folks in the ER knew nothing. The intern or whatever
he was kept using a syringe needle to keep checking the
feeling in my chest. Needless to say, I looked like a cat
had slid down my chest with claws at full extension :-(~ .
I was unable to walk but didn't notice the bowel and bladder
problems yet. On 11/11 my neuro did a spinal tap and told me
he thought I had TM. Since this was in the dark ages, I had a
mylogram (with the mylogram headache included at no extra
cost) on 11/12. On either 11/12 or 11/13 they pumped a single
bottle of saline with ACTH in it. I got off my catheter on 11/19
and began physical therapy. On 11/20 I began walking with a
walker. Continued therapy until 11/25 which was the day before
Thanksgiving. I was walking but not much. I continued walking
but never got to the point of walking any distance. I was able to
walk until 2/96 when they amputated my little toe on the right.
When all of the surgeries were completed in 10/96, I had lost my
right leg below the knee (BK) and the left above the knee (AK).
I now have two prostheses which take a lot of energy to use
and I don't wear them often enough. My car is equipped with hand
controls so I can drive (They cost about $800.00 but the freedom
can be wonderful). By the by when the CT Scan and MRI came into
use, all looked normal. Nora, based on my experience I believe you
have a great chance at continuing to walk. Be sure that you keep
or start exercise for your legs.
On the 20th of Feb. I wrote a long piece on the extreme level of
stress I was and had been experiencing all of 1981. My health to
that point would be considered excellent. Tonsillectomy at age two,
three smallpox vaccinations, thanks to Uncle Sam in 10/61.(This why
I'm so interested vaccinations and MS or TM). Some teeth extracted
and a few benign cysts removed. I had some boughts of gastritis in 63 &
64.
Rarely even had a cold. So, I guess I don't fit the flu and other pre TM
illnesses. At the ripe old age of 39 the monster struck.
There have been a number of comments regarding hot & cold weather
and the impact it has. Remember that cold makes the muscles in your
legs contract thus a bit more spasticity. In the heat the muscles are
more
flaccid thus the feeling of weakness. Just ignore it. It's just another
thing
to worry about and we all have enough to worry about.
I went on for too long, so I'll save my comments on the Psychological
Aspects of Disability which I taught a number times.
Hope I've been of some help.
Roger