<< He feels most of his walking is being done with his upper body strength.
His body functions have not returned, and he still has no feeling in his feet
or
toes. Because his Drs. know so little about this condition, no one has
been able to tell him what to expect. He has questions like will I ever
walk again? Will my body functions ever return? Does sexual funtion
ever return? Will the nerve spasms in my legs and feet go away? Will
this condition recur? If any of these functions do come back, what time
frame is he looking at. >>
Hi Al ---Hi Nurse Mom....
Hi... Janie here...I know how difficult this time must be for you.. but ALWAYS
try to keep a positive spirit about your recovery... So sorry to hear what
brought you here.. but soooo glad you found us... This is a wonderful place--
I have learned to call it home... I've learned more in the last 7 months..
then the whole 10 years I have had TM...
Al, the fact that your "walking is being done with your upper body strength"
reminds me of all of my recoveries....When TM hits (T-10 down) I cannot feel
my legs at all... soon--over time, in my case, it seemed the nerves began to
redirect until I felt strange feelings in my legs....Over many months.. I was
able to balance my body weight...on the walker... but tended to "cheat" and
use my arms vs. my legs....For me---it was the beginning of hope..
Irregardless of the fact my PT said I was cheating...I didn't care...As long
as I could see there was hope... I could finally envision the light at the end
of the tunnel...Mind you-- today -- I have the strongest upper body...
LOL...ŸÀŸ
And --- I can't speak for anyone else--but once I had hope... I actually could
see myself walking [in my mind]...I don't have any other way to explain it..
except that I wanted it soooo badly...It consumed all my prayers.. and
thoughts....and I believed in miracles... And this is what drove me... I was
unwilling to accept defeat!!! I tell you.. I have always been one determined
woman!!! Try to remain determined and optomistic.. as this can only help aid
you in your recovery...
Does your doctor still have you on a steroid program? [Don't worry about the
added weight gain...} I believe the solumedrol is what helped in my
recovery...In the hospital they used to call me the Solumedrol Queen...LOL...
Cause it seemed I was always hooked up to that horrible tasting drug...
UGH!!-- If you are NOT on solumedrol treatment now...or receiving any
steroids.. and still experience extreme weakness...Ask for another couple of
solumedrol treatements...It is still early enough since your attack.. and It
can't hurt! ...Spread them 3 or 4 weeks apart.. Hopefully your doctor is
willing to hear you.. Thank goodness my doctor used this routinely on Lupus
patients...(I have Systemic Lupus also...) so I was able to get the mega dose
for weakness..and it actually HELPED my legs....Hey.. if ya don't ask for
it...Ya won't get it...
My thoughts and prayers are with your family.. Whatever you do...Don't give up
hope.. You are still so early in your recovery... For me -- the first time I
was hit I was 27---It took a full six months till I could balance and walk on
my legs with walker/crutches- and even then I placed an enormous amount of
weight on my amrs...But, now 10 years and 6 episodes later-- I still have
areas of my legs where I have no feeling.. But I walk...and do most everything
normally--Well normal for me.. LOL!
Most importantly-- just remember--you are not alone!! There are others out
here who can help...if nothing else....just to lend a listening ear...
{{{hugs}}}
Janie