Jan, This is Joy in sunny California where we actually WANT rain! I want cool
weather! I have some important info that I hope everyone in the TMIC reads.
I have to admit that I read my TM E-mail every day, but do not respond often
unless I have something to contribute worthwhile. I sometimes feel guilty
that I can walk normally even though I'm numb in various degrees from the
waist down. Anyway, I recently read a story in CHICKEN SOUP FOR THE PET
LOVERS SOUL (a must read for animal lovers!) where a young woman afflicted
with MS started going to a stable specializing in THERAPEUTIC HORSEBACK
RIDING. This may sound ridiculous to some of you, but they said they
particularly specialize with MS patients and have seen wonderful results!
This woman (who lives in Colorado Springs) was taken by her husband to the
stables (she said she thought for sure she'd fall on her face, but at least it
gave her a reason to get out of bed!), it took her 20 minutes to walk with 2
canes to the stables and (I'm going to shorten the story and get to the bottom
line) after 2 months of controlled slow riding 3 x a week, one day she got off
the horse and was astonished her paralyzed leg moved smoothly and it took her
3 minutes to get to her car with her husband holding her 2 canes! She said no
Doctor knows WHY this happened, but this is a year and a half later and she
rides 3 x a week, and she is almost symptom free. Well, I as you all, have
found that the medical profession is totally perplexed with what we all have,
and I will try anything that won't hurt me further. I live in Southern
California, and I found the Santa Barbara Therapeutic Riding Academy. They
specialize with all different disabilities......Blindness, emotional and
mental, cerebral palsy, and many neurological disorders. In asking the
director how it can help a paralyzed or partially impaired person, she said
the "gait" of a horse is exactly the same as a human, and it does something
to the spine by loosening it, relaxing the person and much is mystery, but it
can help greatly. Well, I'm starting next week 3 x a week! She said a
trained person will totally control my horse, I sit without a saddle so I can
get full benefit of the motion of the horse, but with something that straps me
securely, and circle a ring. In later weeks we may go on a trail. Hope some
of you will try this too! I'll keep you posted!
Also, I have read many of you wanted to know if anyone had anything unusual
just before the onset of TM, and I had a little dog bite me on my cheek 1 week
before onset. He turned out to be up on his shots, and after inquiring with a
Vet and my MD neither thought it was likely the dog bite. A coincidence? Who
knows!
Love to hear back from you guys! Gotta go, my back is aching.
Joy