Re: [TMIC] Father has Transverse Myelitis
Errol White (eamjwhite(AT)bigpond.com)
Thu, 24 Jun 1999 21:31:11 -0700
Hello Angie,
I am sorry to hear that your father has come down with Transverse Myelitis,
like your Dad, I will be 56 tomorrow, but my onset was December 1993. I
have a lesion form T6 to T8 and was initially paralyzed from just above the
waist, but after five months in hospital, started to get leg movement, I now
walk with the help of two canes for short distances, use an electric scooter
for longer journeys, I drive an automatic car with left foot pedal controls
and work full time as an administration officer in a human resources branch
of a large city council.
I also had Swedish knee cages and because of the lack of sensation in my
legs, they used to rub holes in my chins and I did not know about it at
first wearing until a nurse saw my legs bleeding and pointed it out. I has
a specialist prescribe AFO leg and ankle braces which did two main thing.
First to stop my foot from a spastically induced forced foot drop and to
also keep my ankles at an angle that kept my knees slightly bent so as to
stop me going right back for flicking back when I walked.
I also find that my lower body is cold if not covered, recently while I had
a plaster cast on and could not wear long trousers, I tried shorts, but in
the air-conditioned office, my legs went blue although I had to touch them
with my hands to feel the cold, so I resorted to wearing tracksuit pants to
keep warm. I also have to sleep under the blankets in the hot summer
because of the coldness in the lower body. Also I tend to perspire more
profusely from the top half of the body. I call the lesion area the "fault
line".
Any Angie, I have rambled on, and I should like to finish with this.
Welcome to this wonderful group of people. Tell your Dad that there is a
life after the onset of TM, I like to focus on improving my mobility and
quality of life rather than rest on why it happened, I exercise and walk as
much as my body will allow, fatigue sets in so I slow for a day or to then
at it again, importantly, keep very focused, work hard, try to see the
bright side of the situation, and never lose sight of the big picture of
life. Welcome again to the group.
Kind Regards from Errol, Narangba, Queensland, Australia. (And it is winter
over here, and a bit cold too.)
-----Original Message-----
From: Angie Cohen <angiec(AT)bulloch.com>
To: Transverse Myelitis Chat Club <tmic-list(AT)eskimo.com>
Date: Wednesday, 23 June, 1999 9:55 AM
Subject: [TMIC] Father has Transverse Myelitis
>My name is Angie Cohen. My father, Buddy, (who is 56) has had
>Transverse Myelitis since July 14, 1998. For three weeks prior to
>becoming paralyzed, he had virus-like symptoms and complained of his
>skin being very sensitive to touch.
>
> When he first became ill, he was completely paralyzed from the T4
>region down. After spending about 2 months in Shepherd Spinal Center in
>Atlanta, he regained some feeling back in his toes and then his legs.
>In the months since he has left Shepherds, he has gone to physical
>therapy in Savannah, GA (near our home in Rincon) and is working on
>building strength in his legs. He has some minimal movement back in his
>legs and uses Swedish knee cages to practice "walking". He is still
>incontinent, and must wear a narcotic patch along with a Tens machine to
>combat the pain in his back and legs. From the T4 region and below, he
>is ALWAYS cold. It's the middle of June in Savannah, GA and he sleeps
>in thermal undewear and an electric blanket!
>
> Although my Dad has been through a rough time, he has a wonderful
>outlook and attitude. He puts all he has into his therapy because he
>truly wants to get better. Rather than feel sorry for himself, he does
>all he can do to make the best of his situation. My mother, Vickie has
>been right by his side since he became sick.
>
> He and my mother would very, very much like to talk with someone who is
>in or has been in the same or similar situation. I would very much
>appreciate any correspondence. My parents do not have access to a
>computer, but I will gladly pass along any information I receive to
>them!
>