You wrote:
<< I keep thinking that I will get better quickly. That one day I will wake
up
and I won't be numb anymore, that my good (not numb) knee won't give out all
the time, and that my energy will come back. Anyone ever have this happen?
Or should I probably expect to be numb for a while - and how long? Do some
people with tm recover inside a year??
For me, my energy level came back up rather quickly within the first two
weeks, then continued to progress. I'm not quite sure when it got back to
normal. Don't be discouraged: if you compare this to other viruses (it seems
TM is often thought to be caused by a virus), it can take a while for the
body to recover. My knees tended to give out a LOT at first, but less now.
That's one thing that's kind of disconserting for me: thinking, "I haven't
had that symptom for awhile; maybe it's gone for good."
Then out of the blue it comes back. I don't know if it has to do with fatigue
or what. My neurologist did speak of nerves getting fatigued or irritated
when I asked him why my symptoms were worse sometimes than others, but he
didn't seem to think there was a way to un-irritate or un-fatigue them or to
avoid disturbing them in the first place.
You also wrote:
If I run a finger lightly down my numb arm, I can feel my
finger on my arm, but I don't feel hot or cold or a pinch. Does the fact
that I can feel a light touch mean I may be getting better? Do others
experience the same thing? Also, half of my foot and the two smallest
toes hurt alot,or are even more numb. Does pain mean I may be getting
better? Are there things that I will go through that will be a sign that I
am recovering? I would love to have some kind of sign that mean that this
may soon be over. To anyone who has gotten better - are there any signs
that mean recovery is near?
I don't know if being able to feel certain things indicates getting better.
This experience caused me to learn, both from reading and experience, that
there are different nerves for different things: some for feeling pressure,
pain, heat, coolness, etc...some to send messages to other organs. So the one
that feels hot and cold or pain might be damaged, but not the one that feels
touch. That's also why there's both variety and similarity with others'
symptoms -- depends on which nerves were attacked.
I'm not sure about any other signs of recovery; as I said, others who
have dealt with this longer might be more helpful there. I do remember, the
first several weeks, feeling there was not much improvement from day to day,
but then looking back over a number of weeks, I could see improvement. So for
me, it was very gradual. At first I was numb in my left arm, hand, and
shoulder and from my lower torso down to my feet. Now my lower legs and feet
and left hand are pretty constantly numb to some degree, and occasionally the
numbness creeps back up (scaring me, at first, every time it did, and still
does sometimes), but it's not as bad as it was. Same with the pain in my left
arm: not as bad as it was; sometimes not there at all, but sometimes there to
some degree. My right leg also doesn't feel cold and minor pain, but I did
notice just yesterday that when I was cleaning a place that I'd cut while
shaving (which I hadn't felt: just had noticed the blood) it actually stung
just a little. Anyone other than people with neurological problems would
think it strange to be excited about a stinging feeling!! So...I don't know
if that means feeling might eventually come back, but I can hope!
So, I hope this has been of some help. As you said, having this list and
knowing we're not alone and being able to talk with someone who truly
understands has been tremendously helpful. I was telling my husband just
today that someone at church asked me if I was "doing better", and it is hard
to know how to answer that. I don't mean to say others can't be empathetic;
our church family and friends and family members have been great and are
always ready to listen if I want to talk, and try to understand. But it helps
to talk with others of this group who know by experience what we're going
through.
What helps me most is taking things day by day, sometimes just moment by
moment, and to constantly take them to the One Who knows all about us and can
empathize with us most completely. Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest
which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all
points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because
he trusteth in thee. Isaiah 26:3
Barbara
----------------------- Headers -------------------------------- >>