<< And lately I have been getting weird tone
reflexs that I can partially controll. Like when ever i make a movement
after being in a position for about a minute my legs will tone and I can
controll the way I want them to move. I was wondering if there were any
people with similar things that happened to them. And if so I'd like to
here from them . I don't know If its good or bad or just normal. And
I'd
also would like to here from other people who had a good recovery over a
period of maybe 6 months or so. But befor that there wasn't much going on
and they felt like it might never come back. I know it might seem early
the doctors say but if I will recover when should I expect it and are
there
any signs you could see befor it happens to give me some hope. It just >>
Bill,
I had TM back in Oct 93. I was 29, very fit and played multiple sports. The
attack came on within 8 hours and left me paralyzed in my legs and loss of
feeling in my upper torso. Apart from being able to rotate my legs while
lying on a bed I no other movement. This was the same for about 1 month. In
the second month I started to be able to move my lower legs slightly
outwards when in a sitting position. In the third month I had the spasms
which you are referring to. My MD said that this was neither good or bad
but was "natural". She indicated that the positive side was at least it got
my muscles working and this was good for maintaining some tone. Also in the
third month I started to get a little more control over my leg movements. I
still could not perform my "bodily functions". I left the hospital after
the third month still in a wheel chair but able to stand and walk a couple
of steps with a walker and with great difficulty. I returned to work in my
wheel chair. After this point in time I continued to make improvement over
the next four months. At his point I was walking unaided and even starting
to run a little. I got married to my then fiancee who had stuck with me
through the ordeal and certainly this brought us closer than we ever
thought possible. I continued to improve mainly in the perceptual area (I.e
knowing where my leg were in space without looking). In June 94 I started
to play sports again and as of today I am completely recovered and playing
all my old sports again. Given that your recovery path is at least similar
then I have to say that you have hope, but with TM nothing is sure. At
least you can see that your recovery path is not abnormal for a full
recovery. I would also echo the sentiments of others that have responded to
you that life with disabilities is not then of life. I used a chair for
about four months and myself and my fiancee did not let it effect our
social life. We still went out and did the stuff we used to do and I had
already started to practice wheel chair basketball. Now I know its not the
same and it never will be but I think its what you make of it and at this
point in time please don't get to despondent. I wish you well and please
let us know how things progress. You can contact me personally at my email
address and if you want to talk to me on the phone send me your number and
I would be only to happy to talk to you.
All the best
Jerry