UK list member
Debbie Harris (Deb.Harris(AT)btinternet.com)
Mon, 16 Jun 1997 21:12:36 +-100
Hello
I have been reading this list for about 6 weeks now and have been both =
pleased and sorry that there are other people out there with TM. I live =
in England and have been unable to find out much about TM so was feeling =
like I am the only one. I am 33 years old, an air-stewardess, generally =
fit and healthy. Without going into too much boring detail I`d like to =
tell my story and see if it is like anyone elses. In December 96 I had a =
shingle like pain around my waist which lasted overall for about 2 weeks =
- no rash, 4 days later I woke up with flu and a slightly dead left leg. =
Over a couple of weeks the flu went but the leg got steadily worse and =
the right leg became affected too. My neurologist suspected TM and got =
me an MRI . When the inflammation was seen I was admitted into hospital =
and on steroids immediately. I had a lumbar puncture, EP tests etc and =
was discharged 1 week later with a zimmer frame and a follow up =
appointment for 2 months later.
I got steadily worse over the next few weeks until I spent a lot of time =
in awheelchair and went back to hosptal where I had a myelogram and an =
angiogram - these tests were normal. A neurosurgeon wanted to operate =
(just for a look) but after a second opinion we (luckily) declined. I =
was given another course of steroids and have improved quite a lot since =
then. I can relate to a lot of the symptoms I read about on the list . I =
have had the tightness feeling in my legs as though my skin would burst =
- I no longer get that. I do get the buzzing type sensation in my feet =
at times.
I can no longer drive which is very frustrating to me but compared to so =
many others it is a small price to pay. The feeling in my feet and =
mainly right leg is quite numb so even though I can now walk I have to =
use crutches as I don`t have much balance. The patch of inflammation is =
at T12 - bladder and bowel are ok but not `normal`.The numbness seems to =
vary from my waist to feet and my joint placement sensation is affected =
in right foot and knee. I have physio and hydrotherapy 2 or 3 times a =
week although I am about to be given a programme to do myself at the =
local gym. My next MRI is in July so I may update then. I am ready to =
try alternative therapies and would be interested to know if anyone out =
there has found reflexology useful or if I am likely to get more =
improvement. I have now had this for 6 months and the optimism becomes =
harder to keep going! I would be interested to know if there are any =
other UK members or to hear from anyone with similar symptoms and =
improvement
Sorry to write so much!
Debbie
S.England