Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Group

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Anne8 03/08/2013

I just need to . . . express my frustration today, or this week more correctly.
I have been finding stairs CHALLENGING especially the last week. My left leg (the one with the toe drop) has just not been responding when I have 'asked' it to go up stairs recently. Just so as not to overwork my right quads and to underwork my left, I have been helping my left leg step up with my arms/hands.
To add to things, today I decided to drive back & forth to work. I almost never drive now. I used to drive EVERYWHERE when I lived in Vermont (because you have to, and besides, driving in a rural area is EASY!) Unfortunately, with lots of traffic, stop lights etc (I live in a big city). The end result? Coming home this evening, my legs were KILLING me, and almost couldn't get up to my first floor apartment.
What the hell do I do?! I really don't want to move (I have rent control, have been here close to 2 decades) am semi-employed (or semi-unemployed more like it). Should I force myself to use those damn pedals of mine, would it actually help? The thing is, I am not sure if it is a muscular thing, or just the damn nerve signals have decided to semi-quit on me!
Frustrated!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

STEVP 03/08/2013

1st make it easier and safer on yourself by getting handcontrols for your car.

ezone 03/08/2013

Can you get a ramp put in? You are on 1st flr so once you get to entrance you are OK?

Anne8 03/09/2013

No, like a flight of stairs (20 to be exact). I wish it were ground floor!

mmthlvr 03/09/2013

Stairs suck, I got stuck on the stairs at my work for about 15mins. I was coming down & my legs just turned to jello. I tried several times to get down but it got to the point where I new if I took one more step I would fall. So I had to sit there until my legs felt stronger. Even then I had to rest after every step.

Is there a chance you can request a bottom unit when it comes available?

Anne8 03/09/2013

Unfortunately most apartments are at least one flight up. Most of the time the properties/spaces on the same level as the street are zoned as businesses.
(By the way, I realised that in American English, 1st floor is at street level, but here, and also in British English the floor at the same level as the street is the ground floor!)
Luckily going down isn't a problem for me. My legs are more stiff like boards most of the time, instead of jelly. I already had a try with the walkaide, but the guy who tried to fit me said I am too sensitive to the shocks for it to work. I think I might try to go somewhere else to try it again when I am stateside this summer.

mjideas 03/09/2013

I slowly got to point of no stairs, no walking, no sitting up with out help over 23 yrs. I moved to handicapped housing and had to stop working within 6 years of a 2nd attack.

My advice - live plan A but get to work on developing plan B. It sucks, I know.

Melanie

Anne8 03/10/2013

I have plan B. We has a microscopic house which is 100% ground floor, but it is in Portugal, and there is no work there (the financial crisis is even worse there than in Spain!)
On a more positive note, I was right, I had strained my legs with starting/stopping at lights and lots of maneuvering to park. now, two days later I am more or less back to where I was a week ago (my normal). I will eventually look into hand controls, but I think just going from a stick shift to an automatic would help quite a lot!

deleted_user 03/11/2013

Hmmm....... I agree with Steve. Do yourself a favor and get them now. That way when you do need them, you have them and it's not another scary change down the road. Your house in Spain is beautiful, but may not be realistic. I'm completely mobile yet, and know when I move, the next spot will be to a single floor, ground level home. Like Melanie said, live Plan A, but start developing Plan B.

baywatchkelly 03/11/2013

It is hard too let go of things and accept the changes we go through, however the people that suggest proactively making a plan B are right. that makes navigating the changes easier when they come. Good luck.

AWDESIGNS8 03/11/2013

hey girl i have the same thing .but its my right leg .told the pt and she says its my hip have to get it stronger .my toes dont bend and when i walk my leg gets tired so then i might trip because the big toe gets caught .i said i would like a leg brace so it lifts it up she said to get the hip advice look it up .so i do the exercises she told me to do to get the hip stronger and i can bend my knee to walk better .look things up on you tube and ask your doctor about a brace .

Anne8 03/15/2013

Thanks everybody! At least I have the little house to eventually move to when I need it. We are keeping an automatic transmission car in mind for the next one, and I will look into the hand controls then. (By the way, I have gotten back to how I am 'normally', so not so frustrated now!)

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