Hello Rita,
Glad to meet you even though none of us really like being here. :)
You didn't mention if you are on any meds. Are you taking
Neurontin/Gabapentin for the pain and to ease the burning hot/cold prickly
sensations? Baclofen or Zanaflex or both are usually tried first for the
muscle spasms? Do you take either of these?
You asked about "Another thing I experience that my neurologist thinks is
something other than TM is if I am out in and it is windy or cold and tense
up almost as if to shiver, my legs stiffen up and I have a hard time
walking.". I have found as have many others here on the TMIC and on the TM
Forum that the weather has a tremendous amount to our residual effects of
the TM. Cold weather makes my legs stiffen up right away when I am out and
trying to walk. I don't walk much in the cold except from the car to a
store or restaurant etc. My legs just don't want to move then much at all.
We get lots of cold weather here in Calgary too but right now it is like
spring, sunny and warm. So going for a walk with my walker is okay right
now. Hot weather is better and the muscles seem much better then. I find
though that the hot weather can be draining at times too.
Glad you have been lurking and have now introduced yourself. Write to us
about anything at all as most have experienced all your residual effects,
some more or less. There is lots of good information found from everyone
here.
Heather in Calgary
----- Original Message -----
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "tmic-list" <tmic-list@eskimo.com>
Sent: Saturday, March 08, 2008 2:25 PM
Subject: [TMIC] Another unidentified becomes identified!
My name is Rita. I am in snowy Cleveland, OH. I was diagnosed with TM
Memorial Day weekend 2007 at the C-4/C-5 region, apparently from a virus I
had 3 weeks prior. With some people introducing themselves I thought it
was time I did to. I have read your emails and received a lot of helpful
information. So, hello to all of you, some I feel as if I know, and Thank
You for the help you have given me over the past 10 months.
My onset of TM seemed sudden. The Friday of Memorial Day weekend I was
cutting a friends hair. I began having a sharp pain in my upper back.
Thought it was just a kink and tried to work it out. I them began to have
numbness in my left arm and them into my right. After dropping my comb a
couple time and when I could barely open and close the scissors I told my
friend something was wrong. Thank goodness I got the last snip in on her
hair. She took me to the hospital and by the that time I was having a hard
time opening my hands and was getting leg weakness. After 2 days in the
hospital and several x-rays and cat scans a neurologist order a MRI. By
Sunday he had diagnosed me with TM, checked my spinal fluids, which were
fine and I was sent home on Monday Memorial Day. Not quite sure what the
heck TM was and feeling week, I thought I would be better by weeks end and
out shopping for flowers for the yard. Needless to say but my yard did not
get any new plants last summer. On Tuesday the kids got picked up for
school as I could not drive. My symptoms began to worsen. I began to feel
that sharp pain in my neck and back. As I tried to reach in a cupboard for
a cup my right arm fell and hit me in the face and the pain worsened. I
started to panic when I tried to call my sister and my fingers couldn't push
the buttons. after numerous tries I got a hold of her. She came and called
the neurologist and he ordered steroids. I was very week. I remained out
of work until mid August.
My symptoms have improved greatly since and I am thankful for that.
However, my body just doesn't feel right. I still do have numbness on the
right side of abdomen, My right arm tricep still isn't doing good and I
have a stim unit here to help it from deteriorating any further. I still
get pain in my neck and back and in October I began experiencing Lhermittes
sign, and I do get so tired still. I get a cold burning feeling in my arms
and hands and they aren't cold to the touch. If something cold touches my
fore arms it feels like it burns.
Has anyone onset been from a virus? Another thing I experience that my
neurologist thinks is something other than TM is if I am out in and it is
windy or cold and tense up almost as if to shiver, my legs stiffen up and
I have a hard time walking. Has anyone experienced that?
There, I did it, I am now identified!
Rita (Snowing BIG TIME in Cleveland)
--
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG.
Version: 7.5.518 / Virus Database: 269.21.7/1319 - Release Date: 3/8/2008
10:14 AM
