Welcome Rita to this exclusive club. So sorry that the initiation is so high but we all are VERY special people. My TM wasn't happy with just one visit but decided it needed to make another just 3 days after my first release from the hospital. My 2nd anniversary was on Jan. 5 and Jan. 31 for the 2nd go around. The first go around only affected me from the bra line down leaving me paralyzed. I fought back and went home walking with a walker and a wheelchair for distances. On my 2nd TM visit, I was completely paralyzed from the neck down. I was affected at C4 - T1 and T10 - T12. After 7 PLEX in the hospital and 4 more as outpatient, plus 6 months of PT and OT, I can walk with a cane short distances, a walker for less than 100 ft. and use a scooter for longer outings. I live by myself, doing all the basics for myself but need help with heavy tasks, cleaning, laundry, yard work and such. I usually can only work or stand at max for 15 to 20 min. before my body completely gives out. I am always fatigued and constantly in pain especially the back. I spasms in my R leg and hands whenever I'm stressed, cold, or tired. I have a "corset" feeling occasionally and practically every morning or after sitting, or in one position too long, my R leg likes to draw up to my chest. It is very weird because my R leg is my weakest leg (I call it the Princess because she likes to work when she wants to) but I do have spotty heat/cold sensation but not pain. In my L leg (the Prince) which is my strongest, I have no heat/cold nor pain feeling. I feel "pressure" under both my feet and in both legs but can't tell what the pressure is. I also have the "sunburn" sensation right above both knees. My L hand/arm tingles all the time and I have difficulty moving my fingers. Thank God for my R hand/arm which came back with all the sensations but both hands and arms do not have the strength that they had before TM. A gallon of milk feels like I'm lifting a 50# bag. I am also VERY cold intolerant causing very hard and violent spasms especially in my R leg. My neuro also said it was very unusual because most TMers are heat intolerant. Well, I guess we are the most special of the special ones. I think that being cold or heat intolerant depends on where in the region and depth the leison is on the spine.
Prayers and thoughts for you and yours, Candy K. ----- Original Message ----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: "tmic-list" <tmic-list@eskimo.com> Sent: Saturday, March 8, 2008 3:25:28 PM (GMT-0600) America/Chicago 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)
