Hi Janice,
You might notice familiar verbiage in here, I borrowed some from others emails, less to type and they explained it well. I hope you all don’t mind. In June 2008 I woke up with a hard to define, numb but not totally numb feeling in both feet. Within 4 days it was up to my waist, at some point it affected my bladder and bowls. In about 3 weeks I woke up and couldn’t walk or stand, left leg just didn’t work and right leg was better but not good. Went into the hospital for 5 days of steroids, then to rehab for about 3 weeks to learn to walk again (just me and my Foley catheter, which stayed with me for over a month). My numbness turned to pain as well as incorrect temperature sensation in legs and hypersensitivity to touch and fabrics. My pants and shoes electrocute me, I can only wear 100 – 97% cotton knit pants and Easy Spirit slip on shoes, period! I have and still do take multiple pain and nerve medications every 4 hours and more before bed and in morning in order to function daily. At the end of each med cycle, I am very aware of the pain creeping back in. I agree with Betty, the constant daily pain of TM really wears on your body and soul - and getting older isn't helping! I just had a pain pump implanted because I know I can’t last 20 or so more years with this level of pain. The medication is Prialt and it has to be titrated slowly. June 5th pump implanted with a level 2 for meds, two weeks later up to 3, yesterday 3.5, next week 4, etc. Doctor said most start to feel it around 4. Currently I have a UTI, started antibiotics Monday night so haven't done much yet. Plus have an "I overdid it" pain starting from last week and continuing this week due life. It’s hard to tell if pump is working with those 2 extra pain additions. They say I have MS which caused the TM but my Neurologist and pain doctor both say the TM is what’s causing the pain. It’s the lesion in the spine whether you call it TM or MS. To sum up Janice: - I would say it started with pain, keeps getting worse along the way. - Meds are helping a little but pain is still 6 to 9 most days. - I still work full time (desk job), so I don’t get to stretch and exercise daily as MS patients are supposed to. Keep wondering, if I was home stretching, exercising, meditating, resting etc. daily if it would be any different Make it a great day, Deb From: Janice Nichols [mailto:jannic...@gmail.com] Sent: Monday, June 24, 2013 10:39 AM To: tmic-list@eskimo.com Subject: [TMIC] Hello! When I have read the stories of how TM first attacked you all, some/many have said that you had a severe pain around the middle of your body – banding. And for some, it has stayed with you. I would like a response from all of you as to whether or not your TM started with the severe pain or not. Also, is it still with you today or did it get better with time/meds. I would like to be able to give my doc some kind of percentage of how TM has hit myself and others. Would really appreciate responses. Thanks, Janice
