What actually makes living with MS difficult, problematic and very abnormal? Quite obviously the symptoms. Simply put but far from that it if anything. Most people when seeing an MSer would see the condition from a more physical perspective, thus a very common stereotype of people with MS being wheelchair bound. But in reality the foundations of MS are physical, mental and emotional.
Based on the basic knowledge of the anatomy of the central nervous system and the posts covered so far ( be it even by background knowledge), one would presume physical symptoms are due to damage in the spine, mental ones the brain and emotional ones due to the change in social standing an MSer is left with.
However the symptoms all have their own specific damage source and some really minute physical ones may be due to damage in certain areas of the brain. For example, the 'drunkard walk' being due to damage in the base of the brain rather than just the spine or legs. Mental ones due to cognitive implications and emotional ones due the same reasons. Furthermore, the severity of the symptoms which may be another thing misunderstood but hopefully we'll share some light on that too.
Nevertheless, as we have been through the outskirts of MS, hope the mugs are warm and biscuits are ready! I know that joke is drying out now! I was previously told to apologise for my lame humour but if you find it an issue message me privately for an apology! If anything, associating humour with MS is quite something. We shall start with the more physical symptoms then move on to the others whenever we're done.
One of the common onset symptoms of MS - though not every MSer travels the same route - would be that of loss of sensation; Obviously you can't feel your limbs or part(s) of your body 'normally'. The feeling can best be explained like a permanent long lasting feeling of pins and needles or an itch that never seems to go away, this demonstrating a bit of damage to the nerve(s) and this can affect things like response to temperature. So yes needing a more 'colder' shower in the winter or vice versa in the summer due to the confusion that's present. On a more practical setting, this leads to lasting weakness in the muscle and issues with manual dexterity, so simple things like buttons on a shirt (or the equivalent for women if there is any) or even other things which may be covered later ( if need be). On a personal note, this occurred with me the night before my English GSCE exam so obviously these sudden abnormalities can result in a huge emotional distress! But it affecting other limbs like the legs, can result in an MSer being a bit 'slower'; I still had to sit the detentions for the lateness it caused me reaching school!
With a slight damage, it is bearable to live with but with more severe damage an MSer can be left in a wheelchair or even bed ridden as the muscles that keep a person up are not receiving the signals needed for this to function. Bearing in mind, this may be only one symptom but the basis of it has links to all the symptoms of MS. As we hope to see later on, the body is interlinked in many ways and on of the most vital ways, through the nervous system. To get a bit of how this may feel, wear a pair of thick gloves and try to make a cup of tea (don't do this alone!), write a sentence on paper or put your winter jacket on.
This taking place when I looked a lot normal, I must mention the range of comments I initially received, as people must give their two pence in all matters nowadays! Past being told I was not exercising enough or using the computer for too long, it even went as far as being accused of lying and 'crying wolf'. The more rather somewhat humorous one of it all being in our 'heads' which technically was spot on as frontal lobe damage ( front part of the brain, will be covered later) can lead to such symptoms in the hands and these similar parts of the body.
Till next week! Enjoy the creeping in of the cold!
No comments:
Post a Comment