Using a cane

I was diagnosed with Progressive MS at the ripe age of 67, never having had RRMS. However I did have Trigeminal Neuralgia bout about two years earlier and was treated with a rhyzotomy at Johns Hopkins. Subsequently I had 8 more TN seizures all treated at Johns Hopkins by Dr. Ben Carson. The last seizure, two years ago was treated with a high radio frequency blast which has numbed the right side of my face. Much more preferable to the TN pain.

As for other MS conditions, I have a totally weak right leg and dropped right foot since the nerves do not want to speak to them. I have monthly sol-u-medrol (sp.) infusion to help keep the leg from atrophying.

I have been a community rep for two chapters of the MS Society and have spoken at 34 Health Fairs and Governmental funding raising events. So I keep myself well informed about research, medications, and other related matters.

One self help advancement with the weak leg/dropped foot is that I starting wearing side zippered half western boots because: 1.they are easy to get on and off;2. the soles are leather not rubber so they don't drag on the street when walking;3. they are more stable than regular shoes; and 4.the pointed toe lessens the foot from dropping. These boots can be found by going to Google for half wester boots. Most importantly, in addition to kicking the weak leg out a little bit more than a normal gait the boot helps my walk and keeps me from possible falls.

For now I am only using a cane, about which I make fun such as not having a Cane Mutiny. I am sure that at some point I will have to move to a walker and then perhaps an moving chair(note that I will not call it an electric chair, for obvious reasons.)