Multiple System Atrophy is a syndrome which causes such a variety of issues that as a patient you will forget the difficulty of one serious symptom while several others have risen to the fore. I live with balance and walking/gait difficulty always, and have since this came on just over 10 years ago. Due to blood pressure being low (orthostatic hypotension) makes it hard to rise and begin to stride because of either a grey out moment or weakness in muscles. Once I going, my balance due to brain changes in the cerebellum contributes to the struggle to walk with much balance, and my pace is very slow due to parkinsonism as I attempt to go get the mail from the mailbox or take the trash to the garage. Even with a cane or walker, it is a rocky road.
These last several days, it has been worse. I am stooped over more and moving very slowly, with an exaggerated shuffling gait. I went in the grocery store with my wife and found the size suggests a wheelchair rather than a walker next time. I may get my next DBS adjustment and find that it brings improvement in this area. It is hard to say, but often the electrical stimulation that is continuously flowing to both sides of my brain, when targeted to improve a symptom can actually do something close to that! Always Hope, Dan
2 comments:
Good to hear from you, old friend, although it's always hard to hear that things continue to progress in the wrong direction. I'm so glad for you that DBA gives you some relief from such awful symptoms. It's been a while since I updated my own blog, so you spur me to get busy there. I, too, have been heading in the direction of weakness and more pain. Carry on with many prayers!!
Hi Dirty Butter, It is so nice to hear from you. I have missed blogging, but thought I would just keep it relaxed and journal-like. I may get more detailed, but it isn't the goal anymore. I am here for just the reason you said, to spur each other on as we face these neurological struggles that come with our diseases. Take care friend and thanks, Rosemary! -- Dan
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