- schwenks
- Sex: M
- Data Quality: 0 stars
- MS: 31 yrs
- Type: Secondary Progressive
- Sensation: Severe
- Overall: Moderate
- Cognition: moderate
- Vision: moderate
- Speech: moderate
- Swallowing: moderate
- Upper limb: moderate
- Walking: severe
- schwenks
- Male, 50 years
- Sarasota, FL
- Primary Condition
- MS
- Type
- Secondary Progressive
- First symptom
- Jan 1981
- Diagnosis
- Dec 1998
More About schwenks
Seriously, I was diagnosed with MS in 1999 after developing symptoms in 1980/81, although at the time I thought it was frost bite. I have my bachelors degree in insurance and specialized in medical malpractice for the majority of my career. I finally faced the music in 2003 and successfully filed for Social Security Income/Disability.
My initial symptoms were headaches, numbness and pins and needles in the feet followed by a feeling that my shoes didn't fit. My diagnosis was initally delayed in part because of a back/spine that's seen more operations than Patton, Petraeus and Schwarzkopf combined. I have been on all of the injectables but I kept getting excaserbations which left the mysterious symptoms behind.
I have been on all of the injectables with no appreciable abatement. Presently I am on medication to help with my symptom management which include numbness, severe burning, spasticity, weakness, fatigue and bladder/bowel problems.
I have an excellent outlook on life and consider myself fortunate that I am still walking as I was in a wheelchair for 2 years. All I or anyone else has to do is look around and
unfortunately there is someone who's health is MUCH worse than yours/mine.
I find that going to the gym (sometimes it feels like that is all I do, just go there lol) at least 3 times per week really helps with my symptoms as well as my mental state of mind. Don't get the wrong idea, going to the gym for me is like taking your toddler to romper room:~)