Re: If you don't use your arms & legs you'll lose functio...

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/3/2005 4:18:47 PM Central Daylight Time, TwisterAlley2@... writes:

Remember, if you don't use your limbs, you WILL lose the function in them.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 7/3/2005 4:18:47 PM Central Daylight Time, TwisterAlley2@... writes:

Remember, if you don't use your limbs, you WILL lose the function in them.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

,

Paralysis makes using the limbs impossible. Maybe if you never got to this point, you can't understand, but it happens. I just don't want anyone out there beating themselves up when something is not possible. My hope is that my body will heal/repair itself so that I can move! I believe it is possible. If I didn't have that hope, I would have nothing.

Marcie

[Guest guest]

> In a message dated 7/3/2005 4:18:47 PM Central Daylight Time,

> TwisterAlley2@w... writes:

>

>

> > Remember, if you don't use your limbs, you WILL lose the function in them.

> >

> >

> >

>

> +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

>

> ,

>

> Paralysis makes using the limbs impossible. Maybe if you never got to this

> point, you can't understand, but it happens. I just don't want anyone out

> there beating themselves up when something is not possible. My hope is that

my

> body will heal/repair itself so that I can move! I believe it is possible.

If

> I didn't have that hope, I would have nothing.

>

> Marcie

=========

Paralysis is difficult. I have had paralysis in both legs and both arms, my

entire torso and my neck. It takes a physical therapist to manipulate the body

parts for the patient and massage is extremely important, my mom did my

massage(she is my support system but doesn't pamper me, she makes me work on my

physical well-being). I have permanent damage in my limbs, torso and neck but I,

through physical manipulation and massage was able to regain some function in my

arms, legs and neck...my torso has lagged behind and still does but I did regain

enough muscle strength to be able to hold myself up without a torso brace. I do

rely on lumbar support when I sit upright. If I don't have lumbar support when

sitting upright the muscles weaken to the point I pass out. I'm working now

with a lady who had a stroke at the age of 5 and another stroke at the age of 8.

The parents of the girl pampered her all her life never forcing her to do her

physical therapy. I have been working with her in the pool for only 6 months

and she can now straighten her arm out that has been drawn up since she was 5

years old, she's 48 years old today. I started out massaging her rigid drawn up

arm and I locked the arm around the pool ladder and while I massaged I made her

pull her body weight backwards so the arm would straigten. I give her exercises

to do at home on a daily basis an in the pool and I do expect her to do them and

I can tell when she hasn't. Now she can straighten the arm out on her own. The

next challenge is getting her hand out of a permanent fist.

If one gives 100% effort at trying to regain function in a limb that is

paralyzed or injured and it fails, at least they tried.

I have a neighbor who has MS and has layed on her backside in a bed for 3 years

and refuses to do any physical therapy today even tough my neurologist who is

also her neuro has written a prescription for her to get physical therapy. She

refused to go to the pool with me when she was still ambulatory, not using a

walker or a wheelchair then, but I was in a mobility scooter then, I offered to

pay her way into the YMCA and let her ride with me to and from at no charge to

her and she refused day after day. She sits all day and does nothing but feel

sorry for herself. She has never suffered any pain with her MS, no spasticity

ever and she no longer has fatigue since she never moves. She even has a

permanent catheter because she doesn't want to have to get up. Oh, she can get

up with a walker to go see the doctor but she refuses to try to get herself up

on a daily basis. Her family makes life too easy for her. If she lived totally

alone and didn't have mom, dad, husband and sons to do for her all day she would

either put forth an effort or be in a nursing home. She needs a good support

system in her family but they need to stop doing everything for her, that's the

problem.

Marcie, I know you do the best you can do and that your finances won't allow you

to get the services you need and deserve. I also know you have put forth the

effort but you also do not have much of a support system like many do have.

For those who do have a good support system and can get physical therapy and

possibly massage therapy please take full advantage of these services to help

keep your limbs functioning and the blood flowing through them better.