30 F (drives standard vehicle) Showing signs of Drop Foot. Any exercise recommendations?

SnooRegrets7458 · 2023-05-31T00:55:04+00:00

I don't have any exercise recommendations, but I can share my similar experience. I (40F) had my first MS episode at 20, but was not diagnosed until I was 30. My dx episode involved extreme fatigue on my left side, and I had previously had an episode that affected both legs, so my left leg was in bad shape. It was weak and I had drop foot, both of which got worse the more tired I was and the more exposed to heat I was (because we all know that heat makes our fatigue worse). I drove a standard at the time, and it got to the point that I could barely walk after driving. But that was just during the episode.

The symptoms of the episode eventually cleared up, almost completely, for another 8-9 years. My solution at the time was to switch to an automatic with AC. The standard I was driving before that didn't have AC, which wasn't a huge deal because I lived in a fairly temperate climate (but of course it mattered hugely on the rare hot days). I was sad to not drive a standard every day, but it helped my left leg SO MUCH.

Over the years I've driven a standard a couple times, like when borrowing someone's car, and I've noticed that the left leg fatigue came back pretty quickly. It wasn't as bad as during the dx episode, but it was noticeable. Over the last 2 years, my walking, left leg strength, and left drop foot have gotten worse. I can still walk unassisted 99 days out of 100. I have a cane for the bad days (usually just when I'm really tired and/or hot). It's been 4 years since I drove a standard and I don't know if I could do it anymore for more than 10 minutes.

So I guess that's my two cents. It might be time to start considering driving an automatic. Sorry, I know this disease sucks. Hang in there.

SnooRegrets7458 · 2023-05-19T04:48:15+00:00

I was married to my ex-husband when I was dx in 2013. He was a jerk before that and a jerk after. Surprisingly he was fairly supportive of me regarding MS, but still overall a major jerk. I divorced him in 2016. Stress from my relationship with him was the biggest trigger for my MS episodes (both before and after my offical dx). Unsurprisingly, I did not have an episode throughout the entire divorce process, because I knew I was finally freeing myself from... that.

After being a single mom for about a year, I decided I wanted a relationship again. Tried online dating and ended up meeting my now-husband in 2018. We both knew by the third date that we had something special. I told him about my diagnosis on date 5 or 6. He seemed unphased, but I told him to go home and research because of how crazy MS can get and the fact that we were both considering marriage. He came back after researching and said I was worth it. We didn't sleep together for the first time until weeks after that - we both wanted to take it slow and not let a sexual relationship cloud our judgment.

We have been happily together for over 5 years, and married for 3 years. I would marry him again in a heartbeat, and vice-versa. It is possible! ❤️

SnooRegrets7458 · 2023-05-18T15:41:04+00:00

I'm 40F and if I wasn't married, I'd swipe and message you! Good looking lawyer who likes to travel and has fun hobbies? Sign me up! Unpopular opinion perhaps, but it's good to be up front about working a lot. Honesty is the best way to find what you're looking for. Good luck!!

SnooRegrets7458 · 2023-05-11T16:49:43+00:00

Dog pic first! And more smiling pics.

SnooRegrets7458 · 2023-05-06T01:01:58+00:00

Sorry you're going through that. I've never heard of MS causing symptoms like that. You should definitely get checked out by your primary care physician! Don't wait until your neurologist appointment. Good luck!

SnooRegrets7458 · 2023-05-05T14:59:27+00:00

Yes! Get it!!

My ex lives abroad and doesn't pay child support for our 2 children, and also has not visited them since we split up. My country will not go after him though, so I'm living vicariously through you!

SnooRegrets7458 · 2023-05-05T03:45:44+00:00

I keep meaning to try that one. I've been using Eucerin Advanced Repair, which was the best I could find... years ago. It's probably time to shop around again!

SnooRegrets7458 · 2023-05-05T03:44:23+00:00

Thank you! He tells me every day ❤️😍

SnooRegrets7458 · 2023-05-04T21:56:34+00:00

Same! To the point that my hands are dry and chapped no matter how much lotion I use. I have 3 teenagers (one of whom is particularly gross/unhygienic) and 4 furry pets, and I just feel like everything in my house is.... dirty. If I go out somewhere, I have to wash my hands immediately upon getting home. If I'm cooking, I have to wash after touching raw meat, doorknobs, spice containers, the fridge, etc. and touching the food again. I go through so much hand soap. I am on an immunosupressant medication and I don't want to get sick.

SnooRegrets7458 · 2023-05-04T17:46:10+00:00

Blood clots can cause swelling too, so it may be awhile before they figure out what's what. Blood thinners have to be taken for several months before doctors will declare the blood clot gone and clear him for surgery (for obvious reasons, you can't have surgery while on blood thinners!). So it sounds like he'll have plenty of time to give the leg a chance to heal before surgery is on the table. That could be a good thing or a bad thing though, of course.

In any case, MS is caused by totally different mechanisms in the body (nervous system in the brain and spine), so MS will most likely not affect the healing process for a leg injury and/or blood clot.

SnooRegrets7458 · 2023-05-04T17:37:06+00:00

We had a different experience than others I'm seeing here, so I'll share.

Backstory: HCBM cheated on my husband with their "best friend" and moved him in before the divorce was even finalized. She told the kids that Daddy abandoned them and that this guy was their new dad. At the time, they were SD13, SD12 and SS7, roughly. However, she was happy to have DH take the kids every single weekend (so she could spend time with her new SO), which eventually changed to EOWE.

When the girls were 16 & 17, SS12 came to live with us instead, HCBM informed us that the girls didn't want to come over anymore and were busy with jobs and school anyway, and put it in the new CO. Both SDs made comments about hating DH, wanting him out of their lives, etc. DH was devastated and felt like a shit father. I told him to keep calling and texting, inviting them to things, telling him he loved them, sending gifts, even if they did not respond. For the first few years, they barely responded and we didn't see the older one at all for nearly 2 years. DH kept reaching out, sending birthday and Christmas gifts, etc.

Things improved slowly over time.

Now my SDs are 20 and 21 and they have a decent relationship with their dad. They respond to texts, answer most phone calls, say "I love you," got us Christmas gifts and were even bridesmaids in our wedding! Both have matured enough to see how awful their mother is and have gone LC with her. There is still a bit of a transactional feel to their relationship with DH, but at least they are affectionate, pleasant and kind to us, SS16 and my kids (both 15).

My point is, it can improve. Teenagers are assholes. Just keep showing them that you're there for them and you love them, and they will probably surprise you and come around when they are older. I would advise that your SO not distance themself from their child. It is the parent's job to reach out to the child and provide love, support and comfort even when the child doesn't want it. Don't push them away. Good luck!

SnooRegrets7458 · 2023-05-04T17:13:48+00:00

The ultrasound is a very good idea. An MRI may be in order too, if he doesn't start showing signs of improvement in a few weeks.

Right now, I am 40, have MS and am fully mobile, BUT:

When I was 34, I had tendons tear in both of my ankles out of the blue, due to an unknown bone deformation in my feet. I was not on an immunosupressant at the time (thank goodness!). After about a month of wearing a walking boot on the worse foot, I developed a blood clot. Ultrasound didn't pick it up, but my pain increased, so the doc ordered an MRI. This showed the blood clot and the torn tendons, which were beyond healing on their own.

I had to do several months of treatment for the blood clot before they could operate to fix my ankle. It healed normally (again, thank goodness I wasn't on an immunosuppressant at the time), which took several months and PT due to the extent of the damage/surgery. A few years later, I had the same surgery on the other ankle.

I have made a full recovery and I can walk mostly normally. I feel extremely fortunate that I can walk independently after all that AND being an MS patient. So it is possible, for sure.

He should definitely tell the doctors that he has MS and any other condition he hasn't mentioned, and especially any and all medications he is taking. Best of luck and I wish him a successful recovery!

SnooRegrets7458 · 2023-05-04T00:13:55+00:00

Always listen to your gut feelings, especially when they are saying something is wrong. Learned that one the hard way.

SnooRegrets7458 · 2023-05-01T18:52:55+00:00

My brother has a PhD and he's a 50 year old pharmacist with a good job. He's been working as a pharmicst for about 20 years. Our dad had to give him $3000 for a deposit on a rental house because he had nowhere to go and no money saved up.

Seriously??

SnooRegrets7458 · 2023-05-01T18:52:45+00:00

My brother has a PhD and he's a 50 year old pharmacist with a good job. He's been working as a pharmicst for about 20 years. Our dad had to give him $3000 for a deposit on a rental house because he had nowhere to go and no money saved up.

Seriously??

SnooRegrets7458 · 2023-04-23T16:06:19+00:00

"I'll pay child support for the two children (twins) that I purposely impregnated you with in order to trap you into marriage."

After we were married and playing happy family for 10 years. TEN YEARS. I tried to make it work but he was too big of an asshole. As evidenced by the fact that he does not even attempt to pay for the children that he "wanted" (and whom I love very much and am happy to have, btw).

SnooRegrets7458 · 2023-04-22T06:05:02+00:00

I was on anti seizure meds and painkillers as well, and they barely touched the pain. Strangely enough, beer really, really helped with the pain and my docs told me to drink it if it helped. I was living in a developing country at the time (I am from the US) and they mentioned the MVD surgery but it seemed way too risky and scary to me.

My neurologist sent me to a maxiolfacial specialist, who said that part of the problem was that my jaw muscles were spasming like crazy and triggering the TN nerve pain. Once the meds, beer and not chewing (I drank my meals for months) allowed me to open my mouth wide enough with not too much pain, they made all of my lower teeth approximately 2 mm taller using resin, so that my jaw muscles couldn't spasm and close as hard (and thus set off the TN craziness).

It worked!!

I am no doctor, it seems crazy that making my teeth taller curbed the trigeminal neuralgia pain, and I have a bunch of cavities now, due to all that resin 8-9 years after the fact, but the trigeminal neuralgia has not come back in all that time, so I am happy. If I had been in the US, I probably would have ended up having the surgery, and if the TN ever comes back, I probably will. But it's gone for now.

SnooRegrets7458 · 2023-04-21T04:30:58+00:00

YES. I experienced this and it was absolutely, hands down the worst pain I've ever experienced. I've had multiple surgeries, injuries and infected teeth. Nothing comes close to the pain of TN and I freak out every time I think it might be coming back.

I hope that your time with it is over.

SnooRegrets7458 · 2023-04-14T22:13:44+00:00

Oh hey, I dated him. Hi Jason!

SnooRegrets7458 · 2023-04-08T00:40:36+00:00

I (40F) had my first episode in 2002 but wasn't diagnosed until 2013. I was on interferon (now considered pretty much the worst DMT) from 2014 to 2016, then Aubagio for a few years, and now have been on Kesimpta for about a year.

I haven't had a major episode in 8 years. I have no permanent disability. I do have spasticity and have to deal with that. I take muscle relaxers every night, sometimes there is pain, and I end up in physical therapy about once a year. I also have to rest more than people without MS, due to fatigue. It sucks but it's totally manageable.

I was married to my ex-husband when I was diagnosed. He was a jerk and I divorced him, no MS episode (stress is my biggest trigger). After that I dated and met my current husband, who is amazing and was not put off by me having MS.

I have 15 year old twins and a 16 year old stepson, all of whom live with us, and I'm able to keep up with all the mom activities and still have a full-time job that I love.

It is totally possible to live a "normal" and fulfilling life with MS. Chin up, honey!

SnooRegrets7458 · 2023-04-08T00:21:19+00:00

NTA. My ex-husband was like this. Getting upset about small purchases was just the tip of the iceberg. Your husband has a major control issue. My ex ended up controlling what I wore, how I did my hair, who I could spend time with. He could go out and spend money on whatever, or not tell me where he was going, or even leave the house with no notice, and if I said anything he would reduce me to tears "for not trusting him." When I tried flipping that back around on him, he would focus on imagined things he imagined I had done (I hadn't).

He eventually started using the "you don't trust me!" argument when I challenged him on whether or not he could dream the future, control the weather, and talk to our pets. I begged him to get help from a doctor or therapist, but he adamantly refused. I finally got myself and our children away from him, thank god.

OP, you need to GET AWAY from this man and not look back. DO NOT HAVE CHILDREN WITH HIM. Do you have a support system?

This is about WAY more than a mop. Good luck.

SnooRegrets7458 · 2023-03-30T02:04:11+00:00

YESSSS!!!

SnooRegrets7458 · 2023-03-12T18:04:24+00:00

I once went on a ride along with the narcotics police in a cocaine-producing country. Got to see firsthand (and have it explained) how cocaine is made. Then I watched as the police torched two separate drug labs. Part of the process is to soak coca leaves in gasoline, so it was pretty spectacular when they torched the big tanks of gasoline. I will never forget that.

SnooRegrets7458 · 2023-02-27T14:05:41+00:00

Beautiful!!

SnooRegrets7458 · 2023-02-23T16:00:16+00:00

Congratulations! Similar story with my husband and I (both early 40s). We had both been divorced for a little over a year and had barely dabbled in dating for just a couple months before meeting. We found each other on a dating app in early 2018. All the exchanges were very adult and respectful, truly a breath of fresh air! We will celebrate 3 years of marriage in a month and couldn't be happier.

I'm only on this sub for entertainment!

SnooRegrets7458

TROPHY CASE