MS Maze

A while back, I did a post titled, “MS and That’s Not All”. I was talking about having MS as well as another major condition, but there’s more to that story.

Since being diagnosed, I’ve had the usual MS-related conditions to contend with, but nothing else more than the common cold. Last July, when my right arm began to hurt, I didn’t realize I was heading down a long road which would be complicated by my MS. I’ll never know for certain, but it seems that MS, in its sneaky way, caused the situation to be more difficult to correct.

Part of my troubles can be attributed to the difficulties in getting in to see a specialist and receive a diagnosis in a timely manner. In addition to that, my right arm is severely effected by my MS exacerbations. Over the past several years it has become markedly weaker, even between bouts. During an exacerbation, I cannot lift my arms over my head (to blow dry my hair, for instance) for any length of time and a two-pound weight is more than I can lift.

That extreme muscle weakness has contributed to a prolonged rehabilitation and physical therapy for what was finally diagnosed as chronic bursitis, tendinitis, and arthritis, which resulted in “frozen shoulder”. Three weeks post surgery I’m told that it may take several more months to regain the full use of that shoulder and arm — if ever.

The lesson I take away from all this is that I must be ever vigilant with exercising whenever I am able. Those of us with chronic conditions such as MS must do everything in our power to remain healthy in every way that is within our control. A balanced diet and exercise are of the utmost importance in our fight to maintain good quality of life.

Okay, everybody now: One, Two, Three…Stretch. One, Two, Three…Stretch!

More from Mandy at Health Central.com’s Multiple Sclerosis site.