randall146
Footballguy
Hello i-friends - I'm writing this thread hoping it'll help me deal with some things, clarify my own thoughts for real life, and at the very least be informational. Hopefully it's not too self-indulgent. All the events are true.
My town has an annual end-of-summer concert. It's totally non-profit and is a just a nice smallish town family event. It's just a decent sized field, with a stage area up front, picnic type seating for the families, and some food tables in the back usually run by different local groups (boy scouts, middle school tennis, church, etc). The concert is free but there's fundraising and a suggested donation at the gate.
I used to be on the board, but moved on to do other boards' work, but I still take the day of the concert off every year so I can help set up, which is basically carrying things around, roping off different seating areas, putting up signs, working the gates, etc. This year I did all of that. I carried around heavy chairs and tables. I climbed on top of the tables so I could hang signs for concessions. I walked from gate to gate organizing youth volunteers and scooping the donations so there wasn't too much money left with the kids. The point is, I was able to do active, somewhat physical work all day, with no issues. Pretty much just like the previous 47 years.
Later in the evening, I sat with some friends listening to music and talking. Eventually I excused myself to use the restroom and found myself staggering, as if I was drunk. But I wasn't drunk. I had had a single beer at that point. Yet I couldn't control my feet - it was just kind of random where and when they landed, and I kind of lurched from side to side. I remember thinking how strange it was and how embarrassing it would be if people thought I was drunk, which, as I mentioned, I was not.
The next day I was fine, and went about my business as usual.
A few days or maybe a week later, my 12 year old had a soccer game, and I went to watch. At one point a ball rolled out of bounds to me and I went to flick it up with my foot to my hands - something I've done probably 100's of times - and I ended up mis-timing it, flicking it high and a little behind me and catching it with my hands, but then falling backwards a few steps and eventually falling backwards onto my back. Hard. There was a little dip in the ground where I landed (not where I staggered) so I blamed it on that but I knew something else was wrong.
At my older son's high school soccer games I noticed I had a hard time controlling my walk going up or down the bleachers. Basically I'd be in a controlled fall walking down the bleachers, landing my feet harder and harder on each step, and really having to catch myself at the end. I also found it increasingly uncomfortable to sit on the bleachers. I bought a padded bleachers chair with a back, which helped a little, but not enough.
Over the next few weeks I fell a few more times. I struggled to kick a ball - I couldn't strike it straight on and it went off in crazy directions. The bleacher issue got worse so that I had to hold on to the railing and walk slowly.
I thought maybe I was just out of shape, so I started going on walks or to the gym more often, but it didn't help. I definitely almost fell off a treadmill pushing myself too hard.
As some of you know I've struggled with depression throughout my life and I do regular see a psychiatrist. I mentioned to her the trouble I was having and, having been a medical doctor in a former career, she asked me to show her my walk. She instantly noticed I had "foot drop" in my right foot and told me to see my doctor.
I went to my doctor that week and he agreed about the foot drop. He examined me and noted that my leg reflexes (when they hit your knee with the rubber hammer) were very overly sensitive (Hyporeflexia). The slightest touch would make me kick out, hard. He ordered a bunch of blood tests, some back and brain MRI's, and referred me to a neurologist.
The two neurologists he mentioned had no openings, but another doctor friend of mine got me a very quick appointment with an MS specialist. By the time I saw him I had a constant mild limp and a hard time with my balance. He examined me and noted the same hyporeflexia, but now in my knees, achilles', arms, and wrists. He gave me vision and balances tests, and I couldn't do the balance tests at all. For example, I couldn't close my eyes and raise a foot without falling over. I couldn't walk heel to toe without falling over. He concurred with the MRI recommendation, and also ordered some additional blood tests. I didn't know it then, but he suspected MS.
NOTE - I'm going to bed, and will pick up the story some other time. For those of you who are impatient, there is FINAL DIAGNOSIS spoiler in the title.
My town has an annual end-of-summer concert. It's totally non-profit and is a just a nice smallish town family event. It's just a decent sized field, with a stage area up front, picnic type seating for the families, and some food tables in the back usually run by different local groups (boy scouts, middle school tennis, church, etc). The concert is free but there's fundraising and a suggested donation at the gate.
I used to be on the board, but moved on to do other boards' work, but I still take the day of the concert off every year so I can help set up, which is basically carrying things around, roping off different seating areas, putting up signs, working the gates, etc. This year I did all of that. I carried around heavy chairs and tables. I climbed on top of the tables so I could hang signs for concessions. I walked from gate to gate organizing youth volunteers and scooping the donations so there wasn't too much money left with the kids. The point is, I was able to do active, somewhat physical work all day, with no issues. Pretty much just like the previous 47 years.
Later in the evening, I sat with some friends listening to music and talking. Eventually I excused myself to use the restroom and found myself staggering, as if I was drunk. But I wasn't drunk. I had had a single beer at that point. Yet I couldn't control my feet - it was just kind of random where and when they landed, and I kind of lurched from side to side. I remember thinking how strange it was and how embarrassing it would be if people thought I was drunk, which, as I mentioned, I was not.
The next day I was fine, and went about my business as usual.
A few days or maybe a week later, my 12 year old had a soccer game, and I went to watch. At one point a ball rolled out of bounds to me and I went to flick it up with my foot to my hands - something I've done probably 100's of times - and I ended up mis-timing it, flicking it high and a little behind me and catching it with my hands, but then falling backwards a few steps and eventually falling backwards onto my back. Hard. There was a little dip in the ground where I landed (not where I staggered) so I blamed it on that but I knew something else was wrong.
At my older son's high school soccer games I noticed I had a hard time controlling my walk going up or down the bleachers. Basically I'd be in a controlled fall walking down the bleachers, landing my feet harder and harder on each step, and really having to catch myself at the end. I also found it increasingly uncomfortable to sit on the bleachers. I bought a padded bleachers chair with a back, which helped a little, but not enough.
Over the next few weeks I fell a few more times. I struggled to kick a ball - I couldn't strike it straight on and it went off in crazy directions. The bleacher issue got worse so that I had to hold on to the railing and walk slowly.
I thought maybe I was just out of shape, so I started going on walks or to the gym more often, but it didn't help. I definitely almost fell off a treadmill pushing myself too hard.
As some of you know I've struggled with depression throughout my life and I do regular see a psychiatrist. I mentioned to her the trouble I was having and, having been a medical doctor in a former career, she asked me to show her my walk. She instantly noticed I had "foot drop" in my right foot and told me to see my doctor.
I went to my doctor that week and he agreed about the foot drop. He examined me and noted that my leg reflexes (when they hit your knee with the rubber hammer) were very overly sensitive (Hyporeflexia). The slightest touch would make me kick out, hard. He ordered a bunch of blood tests, some back and brain MRI's, and referred me to a neurologist.
The two neurologists he mentioned had no openings, but another doctor friend of mine got me a very quick appointment with an MS specialist. By the time I saw him I had a constant mild limp and a hard time with my balance. He examined me and noted the same hyporeflexia, but now in my knees, achilles', arms, and wrists. He gave me vision and balances tests, and I couldn't do the balance tests at all. For example, I couldn't close my eyes and raise a foot without falling over. I couldn't walk heel to toe without falling over. He concurred with the MRI recommendation, and also ordered some additional blood tests. I didn't know it then, but he suspected MS.
NOTE - I'm going to bed, and will pick up the story some other time. For those of you who are impatient, there is FINAL DIAGNOSIS spoiler in the title.
![[scooter]](/data/avatars/m/22/22287.jpg?1659477690){kind=avatar}
I’m so sorry to read this. I remember years ago being a n00b on these boards and Randall (with Magnum as his avatar) welcoming me (with Higgins as my avatar). Thoughts and prayers. 
