The club foot

The last couple of days have been uncommon in that I experienced one of the more curious and rare manifestations of my multiple sclerosis. I had not really named this manifestation, that is, until yesterday when I christened it and called it "The club foot". Unfortunately, I experienced this sensation in both feet. Let me explain the sensation.

About 4 days ago, my feet started tingling and I experienced regular instances of pins and needles. This graduated to more pronounced tingling during the following days, which, under normal circumstances and with the right frame of mind, may have been construed as pleasurable. However, as a veteran of various relapses and flare-ups, I anticipated that the pleasure would not be mine!

This was borne out the day afterwards when all feeling in my feet was disengaged. I could not feel the socks on my feet nor the texture of the carpet I was walking on. I could not feel whether my foot was airborne or on terra firma. I was not capable to distinguishing whether the ankle was contracted or flexed, without performing a visual check.

It goes without saying that mobility was, dare I say it, profoundly challenging and the source of a vast vocabulary that would have made hardened sailors blush like victorian young ladies on their first date. Each step I took was neither painful nor pleasurable, but it was hazardous and comical. I have the ability to "step outside of myself" and view myself in a very objective manner, furthermore, I can see the comical side of a great variety of situations. Whether this is a defence mechanism, or not, is largely immaterial; however, it does allow me to react to the situation in a positive way. I believe that this is important.

If I were to react to situations in a negative way, the situation would be aggravated and one step closer to a less than favourable outcome. Although I do have access to a motability scooter, I refuse to use it ... at least ... until all the modifications I requested have been completed. I do not ask for much, but I insist on having all terrain capability, fuzzy dice and a flame job. Once more I find myself rambling on.

This sensation or, more precisely, the lack thereof, lasted for two days and had various knock-on effects; such as lack of sleep, reduced mobility and back pain. The latter was caused by the awkward walking manner that one is forced to adopt. These "after-shocks" are as difficult to cope with as the principal event.

The Long John Silver Walk

Due to the hemiplegia that I experienced, the flare ups that I now experience cause this walk. 40 paces and you are shattered. Why do I call this the Long John Silver walk? Simply because one leg does not function as nature and biology had intended. Briefly, the leg loses flexibility and you end up hobbling as though you are the owner of a wooden leg. It becomes particularly strenuous ... and comical when you are faced with a plethora of stairs to negotiate. One leg functions correctly, and the other must either be swung out the side and onto the next step or (and this is harder work) it must be brought up to the same step, where after the first leg ascends the next step in the usual manner. Doing it in the latter fashion feels like you are climbing twice the number of stairs, and furthermore, once you have reached the summit, the good leg is knackered.

As an MS sufferer you develop numerous different walks to assist you in getting from A to B. Some of these look comical and awkward, but are in fact the most efficient way of moving and are less strenuous on other parts of your body, such as the spine. I have a particular walk that looks as though I am a little slow in the head, perhaps even spastic because I end up dragging one half of my body "behind me" and in particular the affected leg. Another, and probably the most common MS walk, I call the "cowboy" ! With this walk you look as though you have dismounted your horse in an undignified manner, because the distance between the feet is greater than the width of your hips. It is a very flattering walk, in fact, they all are and should be used on the fashion catwalks of London, Paris and all the other fashion capitals of the world.

Other factors that affect walking include
1) balance issues
2) numbness of the feet and legs
3) sensations of "heavy legs" where the legs feel as though weighted down with lead weights
4) limited flexibility of the feet, whereby the foot does not roll in the normal manner

In my humble opinion, it would be so easy to give in to the mobility problems that I experience, however, for me this is not an option. I have resisted the walking stick and the motorised wheelchair with vehemence.

In fact, who really cares what you look like when you walk funny ... at least you are walking, and exercising your body and giving MS a good solid fight. Walk slower and try to control more of your motion with each step. Take regular breaks, especially when your legs feel as though they are on fire (another common sensation I discovered). You now have an excuse to walk slower and observe the world around you. The remainder of the world may see you as DISABLED, but I like to think of it as DIFFERENTLY ABLED.

Are there any other amusing MS walking styles? Please tell me.

Finally, remember that many youngsters try to develop a signature walk and spend years working on one, and we have one without much effort.

You may have MS, but never ever let MS have you. Use that beautiful mind and fight back.

With affection
Silent Mike