Embrace Your Destiny: Ode to Walker

Walker, Walker, I love you Walker.

You give me freedom,

You give me joy and power to walk.

When a step hurts, you support and comfort.

You are steadfast, always to the rescue.

Walker, Walker, you are ever humble,

Sturdy, strong and uncomplaining.

You go into mud. You navigate gravel.

Ka-plunk, ka-plunk, plop-plop,, schhhhh,schhhhhhh

You glide on the hardwood like a laser.

Walker, Walker, I won’t need you much longer.

Everyday, I exercises in my chair. building strength, flexibility.

Everyday I walk, squat, bend and extend that bum leg

You stay close, but out of the way.

You nurture my determination and independence.

Embrace Your Destiny: Track Your Progress

The aging process plus the diagnosis of Primary Progressive MS is a recipe for change in the wrong direction. According to data I have read, I should be on a slow, steady decline. I refuse to accept that fate. The only way I know to determine if I’m going forward or backward on this journey is to document specific tasks and track them from year to year. Since I do feel and walk better than I did twenty years ago, I think I am going forward. 

Looking back over this past year, I can say these things about my body and how it works better than last year at this time:

• My posture is better especially when I am tired.
• I can get up off the floor with more control and agility.
• I do many yoga postures better.
• I get dressed quicker because I step into my pants with greater ease.
• My walking is more fluid with less limp when I get fatigued.
• Getting in and out of the car is easier and doesn't hurt as much.
• Standing in the kitchen while cooking doesn't make my legs feel fatigued.

Plank for 1 minute

You may wonder, what has contributed to these changes. Good question. From all I have read about MS and other neurological diseases, the mind and body work most effectively when the process is coordinated, consistent, intentional, focused on the right things and done mindfully. Two years ago I noticed that my yoga practice was improving but the strength I needed to get into and hold postures was lacking. That’s when I decided to go back to the gym and get a trainer. I believe the work with my new trainer, Evan Camby has taken my walking and overall strength to a better place. Together, the yoga and strength training have facilitated the specific improvements I listed.

My husband, Donnie says he has noticed a big improvement in my mental acuity. He say I process information faster, which is reflected in smoother, more fluid speech. Mental sharpness has been of concern to me from the beginning. This year I have noticed focus and concentration are improved. I was President of Four Seasons Toastmasters which gave me weekly practice in leading, initiating change, making impromptu speeches, coordinating and giving programs.  I believe I work as hard on this part of my journey as the physical and I believe I see results. Here are the activities I do regularly to work on my mental sharpness:

• Piano lessons and practice everyday.
• Puzzles work everyday; word puzzles, picture puzzles, math puzzles.
• Study and practice French everyday using the Duolingo free app on my phone.
• Attend Toastmasters every week to practice speaking and leadership.
• Plan and execute parties and other events.
• Memoir writing weekly.
• Accept speaking engagements. 

Physiologically, I feel great 90% of the time. Headaches are not a problem now. I may have one once a month and Ibuprofen takes care of it. My energy level is nice so that I can do most everything I plan everyday. I give credit to diet and exercise for these improvements It seems like the more I do, the more I feel like doing.

It’s been a while since I talked about diet. I still drink a 16 ounce juice once a day, courtesy of my juice lady Katie Flannagan and Green Heart Juice. I also make bone broth and consume a half cup of that everyday. The rest of my diet includes lots of vegetables, salads, canned tuna and salmon, beans of all kinds fixed all different ways, smoothie for breakfast, and nuts. I’m monitoring the effect of gluten, cheese and sugar on joint inflammation. Recently I have observed that certain postures in yoga are not fully available the morning after eating gluten and cheese. I am following principles from The Wahl Diet and others that incorporate whole foods and plant based foods.

I look at this journey with MS as a challenge to maintain an  an active lifestyle. This work is my job. I still have lots of things to improve. My goal is to stay healthy, mentally sharp, involved with life and learning and to keep improving. Yes, it takes time, planning and some dedication. That is okay with me. I’ll do whatever it takes as long as I see changes going in a positive direction instead of backward.

Embrace Your Destiny: Little Bit by Little Bit

Change happens little bit by little bit. It's easy to get discouraged with what seems to be lack of progress, with anything we do. Spasticity slows me down doing anything. For example, I have noticed very slow improvement in my piano playing. I've been taking lessons and practicing everyday for three and a half years. Practice is the key for me.  Everyday and over a L...O...N.NNNNNG period of time, I can finally see some small, but significant changes. I see the same thing in hot yoga practice, speaking at Toastmasters, walking, and building strength.

Embrace Your Destiny: Take on Piano Lessons

Starting my lesson with Annett

My destiny has taken a big right turn for the better during the past three years. I consider physical and other therapies to be my work. This work is not laborious or tedious. It's actually stimulating and fun to do, but it takes time. It's worth it! I believe that I am 90% better now than I was at the beginning of the journey 17 years ago. Why, you would ask? My evidence is this:

My walking has improved to become less spastic and more fluid and strong.
Pain and stiffness in the hips and leg joints is minimal and mostly just after sitting.
I am quicker doing routine activities around the house.
I have learned to handle stress through breathing.
I have energy again.

I believe that all the alternative therapies I do are working together to support my immune system, my neuromuscular system, my digestive system, skeletal system, and mental systems. For example, I have been taking piano lessons for three years. When I started, I discovered that my fingers were as spastic as my legs and arms. I had no idea the spasticity extended into the hands. I should have figured that out because my handwriting had really deteriorated significantly.  The regular, daily practice of piano is slowly improving this area of spasticity. I believe the physical therapy work I do has helped looses the shoulders which helps keep the hands soft and pliable. I am grateful that I am able to do piano therapy. My neurologist said it is recommended as a therapy, but he had another patient who didn't have enough strength in her fingers to work the piano keys.

My piano teacher, Annett Hudson, patiently works with me to identify problems and how to correct them. Music is the tool. We work on technique more than anything else now. Each piece I work on requires something a bit different. Some of the specific, fundamental things she reminds me of every week are:

• Keeping my fingers moved up into the black notes
• Relaxing my hands and keeping a dome shape when playing
• Relaxing my arms and using them to help press the finger on the key

The music pieces are fun to work on and challenging. I'm convinced that playing the piano works my brain in a way nothing else does. It's also a great stress reducer. Annett keeps talking about doing a recital next Spring. The jury is still out on that challenge. I've got a long way to go before feeling ready to perform!