Hello everyone,
To chip into Jim's query and others' comments, when TM struck I did not
know what the whole sensation and the heaviness was. I had only
described the sensation as 'numbness'. It took me a month to learn that
there was such an expression as 'pins and needles' to describe my
sensation. English is not my first language. At the onset of TM attack,
my legs felt 'paralysed'. Only later did I discover that my
understanding of the term paralysis was different from what medical
professionals had.
My leg movements are getting weaker. A physio suggested several
exercises to prevent my muscles from deterioration. But I consider
myself very fortunate as I can still walk, swim and ride my bicycle.
Dalton - I work as a lecturer in a university (of sorts). I found it
appalling that someone of Dean's rank should make such insensitive
comments. Did you speak to the HR Dept or a union? I doubt these days
either of them would be effective. But on surface both of them adopt
'equal opportunity' and 'anti workplace bullying' policies. But yes,
they'll say a lot of PC-things to gloss over the survival-of-the-fittest
beliefs and practice. If someone made a comment like that to me, I would
go to a few journalist friends.
Ryota
On 5/01/12 3:55 AM, john snodgrass wrote:
shameful truth Dalton
------------------------------------------------------------------------
*From:* Dalton Garis <[email protected]>
*To:* PAMELA S <[email protected]>; [email protected]; TMC Group
<[email protected]>
*Sent:* Wednesday, January 4, 2012 7:41 AM
*Subject:* Re: [TMIC] Extent of your TM? Pins and Needles
Reminds me of my last semester at college;
Since my arms were almost as weak as my legs and torso, I got the idea
of using my office chair, which was on casters, to glide around the
halls to and from classes and other appointments. But the Dean didn't
like it. He was (and likely still is) an anglophile. That's someone
who worships the old upper class British orthodoxy. I think he
fancied himself some kind of colonial boss. Anyway, he saw me gliding
on my office chair getting into the elevator and stopped me.
"Dalton, you can't go around like this."
"Why not? It works and allows me to attend to all my duties."
"It's not acceptable. Get a wheelchair, then."
"My arms are just as weak as my legs. I couldn't use a wheelchair."
"Then get one of those electric scooters."
"I teach on two campuses a half-mile apart. Who's going to load and
unload the beast from my car?"
"I don't care. I can't have one of my professors rolling around the
halls in an office chair. It's just not acceptable. What would
people think?"
Not proper, ay? What do they know? They should have some regard for
the end that awaits all of us. I didn't last another semester. They
got rid of me. But in truth, I could no longer do the work.
That's when I understood the difference between a team and a family.
A team eliminates weakened members while a family supports them,
nurses them back, or takes care of them until they pass on. The
workplace is like a team, I guess. But our country should be like a
family toward its citizens.
There I go again.
Dalton
From: PAMELA S <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>>
Date: Tue, 3 Jan 2012 18:41:50 -0800
To: <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>>, TMC Group
<[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>>
Subject: RE: [TMIC] Extent of your TM? Pins and Needles
Resent-From: <[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>>
Resent-Date: Tue, 3 Jan 2012 18:45:00 -0800
Jim, I could walk all along...but by holding my legs or joints
stiff and swinging from the hip and I didn't get far. After
steroids I was very weak, and couldn't tolerate any weight or get
far for about 4 months. then I had a complete recovery over about
a year except for occassional fatigue and spasming. In 2000, I
lost it for 11 months and recovered over another year. I had
progressive weakness starting about 2008 until August 2010 when I
couldn't do anything let alone sit for more than an hour. I'm now
getting around with orthotics and a brace for walking. But, I
have a lot of muscle weakness and easily get pain aside from "pins
and needles, and burning" with any exertion. Also, my hands and
arms are now involved. But, I still get around pretty good if I
can pace myself. Pam
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 3 Jan 2012 11:55:22 -1000
From: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
To: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]>
Subject: [TMIC] Extent of your TM? Pins and Needles
From the discussion of Pins and Needles it seems that most of you
are able to get around and have some use of your legs. I have
pins and needles from my feet to my belly and no use of my legs at
all. And they weigh a ton. Been like this since day one. Did
any of you lose the use of your legs and then get them back? If
so, how long did it take and how did you do it?
Jim
