Coordination problems - Facing MS symptoms from A to Z

Large- and small-motor skills can be affected by multiple sclerosis, either temporarily or progressively (perhaps depending upon the type of MS a person battles). It may be related to balance issues, dizziness, numbness, pain, sight loss, spasticity, or other MS effects.

Let’s look at spasticity for a moment.

When I was a kid, being called a “spazz” was a terrible playground put-down. It was one of the worst tags with which youngsters might hit one another. Drop the ball in gym class, stumble over a curb, or fall of a swing. Here comes that dreaded word.

Wig out a little, hooting and hollering or tearing around with some excess energy, and the “spazz” word might crop up again.

As I grew older and discovered family members and friends had neurological issues (long before my own MS diagnosis), the word took on a more personal meaning.

Spasticity is no laughing matter when it’s real.

This s-word can strike suddenly, locking random muscles up painfully, so they refuse to move the way we intend them to. They may even twitch. It’s not pretty.

MS is often called an “invisible disease.”

It’s one of those wacky medical conditions that other people may not readily recognize. As MS warriors, we might look pretty good on any given day, even though the MS MonSter is raging against us. Our smiles may even still light our faces, while our bodies are betraying us in weird and wacky ways.

Maybe we drop things. We might literally bounce off walls, making our way down a corridor. Perhaps we stagger a bit or drag one foot when we shuffle through a parking lot. It’s a coordination issue. And trust me: It’s harder for us to slug through it than it is for others to have to watch.

Images:
Word cloud generated by Kicking MS to the Curb - All rights reserved

Series title graphic adapted from public domain artwork.

Feel free to follow on GooglePlus and Twitter. Please visit my Amazon author page as well.

You are invited to join the Kicking MS to the Curb page on Facebook and the Making the Most of MS board on Pinterest.