| Once upon a time, I was a vibrant, youthful | | | | work. I attempted to go back to work as an |
| teenager...My First EncounterDuring my first | | | | office manager for a wonderful & |
| pregnancy, I had contracted chicken pox from | | | | understanding employer, (I figured it was |
| my young nephews and niece. Though it made | | | | light work.) and performed fairly well for a |
| for an irritable time in my initial | | | | few months. Suddenly, I was in a hospital |
| trimester, I hadn't given it much | | | | emergency room - this time, I came out in a |
| aforethought. In the last part of my | | | | wheelchair. Not only did MRI tests confirm I |
| pregnancy, I noticed some weakness in my legs | | | | had a herniated disc at the C-3/4, but I also |
| and arms, but naturally assumed it was part | | | | had a spinal lesion (myelopathy) at the C-1 |
| of the gestational effects.It was after I | | | | 2. Strange that workers compensation doctors |
| gave birth, that I began having more frequent | | | | coudn't find it, but numerous MRI tests this |
| physical difficulties, but again, attributed | | | | time, confirmed it.After seeing a few, |
| these nuisances to normal post-partum | | | | reputable Neurologists, I was additionally |
| effects. As time progressed, I began losing | | | | diagnosed with Transverse Myelitis (TM) and a |
| balance & coordination; and even dropped | | | | 'bulging disc' (herniated disc). This |
| everyday household items such as glasses, | | | | explained why I had been encountering all |
| keys, and other things as well. I had finally | | | | these unrelated physical problems.Giving UpI |
| had enough when my rib cage began to feel | | | | guess when I first sat in my wheelchair, I |
| broken and I couldn't stand the pain any | | | | instinctively gave in to my physical |
| longer. Over a decade later, and after | | | | condition. Why bother living anymore, I |
| numerous doctor visits, MRIs and multiple lab | | | | thought. I couldn't function properly and |
| tests; I was finally diagnosed with | | | | felt like a complete invalid. How was I going |
| Fibromyalgia.What is Fibromyalgia? | | | | to make my household payments? How was I |
| Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain illness that | | | | going to care for my two, then elementary |
| can cause musculoskeletal pain in various | | | | schoolers? How was I even going to live? |
| areas of the body, is characterized by | | | | While all these thoughts ran through my mind, |
| fatigue, and is often associated with | | | | I was becoming an emotional wreck.Because of |
| Restless Leg Syndrome, Migraine and | | | | my health, I was taking so many medicines |
| rheumatism - to name a few. Additionally, | | | | that I couldn't tell if I was coming or |
| attacks of fibromyalgia seem to spontaneously | | | | going. I would take one medicine for this, |
| come and go.At first, I was treated with | | | | one for that, one to counteract the effects |
| multiple 'pain aids' that did help with the | | | | of another, and another to counteract the |
| pain, but made me even more tired than I was | | | | effects of a different one...and so on. And |
| before I took the medicines. Eventually, I | | | | thanks to all of these wonderful conventional |
| went off the medications and focused on my | | | | medicines, I returned to the hospital because |
| work and simply 'ignored' the illness. I | | | | one of them nearly killed me. It was then |
| figured if I had to live with it, I might as | | | | that I knew I had to find a different |
| well accept it.What I Didn't KnowWhat I | | | | way.Starting OverGoing against medical |
| didn't realize was that Fibromyalgia can | | | | advisement, I literally stopped all of my |
| weaken a person so much that sometimes, | | | | prescribed medicines at once. I became |
| individuals can be more quickly injured or | | | | acquainted with the International Disability |
| more prone to other conditions than those | | | | Coalition and got into band, strengthening |
| without Fibromyalgia. That's when I | | | | excercises and virtually re-taught myself how |
| experienced my first real encounter with its | | | | to walk - without the help of any medical |
| lethal effects. While at work, I wasn't doing | | | | professional. I also incorporated a |
| anything too terribly physical. However, it | | | | 'mind-over-matter' attitude that I believe, |
| was the day in and day out repititions of | | | | enabled me to step out of the wheelchair and |
| physical labor that not only added to my | | | | back into life.It's been about 3 years now, |
| condition but wrecked further havoc on me as | | | | and I still live daily with back, neck, |
| well - and left me susceptible to injury.On | | | | shoulder and sciatic nerve pain. I |
| the Job InjuryThere I was, performing my | | | | sporadically suffer relapses where I can't |
| normal work activities when, 'Ouch!' and 'Oh | | | | walk, or I can't move my arms or hands. BUT, |
| my God!' entered my mouth. The pain was | | | | I am no longer a walking or wheelchair-bound |
| excruciating. Numbing and impairing. With a | | | | zombie. I swim and practice water exercises |
| simple maneuver, I was incapacitated. Pain | | | | when the weather is warm to build muscle |
| and tingling numbness ran down my right side. | | | | strength. And there are still times when my |
| It was unbearable. Not only that, I could | | | | pain gets the better of me and I still go |
| barely make it to the office because I had to | | | | through emotional ups and downs. And like |
| drag my right leg to get to where I needed to | | | | most conditions, they flare up more often |
| be.When I got to the hospital, I was told | | | | with cold weather, emotional and physical |
| that "...you sprained your back..." That was | | | | stress, and lack of rest. BUT I am alive |
| it. No MRIs, just a quick once-over to tell | | | | today, I am a survivor, and though I may have |
| me that all my pain, my lack of feeling - | | | | fibromyalgia, Transverse Myelitis, migraine, |
| according to workers compensation' doctors - | | | | disc herniation, and restless leg syndrome - |
| was merely a 'sprained back.'I knew I had | | | | these disorders do NOT have me.In |
| fibromyalgia, but it had NEVER acted in this | | | | ClosingLiving with my chronic disorders and |
| sense. Not because I was 'weak,' but because | | | | illness has taught me to be more |
| my right side had gone totally numb. It was | | | | patient...more loving...more giving. I now |
| frustrating to say the least. Nearly 9 months | | | | share my home with not only my human family, |
| after my injury, and even working on | | | | but have adopted several rescue dogs - who I |
| light-duty while taking heavy pain killers, | | | | also compliment for adding so much love and |
| doctors FINALLY found that my right shoulder | | | | compassion to my emotional wellbeing. And so |
| had been subluxated (dislocated) and | | | | long as there is a purpose on this earth for |
| scheduled me for surgery. After the surgery, | | | | me to exist, I will attempt to make the most |
| I went through months of agonizing physical | | | | of it. Every hour. Every day.Living with |
| therapy to get my right arm back into its | | | | Chronic Illness & Disorders: Are You a |
| proper range of motion. But the numbness, the | | | | Survivor? |
| back pain and the lack of feeling in my legs | | | | |
| still came and went without any signs of | | | | Copyright 5/2005 - All Rights Reserved |
| remorse.Shocking DiscoveryBy the time I had | | | | |
| went through my rehabilitation, my employer | | | | by C. |
| 'let me go' because I was obviously unable to | | | | |