I have finally got round to registering myself on my favourite MS website and to be honest I don’t really know where to start! It’s a rather gloomy picture I have to paint first of all-my health has really deteriorated and my neurologist has confirmed that I have the progressive form of the illness. Although I have really known this myself for many years . I even find it difficult to stand up from my wheelchair and do basic things like reaching for mugs from the cupboard etc. Walking is non-existent.
My wife divorced me two years ago which of course was a very big blow and this was really difficult for both of us, but now I have come to terms (well, almost!) with this and have great support from my circle of friends here in Leipzig, Germany. I now have to look for a new flat-I haven’t been able to use the shower for a couple of years now and of course this is a ridiculous situation. Added to that the lift is very often out of order-yet another ridiculous situation!
Of course I have lots of thoughts running through my head but today I would like to start with a question concerning the cutting of toenails. I am right-handed and the use of my right hand is now virtually non-existent. I have a care service who come to me three times in the week but unfortunately they are not allowed to cut toenails, fingernails are okay but the feet are out of bounds! So far I have hit a brick wall both from my GP and from my neurologist-it seems here in Germany that neither of them can give me a prescription for chiropody. I’m sure a lot of you will relate to the frustration of being told that this is not to do with MS! The reason I can’t cut my toenails any more is because of the illness! Does anyone have any experience of this over in the UK? Is it something that we just have to pay for ourselves?
I’m greatly looking forward to some correspondence with other MS patients. Maybe there are some of you out there who can relate to some of the experiences mentioned in this letter.
my solution is to go to the local beauticians. i dunno if thats an option for u?
i did attend nhs chiropody twice but the were rough!
the beautician cuts shapes and files them-a much better job anyway!
local beauticians provide this is a ‘special’ because there is a need for it as nhs cant cope with workload. price? mine do it free once every 3 months but i do go monthly to get my fingernails maintained (its a girl thing!) but beauticians are def for both sexes these days-maybe try a spray tan when u r there?!
Sorry to hear you are struggling in several areas.
Re toenail clipping. There is a shortage of nhs staff who do this. I know a lot of people have to pay for this In uk.
I have a history of ingrown toenails, l had to have surgery to correct it. Because I am immobile and a full time wheelchair user, I get free chiropody every 6 weeks. Cutting your own toenails can certainly be hazardous.
I hope you find a new flat, perhaps a ground floor one, with a wet room would be ideal.
Poll is almost certainly referring to me when she says cutting your own toenails is hazardous.
I tried this morning to cut just my big toenails using clippers. I cocked it up. I have one knackered ragged looking troll like trotter and on the other foot, cut in too deep to the toe and now have a shockingly cut toenail plus a plaster because of the blood!!!
I told Poll my sad story this morning.
I have to find an alternative method of getting my hooves trimmed. It just seems so ridiculous to pay for a chiropodist or beautician to just cut my toenails.
(Btw regarding another recent thread, I would be very bad at self harming I have decided!)
I believe there are things called electronic nail files. Maybe somebody here knows if they could work; I’ve no experience of them. Maybe if used frequently f it would keep them trimmed back without being exhausting.
That’s amazing. I just googled electronic nail file and found some remarkably cheap products with very good reviews on a common ‘sells absolutely everything’ website.
Think I will have to invest in one for when my left big toe nail gets better!!
Thank you for all your wonderful replies. This is the same here in Germany, if you are diabetic then you can have the toenails treated. The electronic filing device sounds very interesting! I shall have a look on my friendly website Amazon-although I currently have a self ban-but this is a necessary purchase! I also like the idea of seeing a beautician, even for the men it sometimes nice to have a bit of pampering
By the way I am dictating this letter with my new Dragon software. I can no longer type with my right hand and this software is a real plus. I can strongly recommend it to those with hand problems.
I have already ordered my electronic nail file (thank you so much mrbobowen!) from that very same global superstore / wonderland that is Amazon. I find it incredibly easy to get stuff from there with a click or two. And have less self control than you perhaps have. I sometimes wonder that they know so much about my life, my purchases probably demonstrate far more detailed information than I would be comfortable with if I were to consider it (so I shall shut my eyes and cover my ears to the knowledge).
The only voice recognition software I’ve used is Siri (the product used by the other big conglomerate - fruit based - who knows too much about me!) and it’s rubbish, it doesn’t understand most of what I say. Sooner or later I will have to look more closely at Dragon. So thank you for the recommendation.
Hi Richard, I get a mobile chiropodist in about every 8 weeks or so and she is wonderful. Costs me about £30 but in my book it’s money well spent. I feel I can walk on air after she has been.
I tried to get hubby to cut my nails but it was such a battle as he clearly didn’t want to do it and also he was so rough and it was a bit scary to say the least. As I still wanted my toes to remain intact I decided to get someone in. You wouldn’t think something so basic could be such a bone of contention.
I think husbands are generally rather reluctant to cut toenails. Mine did it once, and actually it was rather lovely, he soaked them, washed my feet, cut the toenails and put cream on my feet. But I happened just once! Subsequently he’s avoided the very question. Suggesting instead that I get a chiropodist or a pedicure. But £25-30 just to have toenails cut seems rather extreme to me.
I’ve started using my new electric nail filer. It’s great. And cost £20 for the machine. (Plus refill file heads). But so much cheaper than the alternative. I can’t easily reach my feet for long, so have decided to do it a little every couple of days in order that gradually I’ll get the toe nails into order.
I’m not taking the credit for that one, it was mrbobowen who suggested it. I just stole his suggestion, bought one and have discovered that it really is an excellent thing. So long as you can get near enough your toes that is, and have sufficient dexterity to manage it. I don’t have a lot of either, but have just about managed - anything to be able to do just a little bit for myself.
The battery-operated nail file is fantastic-thanks for the video link Bob - I shall definitely be looking into purchasing one of these. I finally got round to calling my health-insurance this morning. The lady said that I need to write an official letter explaining the situation and it could be possible that the health insurance would cover the costs of a chiropodist. Fingers and toes crossed And as Mags says getting a beautician to do it would be a nice treat if all else fails
I wish everyone a pleasant weekend. I’m quite relieved that the heatwave here in Saxony is over and I can enjoy some normal autumnal weather!
I will be in touch next week with some more questions
all the best Richard
P.S. I get my new E-Fix wheelchair motor next week - is that popular in the UK?
I read your message with great interest also because I seem to think that we have some ‘things’ in common. I am myself a dutchman who moved to the UK in 1995. Unlike you I am still happily married (I take the freedom to say so…) to my wonderful (british) wife.
I ‘have’ myself SPMS but I am still reasonably independent (not totally relying on a wheelchair just yet, although I do have one).
However, I have the impression that you have the PPMS form?, correct me if I am wrong!
Of course, the labour market has become a no-go zone for me, also because we have a-daughter-with-severe-learning-difficulties… phew, describing my daughter always wears me out…, although she has recently ‘moved out’.
Isn’t it strange that ‘they’ actually take ‘things’ away from you which could actually keep you sane?! (AND enable you to still contribute to ‘society’ one way or the other)
Yes, I do have a lot of irritating MS issues but thanks to the support of my wife and 15yr old healthy son, I keep on going.
By the sound of it(?), your wife was ‘lying’ when you both promised each other at your wedding to ‘support each other in good AND bad times’… (which is of course my first, ‘unfounded’, reaction…).
Keep on talking Richard, it helps (sometimes)… I ended up in Gloucester because I met my wife on Crete during a holiday, how did you meet your ‘ex’ if I may ask?
