Try a few gentle hamstring stretches and see if it helps with the cramp problem. This one should do the trick, but your physio will be able to advise.
Hamstring stretch (2) - South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Also, magnesium can help ease the problem.
Glad to hear you are getting the help you need.
Thanks, once again for your sound advice. I will definitely do these exercises and I will give the magnesium a go. Is there a specific type/dosage you think is best.
I am so very grateful for all the help/advice and care I have been given.
Hope you are doing well (as good as you can).
Much Love
Maryx
I take 200mg of magnesium malate/citrate from Healthspan, which is supposed to be a more absorbable type. The one to avoid is oxide, as it can act as a laxative. Any decent chemist should be able to advise a suitable type.
The amount of magnesium you need is:
300mg a day for men (19 to 64 years)
270mg a day for women (19 to 64 years) [Vitamins and minerals - Others - NHS]
It sounds like everything is coming together and you are controlling events nicely.
Thank you so much for your reply. I did some of the exercises from the link you sent and will continue to do so as I think they may well have eased the cramp a little. I will give magnesium a go and hope that may help too. I have MS physio on Monday, will let you know how it goes.
Thanks again
Much love
Maryx
Hello to everyone and I hope you are all doing as good as can be.
Well I had the physio on Monday and she wants me to stay on the fampridine so I will await the next prescription. I only have 4 more days left but the physio says that although there may be a dip while awaiting new prescription that it should rectify itself once I restart.
Physio wants me back to see her on the 29th January as I will have had the knee brace by then (18th January) and she wants to have a look at me with it on and do a few exercises/test.
We spoke about me returning to work and she said maybe to think of a wheelchair while in school.
The idea of that does not seem “doable” as before I stopped working it took me my “all” to get the stick in\out of the car. The rollator is impossible as my arms/upper body are just not strong enough so a wheelchair fills me with dread. Not having a chair as that is something I am thinking of as and when.
I had my 3 management team up on Friday for a wee visit as they are friends as well as bosses and they get it now once they’ve seen me(a wee dip in me but still “ME”.)
The council want to meet in January as it is my 6 month period and the boss did say about having someone with me so my sister will come or should it be a union rep?
There is no dispute etc with school and it is very obvious I am disabled. What do you lovely folk think.
Sorry for the long winded rabble again and I’ll not annoy you for a while.
Have a very Happy Christmas and peaceful, happy and content New Year.
All my love
Maryx
It sounds like everything is coming together rather well and your position is clearly more settled now, which can only be a good thing.
The only thing I would add about Fampridine is to be wary if you suddenly develop toothache, because trigeminal neuralgia can be a side effect of the drug, so no point in having any teeth removed.
Being an old leftie, I tend to think Unions are there to represent our interests and no harm in having a chat with them first about your case. Hopefully, they will offer good advice.
Enjoy the festivities
Once again, thank you so much.
I had 14 of my colleagues up yesterday after school. They brought
a wee bit of our normal school Christmas cheer up to me which was just lovely. They think a wee call to the union is the best bet too.
Thanks again for all your valuable advice. Have a very Happy Christmas.
Much Love
Mary x
Hello to everyone and I hope you are as well as can be.
Well not much change with me but and it is a very welcome but I have not got worse (I don’t think)
I had a meeting with the council 4 weeks ago and another one this week. They have mentioned early medical retirement but my head was with me and just said to wait just now as I have a 3 month sick line now and will get another 3 month taking me to summer holidays and then we will proceed with the retirement route, my management team have been brilliant and want the best for me. Before I said anything to the council I asked my boss that if I were to get retired and one day get a bit stronger could I maybe volunteer a day or two and he said “absolutely” which has made me a bit more content.
Who knows one day I might get a bit stronger. Hopefully.
I really wanted to thank each and everyone of you for all your support through this time.
I truly hope you are well and wish you all the best. I will let you all know how things go.
Much Love
Maryx
Much love
Mary
Well it has now been decided after a few meetings with council HR that they have started the process of ill health retirement.
I had kind of accepted that this was the way things were going to go but it was still quite emotional yesterday when it was confirmed.
The council have been great and management team amazing and so supportive. It is just a wait and see now.
I confirmed with my boss yesterday that although I am going to be retired, that if one day I felt stronger could I maybe volunteer to which he said definitely, the door is always open and I will always be a member of the school which made me feel much more content. Thanks for all your support.
Much love
Maryx
That sounds like a sensible outcome. I hope that you come to feel OK about it, despite all the sense of loss and sadness that such a decision brings with it.
Thanks Alison, Yes it’s taken a while to get my head around this but I know it is the best outcome and knowing I can go into help if I get a bit stronger really makes me happy.
I’m much the same but I really don’t think i have got worse if that makes sense. I am very fortunate, I’ve had to change a lot of the ‘old me’ but I am getting there.
Thanks again everyone.
Much love
Maryx
Hello again everyone.
Just wanted to let you all that I am doing as good as I can having adapted to the “new me”.
I have been off work since September and the council started Early retirement in Feb/March. Have had a few teams meetings and the council’s OH doctor has been in touch via telephone.
There is no update as to whether I will receive early retirement but my school management team have been great in supporting me and will continue to pursue this.
I am doing ok folks as I have accepted I am in no way fit for for work.
About the house I continue with the exercises given to me by MS physio and follow a kinda strict routine.
We still have our “date night” on a Tuesday as I can longer manage
shops on my own. Apart from that I am mainly in the house but I am fine with it and have contented myself.
Don’t know if I will be awarded ill health retirement, time will tell.
I hope you are all as well as can be.
Much love
Maryx
Mary, thank you for the update. I am sorry that it is taking time to sort out the terms of your departure and hope that you get the right outcome soon and can not have to think about that any more.
Thanks alison100,
Here’s hoping.
Maryx
Nice to hear you have adapted to the change in circumstances and far better than trying to fight MS, because there can only be one winner that way.
Once things settle down, it might be worth getting a scooter to increase your range, as even a trip to the local a park can be a great way of enjoying some fresh air.
Fingers crossed you get the result you deserve.
Ah. thank you so very much.
I will definitely look into a scooter as I really would love to be able to get out and about. When you get used to a certain way you kinda lose confidence, like driving. Getting to the car is a bit iffy but once I get to driving again it is fine.
I kinda knew the right leg was weakening last year and got my car adapted to the left foot accelerator.
I am determined to keep trying but am glad that I have finally accepted work is no longer an option.
I truly miss school, colleagues and most of all the children.
I am due to go down for the 50th anniversary celebration mass which I have been involved in organising, albeit from home via the computer.
It will be my first time back since September and there are big changes with me but I need to do it.
Thanks again for always being there.
Much love
Maryx
Hello to all my lovely friends and I hope you are keeping as well as can be.
Well the OH doctors have looked at my GP letter and neurologist letter on Tuesday. I rang today and they are in the process of sending it to the council but were not able to tell me if they have agreed ill health retirement or if I have to appeal, just have to wait and see.
I had my neurologist on Tuesday and they seem happy with me and will continue with the Tysabri. I am going on 6 weekly infusions now instead of 4 weekly due to the fact I am JC positive.
The neurologist said that although my blood for JC started at 0.8 and is now 0.6 the fact is I am positive means every year being on Tysabri is more of a risk and changing to 6 weekly is less of a risk and lets me stay on Tysabri as it is working for now.
Sorry for the babble, I just wanted to let you all know.
MS has changed and I did ask why as I am on Tysabri has this happened, the neurologist explained these were old lesions and age, length of time having MS is why I have changed. I am staying positive, doing my exercises daily and am now thinking of getting a scooter only for longer distances.
I went down to school with my hubbie last week and visited the classes, spending a lot of time with the P7’s as they will be heading up to secondary school. It was very emotional but the children and my colleagues were fab.
Onwards and upwards for the “new me” ’
Again thanks so much for all your invaluable advice through these past few months. I will let you know what the outcome with the council is.
Much Love
Maryx
It sounds like things are ticking over nicely and hopefully, you will get some good news soon.
You are clearly in good hands with your neuro and the Tysabri situation is being carefully monitored. If you haven’t already seen it, the Barts risk guide is useful, as you can calculate the risk according to your circumstances.
Understand your risk of PML with Natalizumab (clinicspeak.com)
Thank you so much for your reply, I calculated my risk with the Barts and it sits at 1 in 8,333.
I am so very grateful that the MS team I deal with are so very caring with me.
Wishing you all the very best
Mary
Hello and I hope you are all as well as can be.
I just wanted to let you all know that the council rang to tell me that I have been granted Ill health retirement (tier 1.
It has been very emotional and a strange feeling but one that I know is for the best.
Paperwork etc to follow but the decision has been made.
I also tried a scooter last night, was a bit daunting but we have it for a trial this weekend and will try another next week to decide which is the best for me.
If only I could send the video as it would make you smile. Not the best driver so think the mobility scooter will take a bit of practice.
Much love
Maryx