Sorry to hear of your difficulties Mark. I was diagnosed with ms in 1991 - I’d had occasional bits of numbness since 1989 but my excellent GP arranged for me to go into hospital and I got an MS diagnosis. Not that I believed it as all I’d heard about MS was how it destroyed lives and what it did to Jacqueline du Pre. I had no symptoms at all at the time.
I believed it in 1996 as I had a relapse. Every day for a week, new symptoms appeared. By the end, I felt my ribs were being crushed, my hands were almost useless and I could barely walk. The following week I gradually started to improve. I was back in hospital for a few days. Then straight back to work! That’s the only major relapse I’ve ever had!
I got almost completely better - just a slight tingling in my hands. I still went on cycling holidays, did quite a few 10+ mile walks with a couple of people who enjoyed that sort of exercise. I belonged to a gym and loved aquarobics sessions, swam and enjoyed using the cross-trainer.
After a time, I noticed my balance wasn’t quite right and eventually I started walking with one of the trekking poles I’d bought for use in the Lake District. That must have been in about 2016. Apart from that I was still fine. I’d moved home, was able to shift furniture around, could mow the lawn, go for walks, travel abroad - just with a bit more care.
And then came Covid! The gym closed, no more travel, pubs, clubs and cafes all closed (except a few takeaways). There was little incentive to go anywhere. And that was when ms started to get its claws into me.
My balance is a lot worse and I have to use both trekking poles to get around. My right foot runs out of energy really quickly (like a faulty battery). I have to be really careful getting on to buses and I phone through for a buggy ride at main stations. My hands have got worse - lifting kettles of boiling water (I really have to concentrate and only half fill them). Handwriting now a scrawl.
I’m 72 now. There are still plenty of things to enjoy. I love reading and attend the local library’s reading and poetry groups. Also their games afternoons and the knit and natter group (I can still knit and am halfway through a jumper). I also like doing jigsaws. I still enjoy short walks, visits to cafes (I love really good coffee), there’s a really good curry house not far away. And I still get out to meet friends or they come to visit. And there’s still all the usual stuff, tv, music, radio, computer etc. I’m also thinking about getting a mobility scooter so I can get a bit further afield.
Good luck! And all the best!