Hewitt
Active member
- Joined
- Dec 8, 2015
- Messages
- 53
- Reason
- Loved one DX
- Country
- US
- State
- NC
- City
- Winston-Salem
My sister was diagnosed with ALS in November, and it seems to be progressing fairly quickly (in my limited understanding of the disease, at least). She has started falling hard fairly regularly, and each time she has fallen flat on her face, sustaining cuts and bruises (no concussions, as far as I know, but she has smashed her glasses several times, which is scary). She has always been fit and active and loves to ride her bike (alone) for miles, but I wonder at what point does continuing to walk or bike become too dangerous? She walks about a mile to work every day, and while she falls at work and at home, too, the mile-long walk seems to be when she falls the most (her left leg weakens and then she trips). I see that many people advise ALS patients to carry a cell phone at all times, and she has been very reluctant to spend the money to get one, but it's beginning to seem like a necessity for her. It's odd, though - in the face of this frightening disease, she has become very stubborn about making sensible changes in her life. It may just be that as she feels her life spinning out of control she is trying to reassert her independence. Perhaps it takes a really major injury to make the need for lifestyle changes clear, but I hope she will adapt before she gets really badly injured. Any advice?