Recent content by bryanmn

cortisone shots I have sore shoulders with limited movement, my caregiver had very hard time getting a shirt or jacket on me. They even hurt when hanging off the side of my wheel chair. The orthopedic doctor said lack of use, from ALS, was causing pain and one of my arms was losing bone density...

My insurance did not cover the elevator either, so I paid for it myself. Its a great feature to aid in transfers, you can raise yourself high enough so you can be more easily pulled to a standing position. Board transfers are easier as well, since you can be raised to the same level. Plus its...

I was diagnosed in july '06 leg onset. At my recent clinic visit I described symptoms of a sore throat and weak voice. The speach therapist said it was just acid reflux. My speach is clear just hard to talk for long periods and gets slurred late at night. Seems like just as during my diagnosed...

get power wheel chair My legs were affected first and I quickly progressed from a four-wheel walker to scooter and then a power wheel chair. The scooter was very nice for about 3 months but was too big for indoor use. Now my hands and arms are getting weak and the power wheel chair is a life saver.

Rhonda, I have come to the same issue, I use a power wheel chair and my left arm/hand are weak. I can transfer from the wheel chair to the driver seat and my right foot still works. My family became concerned and said I should stop driving. I went to Courage Center for driving evaluation, and...

Recently the control of left arm is weak in certain positions and my arm is sore/stiff in the shoulder socket and elbow. When I wake in the morning after having slept on my left side, my arm is very sore and unusable for an hour or so. I have been taking baclofen to help the stiffness, but my...

Power wheel chairs Alan, I am new to power wheelchairs, I have had one at work for 1 week, I love the tight turning radius. For now I take my walker from the house to the car, and the security guards at work bring my chair out to the car. My home is not very accessible, so we are planning a...

Bill, yes the cost renovating our home to make it accessible was prohibitive > 120k, and would make our house look very strange. The proposal was to turn our dining and living room into an accessible bath and bedroom. We have a 3 level walkout, with the bedroom upstairs, which is getting very...

Bill, Thanks for the information on the wheel chairs, I plan to use funds from MDA and my flex spending to pay for the upgrade wheelchair. I hope to be as lucky as you and survive to 10 years. -Bob

Rilutek it can't hurt and its all we have I have been taking rilutek since July and I have not experienced any side affects, my stomach has been fine. I am on a cocktail of rilutek, prozac, baclofen and the occasional beer or capt morgan. Most insurance in the US will cover the cost, and if it...

. I did the same thing with my diagnosis at work, kids and family for about 2 months. While I was still being diagnosed, I told everyone I had a bulging disk in my back that was causing my left leg to go numb. My 1st diagnosis was PLS, since I still had muscle strength and not obvious...

Liz - Our teenagers were at first in shock, but we know they we talking to friend and grandparents, cousins, etc. Since teenager naturally pull away to excert their independance, its hard to tell sometimes. But I give my daughter rides to school and pick her up from sports practice. Its...

Hi Sara and everyone else - My story..... Sara and everyone, My diagnosis was July 24, 2006, but I had noticed symptoms from August 2005. My legs hurt after running with my daughter and struggled to run a mile in 13 minutes. Then a few months later I could not run, because of a sore left leg...

Thanks for the encouragement that is exactly what I needed. Its good to hear from people in the same crummy situation, but still able to enjoy life. I recently got a power wheel chair from the ALS lending pool, and I having a blast driving it around work and home. The ALS lending pool has been...

Sometimes I think I am ignoring my ALS or just accepting it and trying to enjoy what is left of my life. People around me can be so sad or avoid me, but my best friends say they are sorry, hang to help around the house and drive me home from happy hour. I like a good cry, but sometimes I want to...