Trying to describe how it feels to have MS is like trying to describe colour to someone who can only see in black and white! It doesn’t feel like anything else, so there is no way of explaining it to someone who hasn’t experienced it.
Wobbly legs, weird sensations, balance issues, vertigo, pain, tremors, tingling, spasticity, funny walk, poor grip, weakness, numbness, spasms, general clumsiness …these are just some of the physical symptoms of MS that I’ve experienced.
Everyone’s experience of MS is different and most MSers find that their symptoms can change over time and can vary day to day, or even hour by hour. I’m sure it must confuse some people to see me one day appearing to walk around without a care in the world and the next day to be limping and hanging on to the furniture!
Earlier this year, MS Ireland decided to let people have a small taste of what it’s like to live with MS. This video has been well received by the MS community as it demonstrates some of the small but multiple struggles MSers face every day …
The MS Ireland website can be found here.
I remember trying to describe my difficulties with walking to my children when my symptoms began. Then I found this picture online and it helped them to understand …
I don’t mean that I see the floor that way, it’s just that’s how it feels to walk on a flat surface most of the time – slopes, steps, cobbles, uneven ground, all just add to the fun! So if you see me walking on a flat surface, without a stick, please be aware that this is something that now requires concentration!
You can find out more about the common symptoms of MS on the MS Trust website …