Hi Mary Katherine,
The thing about sore legs, I began having extreme pain in my legs when I
was 32, it just got too painful and a waste of energy for me to walk, so
when I was 40 I got my first powerchair.  Are you near a good teaching
hospital?  Cal United cerebral palsy for a referral.

Mag

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> [Original Message]
> From: Mary Katherine Powers <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: 10/9/2005 6:21:11 AM
> Subject: Re: New member
>
> In a message dated 10/9/05 2:03:27 AM, [log in to unmask] writes:
>
> <snip>
>
> << I have CP and am in a wheelchair because I wore out my hip joints but I
> don't consider myself disabled and never have.  It's all how in you see
yourself
> and the world, I suppose.  If someone tells me I'm disabled, I just stop
and
> stare and them - unnerves 'em every time! ;) >>
>
> I really appreciate this perspective.  I have problems with fine motor
> skills, weakness in my arms, posture, and balance, but my major problem
is that it
> hurts to walk.  My lower legs feel stiff and sore and it's hard to move
them,
> so I walk slowly.  I also have a limp from when I sprained my left ankle
23
> years ago and it healed improperly.
>
> I see what you're saying about not defining myself as disabled, even if I
get
> some sort of diagnosis.  Especially because these seem to be mild
problems.
> I am hoping to get help so I can function better.  I was a preemie (11
weeks
> early, weighing 2 lb. 12 oz.) so I suspect that whatever is going on is
related
> to that.
>
> thanks,
>
> Mary Katherine