Hi,

This was Mary's original post.

Cheers

Deri


----------  Forwarded Message  ----------

Subject: New member
Date: Saturday 08 Oct 2005 21:53
From: [log in to unmask]
To: [log in to unmask]

hello,

I joined this list because I suspect I may have mild cerebral palsy.  I am 37
and have never been diagnosed.  Here is a list of the physical problems I
have:


1.  I was born prematurely, 11 weeks early, weighing 2 lb. 12 oz.,

2.  I did not walk until after I turned 2. I walked on my knees for a year.

3.  As an adult, I still have difficulty walking; I walk slowly (others leave
me in the dust within seconds) and I feel pain and stiffness every day in the
front of my lower legs from my knees to my ankles. It hurts to walk.

4.  Additionally, I have scar tissue from when I sprained my left ankle 23
years ago; it healed improperly. I have a limp.

5.  I have trouble climbing stairs; it wears me out and makes my legs hurt.

6.  My balance is poor; I have trouble in the rain, going down steps
sometimes, and it is extremely difficult for me to walk on ice.

7.  My fine motor skills are poor; I have trouble doing things like
manipulating tools, threading a needle, buttoning buttons, and putting on
 jewelry.

8.  I've been told I pick things up abnormally, by using my index and middle
fingers along with my thumb, instead of just my index finger and thumb.

9.  I tend to do odd things with my hands, like making a circle with my thumb
and ring finger and holding the rest of my fingers out straight.

10. I also have some trouble typing.

11. I had great difficulty playing sports and learning how to drive a car.

12. I have difficulty writing; sometimes I misspell my own name.  I was
always one of the slowest note-takers in class and my penmanship is very
 poor.

13. Due to uncorrected strabismus, I’ve been told my brain processes
information from each eye separately.  I have no depth perception.

14. Exercise is difficult for me because I’m pushing my legs against
resistance and they are stiff.

15. I have difficulty holding heavy things (such as a child or a box) for any
length of time.  My arms feel weak.

16. Posture:  I sit slumped over.  It’s just too hard to hold my back
straight.  I stand with my stomach pushed out because it’s too hard to stand
 up straight.

17. Running:  I find it difficult to run; it is a strain.

Is it appropriate to post a message like this to the list and ask for
feedback?  Or is that going into too much detail about what's on my mind?  I
 have an appointment with Kennedy Krieger next month but in the meantime, I
 was hoping to get some feedback on whether these issues might be CP, or not.

thanks,

Mary Katherine Powers

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