Jr,
I have my 4th toe on each foot, both got broken as a child, so now I have
slipped in a hot tub because the left toe decided to curl up just as I was
getting into the tub, luckily I have strong arms and prevented myself from
hitting my head. but now I wear water shoes in the hot tub because then my
toes can't make me unstable.
Mag

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"What is real but compassion, as we move from birth to death?"
~~Greg Brown~~


> [Original Message]
> From: Jonathan Rand <[log in to unmask]>
> To: <[log in to unmask]>
> Date: 11/22/2005 1:08:03 PM
> Subject: Re: My water-retention problem
>
> My feet r very tender, I think because of abnormal stresses put on them.
It
> used 2 be much worse.  When symptoms of chemical sensitivity first started
> creaping up on me, I didn’t no what was happening.  My movements became
more
> normal at first.  Then I became very sleepy all the time.  Sometimes my
> movements became A LOT worse!  Neck spasms were choaking off blood 2 my
> brain, (or something like that).  Anyway, my feet were getting soar from
> walking “wrong” I guess.  4 a few years, I wore extra large shoes, & I
wore
> them on the wrong foot, (left on right, etc.), to stop my feet from
rubbing
> on the shoes.  Getting my toenails cut was like open heart surgery!
>
> But after I learned how 2 control the chemical sensitivity, my mobility
> problems seemed 2 “stabolize,” & walking became much easier.  I still
don’t
> / can’t walk without shoes because my toes curl up under my feet, & they
wud
> drag along the ground, (and that HURTS), but since my doctors weren’t
really
> helping, I felt I was forced 2 try stuff on my own, & maybe I was somewhat
> successful.
>
> I still hate getting my toenails cut but it’s a thousand times easier now…
>
> I don’t know if other people can do this…  Maybe I’m weird.  But at 1
point
> I found that I was able 2 relax my feet wile walking, if I tensed up
> “something else.”  Like my legs, (or another part of my body).  Then my
toes
> didn’t curl up, & my feet didn’t turn in as much.
>
> But I have ATHETOSIS as well as spasticity.  In som cases I get to CHOOSE
> between the 2.
>
> It’s a little complicated.  But r u able 2 relax a part of your body 2
take
> the pressure off it?  In order 2 do this, you hav2 pay a price!  Another
> part of u will have to tense up.
>
> It looks like som people with ONLY spasticity, won’t b able 2 do this.
But
> I’m wondering if it can be learnt.
>
> I suspect there r many movement “schemes” people can adopt?  I only no
wats
> happening 2 me….  (& wat it LOOKS like I’m seeing in others).  I cud be
very
> off on this but I wanted 2 try 2 help, anyway.  :)
>
>                   Jonathan
>
>
>
>
>
>
> >From: Rayna <[log in to unmask]>
> >Reply-To: "St. John's University Cerebral Palsy List"
> ><[log in to unmask]>
> >To: [log in to unmask]
> >Subject: My water-retention problem
> >Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2005 13:47:52 +0800
> >
> >Had my appointment with my GP on Thursday morning.  She took one look at
> >my feet, prodded them a bit with her fingers, and got an expression of
> >`oh, this really isn't good', on her face.  A bit unnerving, as my feet
> >weren't nearly as swollen as they have been in the evenings.
> >
> >She tested my BP - fine, took three vials of blood - sticking needles
> >into me is such a distressing situation for both of us (I have a
> >tendency to swear like a sailor in those situations, really cannot bear
> >invasive medical treatments, have had a few too many), that she figured
> >she may as well test for as much as possible while she was there.  Went
> >over other possible reasons for the water retention, agreed that lack of
> >excercise hasn't helped, but will get better now the weather is good,
> >she doesn't think that my salt intake is a cause or a problem -
> >something about living in a warm climate, didn't pay much attention.
> >
> >So she gave me a script for diuretics, and wants to see me in a week.
> >The diuretics do seem to be working - my feet are less swollen than they
> >were in the evenings, but still too swollen, wish they would work faster.
> >
> >It seems that I have weird little toes, they both turn under my  feet -
> >always have, and I thought that  was normal, apparently not - and in the
> >last few weeks that has meant that I've essentially been walking on my
> >toenails.  That explains the excruciating pain when I walk.  May have to
> >go to a podiatrist - the thought makes me physically ill.  I cannot bear
> >people fiddling with my feet - or even touching them.  I've spoken to a
> >few others with CP in the last couple of years who also have this
> >difficulty.  Does anyone else have problems with this, or have any ideas
> >as to the cause - physical or psychological?
> >
> >Rayna
> >
> >--
> >
> >Email: [log in to unmask]
> >http://www.livejournal.com/users/bookgirlwa/
> >
> >Yahoo Messenger: bookgirlwa
> >IM: bookgirlwa
> >ICQ: 205888629