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