autoimmune

“The surgery gave me a lot of hope,” said the 56-year-old singer of "Live Until I Die" and other hits. “Am I walking perfect? No. Am I walking better? Absolutely."

After 30 years of living with MS, Walker said that the disease was starting to progress and affect his day-to-day life. Due to MS, Walker experiences spasticity, a chronic tightness in the muscles that often results in good fatigue, pain and mobility problems. MS causes different symptoms in every patient but spasticity is a common one.

“At the beginning of the year, I noticed I was having a lot of difficulty with balance and walking, and it really started to worry me,” Walker said. “I knew I had to do something.”

In a procedure that has been around for decades, the surgery implants a hockey-puck-sized baclofen pump that periodically releases muscle-relaxant medicine to help with muscle spasms and tension. The pump is set to individual, very personalized doses and schedules to release baclofen into the system throughout the day and night, as needed. Baclofen is most often taken orally in tablets, but when that is ineffective, the pump is a great alternative to get hold of out-of-control pain and spasticity tightness. While the baclofen tablets often contain 10 mg or so, the pump feeds baclofen directly into the spinal fluid and requires only very small but powerful doses.

For Walker, the results speak for themselves. "I got on a treadmill the other day without a harness holding me up to keep from falling, and I walked for five minutes," he said. "That is progress."

He acknowledges that he still has issues with balance, but he's working through with the resolve of someone who has managed remaining relapsing MS since 1996. His Clay Walker Foundation throws a huge benefit in Houston every year, helping those with MS afford the services they need.

Source: "Why This County Star Feels ‘Blessed’ as He Battles Multiple Sclerosis" by Gavin Boyle, Movieguide.com.

#PainManagement #Spasticity #Baclofen #BaclofenPump #ClayWalker #MultipleSclerosis #MightyTogether #newlydiagnosed #Disability #Caregiving #autoimmune

My medical group could not safely get me and other patients onto the DEXA bone scan machine, so last year I got no test. This year they wanted to send me on a 70-mile trip to the closest accessible machine. I spoke up for two years, and this year doctor backed me up, and since then I've followed up with phone calls and emails to a few administrators.

Today I received an email: They're funding an accessible bone scan machine for next year.

Groovy! I'm celebrating with a box of Cap'n Crunch Peanut Butter Crunch.

#selfadvocacy #MultipleSclerosis #MightyTogether #newlydiagnosed #Disability #Caregiving #autoimmune

Including vets and service members living with MS, family, friends and carepartners.

On the Third Thursday of every month.

Contacts: Deanna Deschenes, veteran.ms.group@gmail.com, 910-508-8805. Ashley Lee, ashley.lee4518@gmail.com, 517-499-6400.

Do you have any vets in your life to thank today?

#Military #Veterans #MultipleSclerosis #MightyTogether #newlydiagnosed #Disability #Caregiving #autoimmune

Including vets and service members living with MS, family, friends and carepartners.

On the Third Thursday of every month.

Contacts: Deanna Deschenes, veteran.ms.group@gmail.com, 910-508-8805. Ashley Lee, ashley.lee4518@gmail.com, 517-499-6400.

Do you have any vets in your life to thank today?

#Military #Veterans #MultipleSclerosis #MightyTogether #newlydiagnosed #Disability #Caregiving #autoimmune

1-4 p.m. ET – Educational Session + Conversation

featuring Anita McPherson, MS Navigator, Natl MS Society – Financial Planning; and Ricky Maxwell, Support Group Leader – Social Connections.

events.zoom.us/ev/AsDHTn9R21HoRK8BdoO1AAkL0eSwz6-8c5xdHLGGQN...

#BlackMSExperience #MultipleSclerosis #MightyTogether #newlydiagnosed #Disability #Caregiving #autoimmune

She's dealt with real lows, but with education, support and mentorship, she now works with a congressperson while speaking out and mentoring other veterans and those with MS.

Do you have a special veteran in your life? Remember to celebrate them this Nov. 11.

Here are veteran resources from the MS Society: www.nationalmssociety.org/resources/get-support/find-support...

#veteran #MultipleSclerosis #MightyTogether #newlydiagnosed #Disability #Caregiving #autoimmune

Got questions about MS & vaccines? On Thurs. 11/6 you can Ask an MS Expert live at 11 AM CST, streaming on FB, YouTube & Twitch. Links: www.nationalmssociety.org/how-you-can-help/get-involved/cale...

#vaccines #MultipleSclerosis #MightyTogether #newlydiagnosed #Disability #Caregiving #autoimmune

To Gina Schuh, 40, a Mesa, Arizona real estate investor and a quadriplegic from a diving accident, it was never a question of whether or not to dress up with her wheelchair. “Oh, heck no. I think I went even bigger because of it,” she says. “I think [the costumes] are my claim to fame."

Many of us who use mobility aids have struggled at times with others’ staring. There’s something joyous then about costuming you and your cane/chair together and encouraging even more staring but on your terms. This is me. This is my chair/cane. Also, my costume’s better than yours.

Check out the hilarious pics in the article and comments.

They Came from Planet Wheelchair! How Costuming Your Wheelch...

#MultipleSclerosis #MightyTogether #newlydiagnosed #Disability #Caregiving #autoimmune

Some really valuable MS life-skills. Things like self-advocacy and "staying active" took me years to learn.

www.healthcentral.com/condition/multiple-sclerosis/tips-for-...

#MultipleSclerosis #MightyTogether #newlydiagnosed #Disability #Caregiving #autoimmune