An estimated 350,000 to 500,000 Americans are thought to suffer from multiple sclerosis (MS). Symptoms of MS can range from visual problems or speech difficulties to loss of coordination, numbness, and paralysis. MS is a very difficult disease to diagnose as every patient is unique in the severity and combination of symptoms he or she experiences. Additionally, depending upon type of MS, symptoms can come and go, steadily worsen, or hit hard for a few periods of time and never return. For some MS patients, this can mean years of uncertainty before a diagnosis is made, as no test for MS is completely accurate and most other related illnesses are eliminated.

The symptoms of MS are caused by breaks in the lines of communication between the brain and the other parts of the body. Although a patient may be in peak physical condition, the ability to function is lost when instructions from the brain cannot reach their destination.

Researchers believe that once a person acquires MS, his or her immune system malfunctions and damages or destroys the protective layer surrounding the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. Serving as insulation, this covering -- known as "myelin" -- allows for the uninterrupted flow of nerve impulses which carry messages to the flow of electricity along insulated electrical wires.

When the myelin is affected, the nerve is no longer insulated, causing nerve impulses to "short circuit" before they can complete their journey. The location and extent of damaged myelin determines the type, severity, and duration of each symptom.

Back to my story. It was in June of 1989 when my vision in my right eye completely left. I was diagnosed with Optic Neuritis, an inflammation of the optic nerve. At that time, the Eye Surgeon that treated me, a good personal friend, called me and said I might have MS. Well, I didn't want to believe that. Of the few symptoms he mentioned, I had none of them. I had a bad sinus problem at the time, so we called it a virus that caused it. Besides, I had no health insurance and the MRI's were expensive. I got a prescription for Prednisone and my eyesight returned to, well almost normal. Yup, virus, I knew I didn't have a incurable, dread disease. Until....

I went walking with a friend at a place called Spring Lake Park in Texarkana on the 1st of April, 1995. Well I walked around the lake, I guess nearly a mile and just couldn't go any further. I was kind of dragging my left foot and had some lower back pain. Well I sat it out as my friend made another lap around the park. I remember that day well, the last day I would walk any real distance again. Next day I went to the Chiropractor. For the next few weeks I made several visits to him, with no improvement in my symptoms. It looked like a disc problem in my back. Great! Surgery and back to work. I couldn't wait to get that fixed.

On April 18, 1995 my Chiropractor made an appointment for me to see a Neurosurgeon in Little Rock. He examined me and sent me to Baptist Medical Center for an MRI. After my MRI of my lower back I waited patiently to hear. The surgeon called and ordered another MRI. When I came out he was on the phone. He told me I didn't need a Neurosurgeon; I needed a Neurologist because it looked like I had MS. My episode with Optic Neuritis made the diagnosis pretty certain. I then met with my Neurologist, Dr. Beverly Beadle, a great doctor and a great help through this. She next gave me a spinal tap, and contrary to popular belief, they do hurt. The next day she called an confirmed the findings, I had MS.

The next 2 years were really difficult. I have been on crutches ever since the beginning of April 1995. That has taken a lot to get used to. In January of 1996 my dad died, he was a great man. He spent 11 years in misery with Congestive Heart Disease, due to a lifetime of smoking. He quit in 1985 when he was diagnosed and, even though miserable due to his bad health, he lived years longer than they thought he would. I have found out in many ways how he must have felt during those 11 years. My dad taught me to do the best you could do, only one way to do something, the right way. He was a very honest, intelligent and hard working man and I couldn't have asked for a better dad.

Well it has been over 3 years now, I am still on crutches and have a wheelchair for longer distances and to conserve my energy. Fatigue takes a lot out of me at times. I have been a part of the MSAA's joint Coolsuit project with NASA for about the last year I guess now and I will have my very own suit loaned to me to use here at home by August of this year. Right now I have to drive some 80 miles one way to Hot Springs, AR to INN Research to cool for an hour. Well I have my cool suit now, I guess I got it around October 1998. Read about this and more on the MSAA page. Link to MSAA Page

Well what will happen with MS research, I hope a cure comes one day soon. I really want to walk again, and be able to do the things everyone else takes for granted. Here is a link to another good page on MS information. MS Information (I just learned some new information I am planning on sharing with you about a link with MS and other similar diseases such as Fibromyalgia that I will share with you here shortly so stay tuned and check back often. 1/30/99)

I can't let this get me down you see, you have to think positive about these things and as long as my brain works I decided to start a company here in Hope, Arkansas called Cyberspace Consultants of Hope. I am going to sell new computers, upgrade and repair existing systems and sell printers and peripherals for new and existing systems. Check out my page on Cyberspace Consultants of Hope and I will let you know how I am doing. I always say "If you never try, you will never know what could have been". If you have any comments or suggestions or want to know more about MS, just drop me an email at: cyberspacedave4u@yahoo.com

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