difficulty walking

[kristine1]

Hello,
I was born with mild CP and am now 37yrs old. My disabilities resultant from CP include balance and coordination problems. I had my achilles tendon stretched when I was seven and for the most part, have been managing well. This summer we visited the Great Smoky Mountains and went on a hike that I thought was 21/2 miles but turned out to be 5miles. I had a good deal of pain in my left hip, knee, and foot after that and recently am having difficulty walking as my left leg doesn't cooperate. It is as if it stiffens and drags when I try to walk. I also experience knee tremors when walking down stairs. I have also had MS for 18yrs and that affects my right side. I feel this new problem is related to the CP due to the weakness and lack of muscle tone on that side. My question is, did I further weaken that leg when we went on our hike, or am I just getting older and that side is deteriorating faster than is normal? Thanks for any input you have to offer. Kristine

[lastramy]

Kristine,

Hi, I am 38 with mild CP (hemiplegia). I had very few problems as a child and had my achilles tendon lengthened when I was 17. My problems started a year ago with lower back pain, and a decreased range of motion. I went to PT and there they discovered that I was also dropping my foot a lot and leg getting stiff.
I now wear a leg brace to help with that and I get botox shots in lower leg. The botox gives mixed results for me but the brace really has helped with my gait, the dropped foot and I am able to stay up on it longer with the brace. This summer I went to the Rockies and did some climbing and biking and had a good time. I am not a doctor, but your situations sounds verry very much like mine. I am being told that it is age related and the body is having a harder time with the compensation mechanism. I have a whole regiment of stretches that I do now and I go to the gym twice a week to keep the range of motion from getting worse. I still get episodes of pain, tightness and fatigue that I wish someone would help me with so tomorrow I am trying a massage therapist to see if they can push back the pain levels.
It probably wouldn't hurt to foolow up with your doctors on this especially since there is MS involovement as well. Good luck Kristine and keep me posted on how everything goes for you. There actually are quite a few of us all in the same age range with similar issues on this healthboard so you are not alone. Welcome aboard!

Hang in there,
Lastramy

[kristine1]

Lastramy,
Thank you for the reply, and I apologize for being slow in responding. The start of the school year has slowed me down. I appreciate your input and thank you again for taking the time to answer my question. I will bring this subject up at my next appointment with my neuro. Until then, I will be careful and try not to fall.
Sincerely, Kris

[lastramy]

Kris,

Not a problem. I wish you luck with your doctor appointments and with your schooling.

I also appreciated the response back too.

Lastramy

[mojonator]

Hey there,

This is just a suggestion you may want to "retire" from walking. If you do retire from walking and get a wheelchair then you should be good to go. You won't be wasting energy on walking. You won't get tire midday anymore.

Kurt