sunshine221

Jeri -

For better or worse we're not allow to give direct contact info on these boards. But it does sound like your case is similar to mine. In the year before I was diagnosed and had surgery I did a lot of travel - some of the airports have escalators and I was having increasing problems (balance, vertigo) with them to the point that I had to take alternatives and at the time I didn't understand why. I've traveled after surgery and I've been fine.

Before surgery I was told that there was no promises about fixing the gait (walking) problem but the surgery would decompress the spinal cord and eliminate the danger of symptoms getting worse and possible paralysis. As mentioned above the balance issues are better as are some numbness, tremors - the last two are not gone totally but are getting noticably better. Also my right side was noticably weaker than the left both in neurological terms and physically. This is significantly improved but I still find myself doing some things lefty (like brushing my teeth) that I probably used to do righty. I'm a fast typist and before surgery I was making typos that were definitly due to my left hand moving faster than the right - this is also significantly improved, but I can still tell that I type easier on the left hand than the right.

So that leaves the gait issues. Far from perfect - probably 50% better than before surgery. The PT pretty much said there's not much he can do (I've seen three different PT over the past year) so I'm following their basic instruction and doing water walking (40min 4-5days/wk), treadmill (30min/day 5-7 days/wk), Curves (30min 3-6 days/wk), stationary bike - 10min/day once I get it repaired (part on order), leg weight and balance exercises (every other day, 5 pound weights). I walk outside - 1mile round trip when I can, usually sat and sun and my husband wants us to take the bikes out more. I also want to try tennis and golf again - its been two years since I've really done either because of these problems.

The doctor's official view is "give it a year." At least once a day, usually, but not always, in the morning, I seem to take 20-25 good steps so it does give me hope.

He has me scheduled to see a "physical and rehabilitation" doctor, but the first opening is in July.

Good luck Jeri -- the surgery is probably a good thing, it will stabilize your spinal cord and hopefully improve the gait and balance.

-Gloria