https:\/\/jnnp.bmj.com\/content\/89\/8\/808<\/a>.\u00a0 My symptoms match the article line for line.<\/p>\n\n\n\nWe have not reaped significant benefits from this revelation, but I now know how to target my research.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Spasm fighting successes and limitations<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
We have developed a method of terminating spasms and named it the Abort! Protocol.\u00a0 However, the implementation of Abort! comes with a price and has definite limitations.\u00a0 Its use is a liberator and a wolf at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Successes of the Abort! Protocol:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n- Takes about 15 minutes to stop significant muscle spasms.
<\/li> - Consists of commercially available supplements.<\/li>
- Is based on a protocol used by power-lifting professionals.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
Limitations of the Abort! Protocol:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n- Does not prevent spasticity from increasing to dramatic levels.
<\/li> - Does not prevent muscles from being damaged from light to severe spasms.\u00a0 However, it does lessen the damage.
<\/li> - Masks the damage done to the muscle providing the patient with a false sense of wellness.<\/li>
- Is far from clinically proven and thus may have many foreboding and elusive consequences.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
I see using the Abort! Protocol in the future for two callings:\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
- Disrupting the cycle of events.\u00a0 The “lightning spasms” are per se, incredibly painful and disheartening.\u00a0 Anything that can be done to kill those damn things is worth its weight in gold.
<\/li> - Enabling me to attend a social event, such as a Chamber of Commerce event, watching my daughter perform on the field or attending a religious service.\u00a0<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n
A daily implementation is not wise, as it gives you a sense of false-wellness while you are doing more harm to your body as time progresses. I am going to self-impose a 1:2 or 1:3 use:recovery ratio in my implementation of the Abort! Protocol.\u00a0 A small bad for normal people equates to a huge bad for myself, as my wife so duly reminded me.\u00a0 I love her.\u00a0 She is a source of strength for me that I can’t see living without.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ability versus Limitations<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
What a dichotomous relationship!\u00a0 Both are on the increase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Abilities:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n- Driving is on the increase<\/li>
- Social event attendance is on the increase<\/li>
- Independence is on a very slow slope of an increase — due to the ability of my disorder to take me down in less than twenty-five minutes, my independence is severely limited.\u00a0 I don’t go off-grid for more than fifteen minutes at a time.\u00a0 We use the smartphone application Life360 to provide us with constant location services.\u00a0 The ability for my wife to know my location is for my own good.\u00a0 My ability to see her location is for my peace of mind.\u00a0 I sometimes get very scared in an event.\u00a0 If I see that she is making her way home, I don’t call.\u00a0 I know my knight is coming.<\/li>
- Self-maintenance of personal hygiene is increasing.\u00a0 I can shave more often and standing showers seem to be the thing.\u00a0 Using a chair in the shower introduces muscle manipulations that cause latent damage.\u00a0 This initiates a series of events that cause a downfall later.\u00a0 Standing showers with special tools allows me to completely accomplish the task and dry off the fastest and with least amount of damage.\u00a0 Showering remains an intensive event, but we have identified the least-damaging method.<\/li>
- Mental focus is increasing.\u00a0 I am thinking considerably more clearly.\u00a0 Execution is problematic.\u00a0 If I was a noble and had a squire, I could really get things done.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Limitations:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n- Driving is only capable for local trips of less than fifteen minutes in one direction.\u00a0 An extended stay may require a ride home and abandonment of my vehicle with later retrieval.<\/li>
- Neuropathy is on a grand increase.\u00a0 I am hoping this is a matter of perspective.\u00a0 I have lessened the amount of time which I am in pain levels greater than 6\/10.\u00a0 I am hoping this is the reason I am recognizing an increase in the neuropathic symptoms.\u00a0 My fingers are numb.\u00a0 The left side of my tongue is numb.\u00a0 Ghosts are on a significant rise.\u00a0 I generally have a ghost sensation at some random location on my body at any given time.<\/li>
- Self injuries are on the rise.\u00a0 Biting my tongue is the greatest increase.<\/li>
- Muscle damage and fatigue are on the rise.\u00a0 We are making valiant efforts to stave off muscle atrophy, I feel we are failing.<\/li>
- Internal tremors are here to stay.\u00a0 In the past they were an occasional aggravation. Currently, they are with me nearly all the time.\u00a0 I concede I must get used to them.\u00a0 I don’t believe they indicate anything.\u00a0 The only definitive<\/em> time I don’t have them is during an event.\u00a0 I may go short periods without having them.\u00a0 However, I have accepted that they are a part of my makeup and are here to stay.<\/li>
- Typing is taking a hit.\u00a0 I’m working on voice recognition.\u00a0 I’ve purchased a version of Dragon Dictate and it is working at an acceptable level.<\/li>
- Handwriting is at a premium.\u00a0 I can see it fading.\u00a0 I am handwriting as much as I can as to prolong the departure of this ability.\u00a0 I do like writing with my quill pens.<\/li>
- Feeding myself.\u00a0 I am looking into purchasing fat-handled eating utensils as operating traditional utensils are about 75% of the time a difficulty.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Spirituality and Personal Well-Being<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
I am blessed to be held by some of the most wonderful people in the planet.\u00a0 In a serious state of irony is that two of the most my most influential spiritually uplifting people are atheists.\u00a0 They hold me in my spirituality and don’t let me slide.\u00a0 I don’t know if they are doing this purposefully, although, I suspect this is a willing and skillful effort they are independently making.\u00a0 They respect my belief structure as I respect theirs.\u00a0 Amazing in this day and age that people will show respect for one another.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I cried after receiving Communion, in Church, under my own effort.\u00a0 My friend caught me and made sure they were tears of joy, not sadness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After serious discussions with my wife and counselor, we have extended my counseling visits from twice- to once-a-month.\u00a0 The reason for once-a-month visits is that I am scared of the future and its wary landscape of the unknowns.\u00a0 I am fine now.\u00a0 But, what about the next damning revelation.\u00a0 I don’t know if I, personally, am strong enough to deal with it.\u00a0 Thus, I am keeping my counselor “on the payroll” so-to-speak.\u00a0 She is another amazing woman that I can’t imagine the future without.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I have accepted the bulk of my blood-relatives do not accept the severity of what I am going through and likely never will.\u00a0 More’s the pity on them.\u00a0 As you can tell by the number of personalities I have mentioned in this summary, I am not in short supply of support people.\u00a0 I’ve only been able to slip in a few.\u00a0 There are so many more of them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I would say my personal and mental well-being is at the highest point in the last two, or more, years.\u00a0 I feel we are settling in for the long haul.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What we don’t know<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n