Thanks Ann for keeping things upto speed for me. I am not 100% yet but have had some answers as to why things are going wrong!
I was particularly interested in this email because it contains that 'old chestnut' Arach \"will shorten your life by 12 years\". This came about by a particular review of research documents by a chap called Guyer. The Doc has him referenced somewhere and a quick search should find it. It was the most appalling rubbish I have read and was only highlighted because of the scare tactics it could produce. The bottom line here is that there has not been a good quality study of Arachnoiditis, it's causes or outcomes. As one consultant said famously about Myodil victims - \"Why should we, they are a dying breed anyway\"!
As for is it progressive? I asked the doc to do this article for me, as it was always one of the biggest worries on the helpline. As you know I am not medically qualified but - Having talked personally to thousands of people, diagnosed and undiagnosed - my opinion is that in the main it is not progressive but as we get older - we cope with it less well. That is not the same as saying we give into it - not true for many people.Our bodies are older and we also tend to compensate movements to help relieve the pain. Our Immune Systems are wearing this. I know that someone only has to sneeze in the same room and I am practically down with pneumonia!
As for a wheelchair - well that will be your sisters choice and what suits her. I am not in a wheelchair and that does put some limits in my life. I would love to visit the Eden Project here in England but know I couldn't manage the walk. Some people tell me that's selfish of me, well maybe it is but it is how I want to live my life now. That's all I have got. There may come a time when the benefits out weigh my reluctance to give up my mobility but I think I will recognise that time when or if it comes.
Here ended the layman lesson!
That's all I can manage for now
Be back soon
Kim