I started going numb from the waist down in 2003. I just thought there must be a little nerve damage in my back. In 2007, the lack of balance, falling down for no apparent reason, then ultimately the back pain finally drove me to the dr. After 3 MRIs & a spinal tap, I was dx with PPMS. By that time, I had progressed so far already that I had to quit my job the same month I was dx! A big part of that, though, was my bosses not having any human understanding, nor compassion! After I was dx, my neuro & I were still trying to regulate my meds & get my symptoms under control & my bosses were gonna write me up for missing too much work! They both knew ppl with MS & those ppl had had it for years & were still doing fine; one couldn't even tell they were sick! So, of course, I had to be "milking" my symptoms & dx! Of course, the ones they knew with MS had RRMS! I was heartsick for so long after having to quit! I LOVED that job! I was program director for the local ABC affiliate.

When I applied for social security disability & got approved within 6 weeks of applying the FIRST time, I thought to myself, "Boy, I must REALLY be messed up!" lol! I had heard so many horror stories about ppl who legitimately can't work, but have to spend years & lots of time dealing with attorneys being consistantly denied!

Since then, I've gone steadily downhill, smetimes having to stay in bed all day, except to crawl to th restroom. The days that I can walk normally & no one noice that there's something wrong with me are gone. I can only walk upright if I have at least 20mg of pain meds & some muscle relaxers in me. Even then, my brain tells my body where to go, but my body will decide it wants to go over this other way for a min! LOL! I can't stand nor walk for very long. The longer I sit, the longer it takes for me to stand up & stretch enough to be able to walk at all. Sometimes my muscles get so tight & spasm so badly, it takes me about 10 min to be able to stretch out & lay down.

That's where I am today, anyway. FYI: I love to make new friends & it helps so much to talk to ppl who also have PPMS & know how lonely it feels to know that no one around you understands what you're going through!