Charcot Marie Tooth CMT

pictured is my leg brace, known as an AFO, to support my ankles and legs

In 2012, I broke 3 bones in my foot, 3 toes, and ruptured my Achilles. I had twisted my foot walking and all of me came down on my foot. I got to ride in an ambulance for the first time ever. My foot was numb and I turned down the offers of pain medication. Shortly after, I had my foot repaired. The toes they couldn't fix. And we were unaware of the ruptured Achilles. I didn't walk for 5 months, even after months of physical therapy. I was unable to put my right foot down. Due to my lack of judgment I rushed to return to work. I had begun to experience burning in my foot early after breaking it. The doctor had no idea what was going on. He tested me for diabetes. I healed up the best I could, working full time and being a mom and wife/caretaker. In 2013, I had my Achilles repaired. Shortly after, I was diagnosed with Charcot Marie Tooth, CMT. This was the cause of the burning in my foot. I was born with this genetic mutation, usually passed by fathers to their daughters. It affects more women than men. Upon research I realized I'd always had some symptoms, but when I broke my foot everything escalated. In myself it's caused memory issues, muscle atrophy, peripheral neuropathy, intense pain, lack of coordination, sudden spastic muscle responses (like flinging something suddenly), blurred vision, slurred speech,  and weakness in my hands, feet, legs, arms. I have a very high arch on both feet, which can be a sign. I have difficulty keeping on weight, which explains why I am smallish. Stress makes it worse. Exercise and meditation help. As does acupuncture. I do not take pain medication. As much as I hate having CMT, its taught me gratitude and patience. I can no longer move a mountain in a day, nor do I try to. I drop things. I fall almost daily. I give myself grace in those times. That's another indication of CMT, being clumsy. I have been teased for how clumsy I am, turned out it's a medical condition. Be kind because you never know where someone is, Ceeeej 

Comments

  1. AnonymousDecember 5, 2022 at 10:17 AM

    I feel ya girl! You’re well aware of my car accident and we’ve talked about it. I have a brace that looks Rey much like yours. I have a condition that’s called “foot drop” where my foot doesn’t pull up when I take a step, so trip on my toes. The brace doesn’t let my foot drop now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. CEEEEJDecember 6, 2022 at 12:50 AM

      Thank you for your comment! I'm just working on getting as strong as possible. I've definitely tripped over my own toes. I hate the braces, but they are helping.

      Delete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Very Long Time Ago

Image
My mom recently sent me this picture of me from about 45 years ago. She found it in my grandma's prayer book. (She was a Catholic) It made me think back to this little girl. She was small and thin. She didn't smile often, because of silver caps on her teeth, thus the tightly pursed lips. Thankfully they were on her baby teeth. She was serious and contemplative, but could be silly and playful. She had a dry sense of humor. She loved who she loved, and protected those people fiercely. She was the youngest at this time. She adored her dad, her mom, her maternal grandparents and her brother. Her parents were separated by the time she was 3. She left her home when she was about 4. She was angry and scared, but she was excellent at hiding her feelings. She felt ugly and self conscious. She hated what she saw in the mirror, especially her hair. She was awkward and clumsy. She was already a badass, though, she didn't know that yet. She was intelligent and sharp witted.
Read more

Gratitude

Image
Good day to you all. I hope this finds you well. Kids are returning to school, and summer is apparently coming to a close. The days are not as hot in the presert, and the nights are becoming cooler. We've had a little rain, but not nearly enough. The rain has mostly just made it humid. And, yes, the usual dry heat here is very different than when it's humid. I've cleared the 10 days of hell for the 7th time. The fog is beginning to lift on my widow brain. At this, and other tough times, I find that the best thing I can do is to be grateful for the things that aren't shit. I have food, and shelter, and clothes, and animals, and people who love me. I have flowers and trees and food growing in the sand. I am in decent health, all things considered. Gratitude helps to remind us how blessed we are. Not focusing on how much life can be a fucking dumpster fire. It feels like when I am struggling, life becomes more challenging. It must be Murphy's Law. This set
Read more