A Case of the MS Dropsies

Over the years, I’ve written about many of the aspects of living with multiple sclerosis (MS), some of them more than once. I know I’ve written before about dropping everything from glasses to toothbrushes; my fingers just can’t seem to hold on to things anymore! (And please don’t tell me it’s okay to put your toothbrush in the dishwasher. It’s not!)

Of late, I’ve found myself dropping things even more regularly. Everything from items of clothing to pieces of paper, dog toys, and forks — they’re all destined for the deck these days.

I’m not sure if it’s related to the symptom progression I’ve experienced since my hip revision surgery in July. It seems, however, to gel with other MS-related symptoms (old and new) that have made themselves known in the past couple of months.

Easy to Drop, Hard to Pick Up

Even though I’m dropping things a little bit (or a lot) more than normal, it’s not out of the realm of the “new normal” for many of us with MS. What is different for me is my inability to pick up the various items of household flotsam strewn about the place, due to prolonged recovery from the aforementioned surgery.

You see, while MS has left me accustomed to being on the floor due to falls, I can no longer get down there on purpose, at least for now. Hell, even if I could get down, I’d have to stay down until someone very strong and adept in anatomy was around to get me back up.

I’m still using two forearm crutches to get around. I cannot tie my shoes (so I bought slip-ons), let alone even consider putting on my right sock. I have gone through two different assistive devices for that issue, but my dutiful wife, Caryn, seems to be the best option for that disability. I’m still in either sweatpants or pajamas, as trousers would still be difficult to muster, for pity’s sake!

So I’m dropping more things more often and I can’t bend my hips or knees more than 90 degrees for fear of dislocating what took my surgeon five hours to put right. It’s yet another MS conundrum.

Two Dogs and a Reacher to the Rescue

On the positive side of the situation, I have two dogs who will kindly clean up anything edible (or nearly edible) that slips my bonds. If, however, it’s a utensil with food on it that heads down, I’m still left with the same issue after they’ve “cleaned” it for me.

My road-crew-style gripper has been a godsend for almost everything I drop. The problem is, of course, that it has to be within reach when I drop something, and when it’s not, it adds a few minutes (and lots of groans and grunting) to the task to get up, get over to the gripper, and get back to the dropped item.

What Does the Future Hold?

I know I’m not alone in my difficulty, and I know that many of you have been dealing with this or similar issues with your MS for years. I don’t diminish your experience with my version of it. It’s just that one day I could do it — with some difficulty — and the next I couldn’t.

Will I be able to again? The doctors aren’t sure yet. Seems orthopedic surgeons aren’t unlike MS neurologists when it comes to prognosticating eventual outcomes.

So until either my MS calms down and I stop dropping so many things or my flexibility returns and I can bend down to the floor again, I guess it’s dogs and grippers for me.

Wishing you and your family the best of health.

Cheers,

Trevis