Hey! They Don't Look Disabled!

My sister & one of my business partners, Allyson found this great article on an equally great website Invisible Illness.

Hey! They Don't LOOK Disabled!

Who Is Allowed To Park In those Disabled Parking Spaces, Anyway?

Have you ever seen someone get out of a car parked in a space reserved for the disabled, who did not LOOK disabled? Did it make you very uncomfortable or even upset? Did you let them know of your disapproval by giving them a dirty look or yelling something at them?

Well, you are not alone. Many people are very disturbed by the sight of a seemingly mobile person stealing the space of someone who is truly in need of it. After all, we want to protect the rights of people for whom these spaces are reserved!

However, in wanting to help those who deserve these parking spaces, we actually may be hurting someone who does have a legal right and a legitimate need to park there. How can this be true, you ask? Isn’t it obvious who is and who is not disabled? The answer is... NO.

The qualifications for the general accessible parking spaces include those using chairs, walkers, crutches and canes, as well as some whose impairments are not always so obvious to the onlooker. I refer to these impairments which cause disabilities that are not so apparent from the outside, as "invisible disabilities."

There are thousands of people who are forced to contend with serious illnesses, injuries and circumstances, which have left them with mountains to climb every time they take a step. Most people do not realize that a person can have hindrances that come from the inside and may not even be visible on the outside. Their restrictions may not be conspicuous at a glance, but their pain, limitations and inability to function normally is all very debilitating in reality.

Click here to read the whole article
by Written by Sherri L. Connell, BA
Copyright © 1997, Revised 2002
The Invisible Disabilities Advocate

Relief For Spasticity?

A product that helps take the edge off Spasticity? Well, it has for me! I posted a teaser on our message board about this because I have wanted to give it a fair shot. I didn't want to just try the product twice and tell everyone it's great or it stinks.

Let me tell you a bit of history:
I have MS - officially diagnosed last summer. I have been taking Tizanidine/Zanaflex for a couple of years now for tightness, etc. in my legs - primarily my left leg. Most recently - the toes on my left foot are really going nuts. So tight... sometimes I just think they will never feel right again. :(

A great friend of mine owns an online store and he sells vitamins and supplements for endurance athletes, which is something I am sooooo not! LOL! (He has been talking about creating a new area of his site for CAMs (Complimentary & Alternative Meds), which I am very excited about.)
... So, I was wandering through his site and noticed a product called Sportlegs. He had some info that Sportlegs has been known to help with RLS or Restless Leg Syndrome. Well, I do get restless legs...restless body really, but I thought what if this stuff ever helped with spasticity!?On his site, Sportlegs is described (in part) like this:

How's it work?
Taken an hour before sports, SportLegs gently raise your blood lactate level just enough to
prevent your muscles from making more lactic acid than they need. Elevated blood
lactate is the signal which tells muscles not to make so much lactic acid.
Researchers have discovered it's not lactic acid, but lactic acid accumulation,
which is the athlete's real enemy. The result: Your muscles don't make more
lactic acid than they need for you to perform at your very best, with less
painful muscle "burn" during sports, and less soreness afterward.

I thought "what the heck!? My legs burn and spasm!" So - I tried it. Let me also add here that since my insurance benefits have stopped and I have not hopped on the COBRA train yet, I have been OUT of my Zanaflex/Tizanidine for about a month. I was running to the mailbox every day like I was a kid expecting a personal acknowledgement of my letter to Santa from the man himself. I took 3 pills when I got them, and I kid you not - it was the most comfortable evening I have had in a long time. I realized my mind was not CONSTANTLY on the discomfort of my legs and feet, but actually enjoying watching some prime time TV! (probably CSI Miami, but that's another blog post for another day!)

I am not saying they always take the pain away completely. But they really seem to always take the edge off. I suppose it's like anything else - I guess some days my legs/foot bother me more than others, so some days the supplements will seem to work more than others. I can truly say that I have noticed a difference - and ESPECIALLY at a time where I am out of my other meds - I think that speaks volumes. Most of the time I will take them with some Advil.

I highly, highly recommend trying Sportlegs. We are adding a page for product reviews (products other than CC store items) for things like supplements, books, websites, services and other merchandise of interest for the Chronique. We will be sure to put Sportlegs up as soon as we get the page up and running.

Like I said to myself - what did I have to lose? I am really glad I tried it.

Stay Well & Happy Saturday!

The Importance of Living Well for the Chronique

I stumbled upon this great article that I think speaks to a topic we are all aware of, but one that we could all stand to be reminded of. Be Well!

Living with chronic illness impacts one’s physical, psychological, emotional,
and spiritual well-being. Living with chronic illness often causes one to feel
helpless and hopeless, discouraged and isolated. It can devastate one’s career
and financial security, friendships and love relationships, creativity,
concentration, motivation, and one’s very peace of mind.

It is important now and useful long-term, to remain as active, social, and productive as possible. That means focus on what you can do and let go of what you can no longer do. Create priorities for your body, mind, heart, and soul.

Ancient philosophers and healers recognized that the body and the mind were one. Modern research confirms this body/mind connection. In the last 15 years, Western medicine has coined a term for what the ancients knew: psychoneuroimmunology. Harvard Medical School now publishes a professional journal called Mind/Body Medicine. Studies show that improved physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being stimulate an innate healing response in the body. It is possible to create a healthier
lifestyle that will promote wellness. The key is to balance the physical,
psychological, emotional, and spiritual aspects of your life.

Improving and maintaining physical well-being includes proper nutrition, rest, and exercise. It means carefully selecting the activities in which you participate and the
people with whom you spend time to ensure that you are making good choices about
expending energy and making the most of each day.

Paying attention to the psychological and emotional aspects of your life includes becoming a good observer of your thoughts, feelings, and how/what you feel in your body. This is a time to allow yourself to experience, examine, and express your thoughts and feelings in an honest and forthright way.

Accurately expressing yourself is one of the most important aspects of living with chronic illness. No one will know how you feel and what you can reasonably be expected to do or not do unless
you tell people directly. Value yourself and take ownership of your feelings,
and thoughts, your resources and choices.

Honor and express your deepest truth and make what you say and how you say it match what you feel. Say your real “yes” and your real “no” and say what you feel without blaming or needing to please others. Don’t avoid saying what is in your heart or on your mind to say. Don’t hide your worries and concerns because you don’t want others to know you are not in control.

Accessing your spiritual nature can be as easy as watching the sunset or taking a walk through a beautiful garden. You might also consider meditation, yoga, chanting, or praying. Whether you call it God, the Universe, higher power, or “the force” a la Steven Spielberg, it is quite comforting and healing to experience the inner peace that is uniquely you.

Sitting in the quiet and allowing your attention to flow inward is very
foreign to men and women in the Western world. It is, however, a fundamental
practice if one is to develop and maintain health and well-being, inside and
outside.

Human beings are resilient and adaptable. When faced with seemingly
insurmountable tasks, we rise to the occasion. Chronic illness often motivates
us to re-evaluate and reconsider every aspect of life; to review and change
habits, goals, choices, and decisions.

This review includes everything from food choices, career/work, social relationships and recreational activities, to including naps and going to sleep earlier. Now is the time to create a more flexible schedule and intentionally pace yourself.

Determination and persistence will enable you to stay motivated through the tough times, and stay involved in activities that are meaningful and joyful. Maintaining your sense of humor is essential.

Invite people into your life who are kind, respectful, and compassionate. Stay away from well-meaning, well-intentioned people who have an agenda for you and can’t see you or hear you accurately.

This is the opportunity to create the changes in your life that will bring meaning to every day and cause you to choose and maintain a lifestyle that promotes and sustains your well-being: physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual.

While chronic illness may close some doors, it will no doubt open others. Take good
care! You’re worth it. Remember, only YOU can make it happen!

Copyright
Dr. Jackie Black 1999-2005
If you like this article, please read more about Dr. Jackie’s
relationship dating advice and help for issues and problems.
This article may be re-published with appropriate attribution to the author including name, web site, email address and telephone number.
Check out Dr. Jackie's Podcasts here: http://www.relationshiptalkpodcast.com/
Check out Dr. Jackie's Blog here: http://www.askdrjackie.com/
1.866.419.5928
Article
Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dr._Jackie_Black