Hi, my name is John. And I have CIDP (Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy).
How did you feel when you got your Handicap Sticker for your license plate? Or maybe you chose a placard for your rear-view mirror. I got the latter because you can move it easily from vehicle to vehicle.
Honestly, I never thought the day would come. Although I do remember when I was initially diagnosed with "peripheral neuopathy" -- the idiopathic kind. After a difficult nerve conduction test I was given the terrible news. "You'll just get worse and worse until you need a cane, a walker, and eventually a wheelchair... And there's nothing you can do to prevent it."
No encouragement. No hope. That was a very dark day.
But then I found a neurologist who confirmed after a spinal tap that I had CIDP. And I learned that there were some options. Which is good. Full disclosure: I'm still waiting to try some of those options but I least I have a sparkle of hope that things might improve someday. Maybe in 2024.
I have a disability.
As for the small Handicap Sign (and my constant need for a walker) there's no hiding my condition now. Not that I really want to. But it's still hard to acknowledge how much my life and abilities have changed over such a short time frame.
Of course, the sign helps if and when I can find an actual handicapped parking space to use. But that's not always easy. And some spaces are very tight so it's nearly impossible to squeeze out of the car door with my walker. And sometimes there's no curb cut-out in front of the space to help you get to to the sidewalk. I'm sure you can relate.
My life is real, my difficulties are real, but so is my hope. And so is my support system. Including all of you. I sincerely hope that you're safely getting where you need to go today. And thanks for listening.
John
P.S. If you'd like to follow my Life with Neuropathy blog, visit lifewithneuropathy.blogspot.com. Find the three lines next to the search button in the upper right hand corner. Then click follow. You'll be notified of my future blogs.
P.P.S. To read further thoughts about neuropathy, please visit Let's Talk about Mobility, Let's Talk about Speed, Let's Talk about Changes, or Let's Talk about Giving Thanks. You can also read about Losing Your Doctor and walkers, Saying "Owww" when it hurts, dealing with Pain, or the Humor of finding out your personal walker was a star on the TV show Monk! Finally, if you ever find yourself dropping things like I do, please feel free to read this.
P.P.P.S. I still drop stuff each and every day!
Thanks, Cory Cabral, for the perfect picture. Photo by https://unsplash.com/@cory-cabral.
Thanks for writing this blog. It's based on spine care and all your personal experience. My friend has the same issue, and we got treatment from the spine doctor in Ludhiana; now he is well and using sticks to walk, and soon will be covered.
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