I hope I can make this question clear.
I am now 10 weeks into this new paralysis world and I have a few questions that I hoped you guys could answer. First of all, let me restate that I have Progressive MS and that is why I am paralyzed. Secondly, let me say that I am 7 months pregnant. On top of that, I am now paralyzed from my waist down. So, there is some health overlapping here that I am not sure what is what. Maybe you guys can help me figure it out.

For example, my legs have been swelling ever since this happened. they also get ice cold. the hotter it gets, my legs swell more than they feel cold (to the external touch - I can not feel them internally). Now, I know your legs swell in pregnancy, but my legs are swelling up past my knees. They are normal size when I wake up but after about an hour, they start swelling. This did not start until I became paralyzed. So, I don't know if it is paralysis or being pregnant.

I have two things that I am really wondering about. First of all, are my hands. I have good use of my hands, but since I have become paralyzed, they are feel very stiff. I don't know if this is MS or if it is because I am not using my hands like I have never used them before. Like you know when you transfer and you need a little more height, you tend to get up on your knuckles, or just holding your wheels really tight to keep yourself slowed down as your going down a steep ramp or just pushing yourself with your hands all day. My hands don't hurt (at first they did) but now they just feel really stiff. I bend and stretch my fingers all day to try to keep them limber. Just wondering if any else has this issue.

Secondly, it seemed that at first, I was very uncomfortable in my chair after just a while. Now, for the last several weeks, I LOVE laying down in the bed, but when I try to roll over in the bed, my back and hips feel SO tight that I can hardly roll. I can't figure out why this would be. I have had children so this is not my first pregnancy. While rolling over can get more awkward the bigger you get, this is not the issue. It feels like the top of my hips and my lower back are so stiff and tight that it takes me a while to get repositioned and it is very painful. Could this be spasticity of some sort? My right ankle will sometimes go straight out and my toes will kind of curl up when I am really tired and transfer or get into bed. It will also do this if my legs get bumped really hard. Keeping shoes on helps this not to happen. So, I know a little spasticity is going on with my right foot, but I don't know about my back and hips.

Hopefully, you all can shed a little light. Thank you!!








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Leg swelling is common in pregnancy, and common in people with inhibited mobility, but it IS a symptom of very serious medical problems. The best bet would be to rely on a doctor for that one, espescially since it's relatively new.

As for the stiffness in your hip, if you want to check for spascticity have someone with you feel the underlying muscles while you are resting, and then feel them while you are manuevering in bed. It's usually plain to tell if the muscle is straining itself needlessly. If it is, chances are it's spastic.