Vim & Vigor - Winter 2011 - North Mississippi - (Page 55)

the next one. “Each one has been something different,” says Spencer, who is now 26 and has several ﬂare-ups under his belt. “Some have affected my vision, my speech, my equilibrium—one affected my right side so much that I could barely walk.” One cost him his job because he wasn’t able to work for several weeks. CALL PROMOTING INDEPENDENCE THROUGH REHABILITATION Some ﬂare-ups have required physical, occupational and speech therapy at North Mississippi Medical Center’s Outpatient Rehabilitation Center. “Because we cannot alter the disease, the primary goal of therapy is to reduce impairments and promote independence,” says Lee Ann Holt, Spencer’s physical therapist. “We educate patients about complications of MS in order to reduce or prevent those complications and improve quality of life. “Brian came to us with left-sided weakness, decreased coordination and decreased endurance, and our physical therapy sessions were aimed at NMMC physical, occupational and speech therapists treat a wide variety of conditions, including MS and other neurological conditions. For more information about rehabilitation services offered through NMMC hospitals, nursing homes and home health, call 800-THE DESK (800-843-3375) or visit www.nmhs.net/locations.php. Beneﬁt from Rehab reducing these impairments. He worked hard and quickly reached his therapeutic goals.” Speech therapists Brigitta Walker and Alicia Crosswhite treated Spencer when a ﬂare-up hindered his ability to speak clearly. “Weakness and decreased coordination interfered with his ability to move his tongue and mouth,” Walker says. “Because of Brian’s MS, we taught him exercises to not only strengthen his muscles for speech clarity but also to avoid other issues—like swallowing problems known as dysphagia—that are associated with oral muscular decline.” Lean on Me Allison Holloway first saw a sign about the hospital’s Multiple Sclerosis Support Group in her neurologist’s office. “I was having numbness on one side of my body,” says the 42-year-old Tupelo resident who was diagnosed in 2003. “The symptoms would come and go, but soon my walking was getting worse.” Some of the members have had MS for 20 to 30 years, while others are newly diagnosed. Attendance varies from three to a dozen, she says, “because with MS, sometimes you have good days and sometimes you don’t.” The group occasionally entertains speakers. “But oftentimes we just sit around and talk,” Holloway says. “Those are some of the best meetings.” Simply sharing the burden is therapeutic. “MS is such a tricky disease,” she says. “It’s scary, but it’s nice to know there are other people you can talk to and relate to.” The Multiple Sclerosis Support Group meets at 6:30 p.m. the second Thursday of each month in North Mississippi Medical Center’s Wellness Center classroom, 1030 S. Madison St. For more information, call 800-THE DESK (800-843-3375) or visit www.nmhs.net/support_groups.php. Allison Holloway Vim & Vigor · WI NTER 2011 55 http://www.nmhs.net/locations.php http://www.nmhs.net/support_groups.php

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Winter 2011 - North Mississippi

Vim & Vigor - Winter 2011 - North Mississippi
Contents
Opening Thoughts
Getting Back to Life
ACT Now!
Lingering Memories
Accumulating Accolades
Back in Action
Supplementary Knowledge
Keys to Survival
Clearing the Air
Mark Harmon of NCIS fame makes 60 look good
This One’s for the Girls
Life After a Loss
Do Your Diabetes Homework
Healthy Returns
Care for the Caregiver
Gaining Control
Moving Forward
Catch the Spirit

Vim & Vigor - Winter 2011 - North Mississippi