becoming a cripple needing assistance

First, it's good that you believe that you will get well. That is so important. There are many paths to healing and having the mindset that you will heal is beneficial to your body and healing process.

Secondly, I would use your positive thinking when your in public and start to feel uncomfortable.

You said you used to help others that were in the same type of position when you were healthy.

So that tells me you had compassion, caring and a sense of stepping up and helping someone in their time of need.

These people in public that are helping you ...are just like that too. Not pity, but just being a decent human being.

let them show you this love and caring and see if you can accept this idea just as that...not pity but love in caring no matter how small or big the action is.

We all need some type of help once in a while and some more than others...it's ok.

I wish you the best of healing and I hope you have brighter days ahead, sincerely, Jo

Xfmlg, i can totally relate. Before lyme i was strong and healthy. Now the crippling pain has me moving around like a 100 year old man (I'm 45). Some days worse than others. We just have to believe that it will eventually pass with treatment.

I too hate it when people look at me with pity. My mom is really good for that. She says she can't help it when she sees how bad i struggle to just stand up. My wife and kids do as well. It really bothers me when the kids do. I'm dad, supposed to be the strong one. Many lyme patients have gone through this and healed, we will too.

xfmlg- you were highly athletic, which tell me your are likely to have some success with the many variations of myofacial and muscle release to help out while waiting for the critter load to lesson.

Do you do any of that stuff? The list is long. A foam body roller is as good starting point but wont do much as its not aggressive. That's what I had to do every day to to start moving again. Started ten years ago, six years even before finally treating lyme. It helped. I did not get to the point of needing a mechanical assistance, but was almost there.

xfmlg - I can totally understand how you feel...

I don't want to feel like i'm handicapped...I just want to be how I was pre-lyme....


Hang in there!

I don't believe I would be around today had I not taken my treatment into my own hands. I was going down pretty quick. I've done a lot and tried a lot of things that had no effect but I also did a few things that did have some positive effects. Eating as a vegetarian for a month caused me to lose 16 pounds but had a dramatic impact on improving my health. It opened my eyes to the potential that my diet was negatively effecting my health and that animal protein wasn't good for me. It also opened my eyes that diet can hurt or help you. It showed me that diet is an essential part of healing and that I was eating the wrong foods. After 6 months of shoulder pain and an inability to use it functionally, it suddenly didn't hurt anymore. I was able to alter the synovial pH of that shoulder to inhibit the pathogenic growth that had been present. I did it though eating alkaline foods, avoiding acidic foods, and treating myself for a protozoal infection. By altering my diet, I improved the ability of my immune system to work more efficiently and when combined with a reduction of pathogenic load, my health improved.

I am in a state where nothing seems to make things better, but also, things are not getting worse for which i can be thankful. My right knee is double the size of my left good knee. Every step is a pain. I would be lost without my cane. I use the alpine hiking canes. I think they are better because the point of support is higher at shoulder level. My naturpath says that i have been his most difficult case yet re healing my knee from the obvious infection there. 4 years is too long. But i am still hopeful. I guess two days ago things got to me because of the many offers of assistance to me in just getting around. I was angry at myself for not properly acknowledging the offers of assistance. I was real nice about it but inside i was upset with it all. Tomorrow is another day with the naturopath. It did not help when our friendly Canadian tax agency decided to audit all my health bills. Canada has universal health care but other than a short term use of antibiotics is all that is covered by Canada Health. After that you are on your own and the regular medical establishment has in fact gone after medical doctors who do more for lyme patients. Some have had their licenses taken away. Awful. My bout with lyme over the last 4 year is reaching a cost to me of $100,000 canadian and i do not have hardly anything left after my pension. I know i am strong inside. I just do not want to let my emotions get the better of me now that i am basically a cripple. I cannot and should not be a bitter grouchy old man. So i grit my teeth and soldier on. Thanks for the support. Yes, i am also trying new things such as my rife machine, taking turpentine, watching diet, etc. xfmlg

Girlie: I am not worried. I did not cheat any with them. All are bills for the naturopath. Also, they are for his perscriptions. So i will be fine. It is just a nuisance to photocopy about 100 receipts and all will be well. Yes I agree. The b-st-ds. I take this with a grain of salt.

xfmlg said...
I have been healthy for most of my life. In my 50's i was running marathons. Today I am reduced to walking and limping badly with my cane to even get around the house. When I am out in public it is hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that i am a cripple now. I need help getting around. I now ride one of these scooters and i am now just another old man who cannot fend for himself. I know when people see me, i evoke a sense of pathos in them and the first reaction is to discard any attempts at assisting me in getting around. I am having real difficulty adjusting to this change in my body because deep down i still feel that my knee will get healed and i will be walking normally again. I am having difficulty emotionally coping with my now overt infermities. Anyone else have this problem. I hate being pitied when i am up and about in public. Before, i had no problem helping people who were in a situation like I am now and now i am do not know how to handle the assistance my obvious plight evokes when people see me. Can anyone relate

Hi, xfmlg:

Have you looked into Prolozone Therapy?

/www.google.com/search?q=prolozone+therapy

I heard a Naturopathic Doctor give a personal testimonial how prolozone therapy saved his knees and prevented him from needing knee-replacement surgery on both knees. He said that it was a permanent fix, in his case. It only took one or two injections in one knee and two or three injections in the other knee.

The Naturopath does not perform the procedure himself and did not mention the Doctor or clinic that performed the procedure on him. He simply suggested people search online for more information on the treatment and for practitioners in their area.

I'm not sure of the cost or whether this would be helpful for you, but I thought I would mention it.

Best of luck,
The Dude

xfmlg do you have friends that can help you with photocopying?

I know it really sucks to be dependent, but just think of it as temporarily, you won't be like this permanently.

We could all use a hand every now and then.

That's good that you've got all the tax-man information sent off. What a pain in the **** that is.


I think we're supposed to have another winter like last - lots of snow.
It's already so cold!!!


i hope your knee improves over time, xfmlg