Dear Diary:
I've been dealing with a recurring comorbidity much of the last month. Interesting word, comorbidity. The Oxford dictionary defines it as: "the simultaneous presence of two or more diseases or medical conditions in a patient." When I look at the word, I see "co-" and "morbid" which translates in my mind as, "with" and "gross-ness." I'm no linguist, but I think someone could have come up with a term that doesn't sound as gruesome.
Two new prescriptions later, x-rays and a referral to physical therapy, I am hopeful that this persistent issue can once again be coaxed into submission.
When I was first diagnosed, I was very unclear about what was MS and what wasn't MS. I didn't know what to expect and I don't think my medical team did either, long-term. And rightly so. MS is such an unpredictable disease. Although my first neurologist did not think I would become gravely disabled, I didn't believe her (and truthfully, I still don't). She also said during those early years of RRMS, that I could have a "relapse from hell" so things could change dramatically. I also didn't know what symptoms might be considered "red flags" that should be quickly addressed. So consequently I sounded the alarm pretty frequently.
Comorbidities can and will occur with MS. Our bodies succumb to lots of medical issues and can accommodate multiples. Lucky us. Don't discount the "normal aging" stuff because it's a reality that everyone has to come to terms with. Lifestyle choices can cause lots of other irritating issues over time. With the population at large spending hours on devices, staring into their hands, slouched at a desk, you can rest assured neck pain and low back problems will increase. Now, let's add MS or any other chronic disease and, voila! Co-morbid yuck is upon you!
I think the important thing for me has been how to recognize what symptoms are not MS but be aware of their impact on MS issues I have like balance, gait or cognition.
The first advocate and care-taker is me. My neurologist's advice in 2005 when I asked her how I should approach managing my life with MS was, "... understand your needs and limitations."
