STD LOA FMLA ADA

For two and half weeks now I've been on an STD LOA through FMLA and ADA.  In other words, I'm on a short term disability leave of absence through the Family and Medical Leave Act and the Americans with Disability Act.  In fewer words, my MS is flaring, and I've had to take time off work.

About three weeks ago I started having lower back pain and headaches that kept me from being effective at work.  Retail is a physically demanding job.  I had a particularly bad day the day before the WalkMS 5 k.  I left work early and got a massage which seemed to help.  I woke up on the day of walk feeling OK, but my back continued to tighten with each "k".  I got home after that casually paced walk and slept for thirteen hours.  I was so beat!  I made an appointment with my neurologist, and decided that I needed to take time off work to figure out what was going on with my body.

My neurologist did a number of in office tests mostly encompassing manually moving my legs.  He confirmed that I was experiencing muscle spasticity in both my back and legs.  May 23rd was the first time since my diagnosis that I felt like I wasn't in control of my legs.  I don't think you would have known by looking at me, but I felt wobbly and scared.

MS is cruel in its unpredictability.  I may never have any issues walking again.  Or I could lose my mobility over night.  A friend of mine with MS always takes her phone into the bathroom with her, because there are stories of people going to the bathroom and in the time it took to pee, their legs stopped working.  They couldn't stand to get out of the bathroom.

Most of the time, I don't let these stories get to me.  I have good reason to think that my MS will not progress to that point.  I was diagnosed very early.  I'm on a promising treatment.  And focusing on what could go wrong it's helpful.  But that day, I was fearful.  I'm so blessed to have a good support team.

My neurologist gave me muscle relaxers, stretches to do at home, and said that I needed to get regular massages.  I'm doing better!  I'm learning what sort of things trigger my spasticity.  I'm working to take of myself, and I'm praying that it will be enough when I go back to work.

In the mean time, I'm enjoying my rest and I'm prepping for my next adventure.  (Post about that to come soon!)