Pribek

I found this at the site msakc.org. It is from a speech by Dr. Alexander Burnfield to members of Action for Research into Multiple Sclerosis.

Fatigue is a sensation that is both universal to all and very specific to people who have multiple sclerosis. The fatigue that all people experience is due to tiredness and weakness affecting muscles after exercises or exertion. In multiple sclerosis, that fatigue that many people have is rather different since the nervous system as well as the muscles are involved.

The cause of MS fatigue is not fully understood. What may happen is that great difficulty is experienced in the transmission of nerve impulses along demyelinated nerves. The strength of the impulses is much reduced, resulting in feelings of weakness and tiredness. Sensory nerves as well as motor nerves are involved in this kind of fatigue.

My neurologist, Dr Hopewell, despite his cheerful sounding name, is what I would call a “no shit guy”. By that, I mean that he doesn’t sugar coat things or build up false optimism. That being said, he is, at the same time, very proactive in his approach to treating the disease and very encouraging in regard to quality of life issues.

This, from memory, is how the conversation went last time I saw him.

Me- “Well, one thing I’m having to deal with is fatigue.”

Dr. Hopewell- “When do you feel fatigued?”

“I notice that, if I play, like maybe, three nights in a row or, spend a couple of long days in the studio, I’m useless for a whole day, sometimes two-afterwards.”

“That seems right in line with M.S. Fatigue. What will happen, as you go along is, you will reach a point where you won’t be able to put in those 14 hours in the studio, at one time. You will have to cut back on the amount of hours and spread the work out. If it gets to the point where it is effecting your ability to get the job done, we may take a look at some other types of treatment.”

So, after the hectic weekend of gigs and marathon mixing, right now today, I am in the part of the cycle where I am burned out.

Knowing what I am going through helps a great deal. The best thing for me to do right now is, give in to the fatigue-don’t fight it.

Misconception occurs when knowledge when knowledge of something is not based upon it’s true form.

Patanjali Sutra 1-8, as translated by Sri Swami Satchidananda

[tags] Multiple Sclerosis, M.S. Fatigue [/tags]