Member-only story
My Foot Is Paralyzed
And Other Truths About Our Current Situation
Just because the world seems to be spinning out of control because the Coronavirus Pandemic has closed and canceled our plans, it doesn’t mean the problems we were all dealing with when it started have receded. On the contrary, recent events have likely exacerbated whatever you were already dealing with.
For myself, I’m still crippled. The stress of the pandemic hasn’t changed any of the problems I have with my body that hasn’t functioned properly since 1999 when I suffered a severe stroke. In fact, it has made it worse.
The damage to my central nervous system (my brain) has caused to the signals to my muscles to go haywire. I have abnormal, severe, painful muscle tension in my left upper extremity. This gets worse during times of stress. And here they are.
Every three months for the past 13 years, I have gotten Botox injections to temporarily calm these muscles down. The last set of injections was January 2, 2020.
My next appointment was set for tomorrow. I go to a rehabilitation hospital for these appointments.
I live in New Jersey, the most densely populated state and second only to New York as the hardest hit state in the country.
