Multiple Sclerosis Case Study 5
5) Tina Paulsen, aged 31 years , from Hannover*
She had the first symptoms of MS in the year 1992, numbness in the leg and abdominal area for 3 weeks. Diagnosis was in 1996. During the following years symptoms were
Gait disturbance – 1997 - could walk 20km.
1999 – around 10 km
2001 – 1.5 km.
2004 Oct – 600 meters.
Vertigo, double vision, Pains in the right and left leg, low back, lower abdomen and head ache, coordination deficit, difficulty in balancing.
From 2002 onwards the patient had relapse every 3 months.
May 2003 onwards, relapse every 3 - 4 weeks.
*Between March 2004 and September 2004 there was no relapse.
On September 2004 she had the last relapse before the DATMS.
Those exacerbations were intense that she was unable to write and put her signature.
Constipation.
Migraine every 3 – 4 months. Neck pain and headache every 1-2 weeks lasting for 2 days. Sciatica (left leg), shooting pain coming every 15 seconds. Eczema on the scalp
Main treatments taken;
On 1998, Ayurveda therapy was taken and following that the patient felt numbness in the face, chest region, arms and legs. The following 2 years she had this symptom. The symptom relieved except for the legs.
Chemotherapy – Last chemotherapy was on March 2004.
Cortisone was taken during relapse.
Taking Symvastatin.
Symptoms before treatment
Just before starting the treatment she had a relapse and had underwent cortisone therapy. Following that she was walking 25 mts. (she told that, this decrease in walking is usual while taking cortisone). She was able to walk 600 mts just before the relapse in September 2004.
Gait – could walk 600 meters. There was visible stiffness and balancing deficit.(unable to stand in one leg.) .
Constipation (bowel movement 2-3 days)
The period of remission was often not there from 2003.
Frequent infections are being recorded in the past, that are accompanied with relapse of the disease.
Changes during and after the first treatment (17.10.2004-25.01.2005)
Gait: Improvement in the walking style. Could walk 2.3 km at the end of the therapy.
She was able to run around 50 mts which was nowhere possible at the beginning.
Headache is comparatively rare.
Bowel movement is regular.
Pain and stiffness in the legs were palliated.
Comments:
During the treatment she had developed some ulcers in the scalp and in the left foot, followed with high fever. The treatment was stopped for 10 days.
Soon after the treatment, she got a flu which was prevalent in Niedersachsen at that time. The walking distance was reduced during this occasion (1 km), but regained slowly. In spite of all these, she did not have exacerbations or reappearance of any symptoms during these episodes of infections, that had been disappeared with the treatment.
Before starting of the treatment, it has been told to her that she has to be careful with her food and regimen, and also the difficulty related to her condition. This was because of her constitutional nature, repeated relapses and high intake of medicines and chemicals having long term complications. But in spite of all, we hope that she could be free of the illness once she complete her treatment program.