Veteran's Benefits
My name is Benjamin Garcia, and I am a veteran who has been living with multiple sclerosis (MS) since 1982.
This letter is to inform other veterans with MS that you may be entitled to medical and even financial assistance from the Veterans Administration. Low-cost prescriptions and grants to cover specialized home adaptations, vehicle modifications, and durable medical equipment such as wheelchairs are available.
The Paralyzed Veterans of America, which has been in service to veterans with spinal cord injury and disease since 1947, also provides the assistance of National Service Officers, who will fight for your benefits at no cost to you. These medical benefits rarely will interfere with current medical coverage.
Contact us at the following numbers: 602-244-9164 or 1-800-621-9217. - Benjamin Garcia, President, Arizona PVA
Camp Building Bridges
My name is Tracy Mobley and I was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's disease in 2002 at only 38 years of age. Our little boy, Austin, was only seven at the time. As our son has grown and I have slowly progressed, my husband and I have tried to be as upfront and honest with him as possible, given his age and level of understanding.
It is because of Austin that I felt a strong desire to find a program to help kids understand Alzheimer's disease and, at the same time, take them out of that world for a brief period.
This year, for the first time—and with a very generous grant and donations from families from around the world—we have the pleasure of introducing Camp Building Bridges. This camp will give young teens ages 13-16 a week-long break from their home atmosphere and allow them to connect with others facing a similar situation.
Scholarships are available to make this camp experience possible. - Tracy Mobley
Parkinson's and Music
I was reading your article on the power of music ["Unchained by Melody," Jan/Feb 2008] and am responding to Dr. Brey's request to share how music and the brain can work together in neurological conditions.
It's been long known in the Parkinson's world that when patients are near the end of a dose of Sinemet, they can have great difficulty placing one foot in front of the other to walk. But, remarkably, they can often dance across the room!
My sister has Parkinson's and she has used this technique on many occasions to get her safely where she needed to be to take her medications and to save herself the embarrassment of being frozen. I have asked my sister to write her own description of her experience:
"When you shuffle your feet or they freeze up, you might try dancing instead of walking. I do and it improves my attitude and my movement. My husband and I like to go out to sing at open-microphone piano bars and restaurants. When I need to stand up and walk and it is an inconvenient time because I am stiff, I just start dancing in place to a peppy song. Then I walk to the beat. This works well. This is something that can be done anywhere. Just sing or think about a peppy, feel-good song and dance or jive-walk to your destination. It will amuse you and others who watch you. Why don't you try it? It sure beats the slow Parkinson's shuffle!" - B. Gail Vass, R.N., B.S.N., Fairfax, Va
Neuropathy: Not Just Pain
Your listing of the Neuropathy Association (neuropathy.org; 212-692-0662) under the topic of "Pain" in Resource Central is appreciated, but it unfortunately reinforces a myth. While pain is a major symptom in some (but not all) neuropathies, other serious symptoms of this condition are too often ignored.
The Neuropathy Association should be listed under the section on "Neuromuscular Disease." Pain is only one of the disabling symptoms of this disease, which affects both peripheral nerves and muscle function. A neuromuscular neurologist is the person most qualified to diagnose and help a patient with a peripheral neuropathy.
I would also like to refer readers to a 2007 patient resource book entitled Peripheral Neuropathy: When the Numbness, Weakness, and Pain Won't Stop, written by Norman Latov, M.D., Ph.D., of Weill Medical College, Cornell University and cofounder of the Neuropathy Association. For patients, they can obtain a copy of this very helpful book for just $10 on their Web site book store at neuropathy.org. - LtCol Eugene B. Richardson, USA Retired Support Group Leader for the Neuropathy Association, Florida