Using exercise equipment strategically placed around the Taranaki house in the countryside of Graham Walker makes it easy to mistake him for a professional athlete.
Walker was once a competitive cyclist, but is now exercising for something much more important than trophies and jerseys. He is exercising for health and quality of life.
Ten years ago, Walker was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). It is a disease in which the immune system eats up the protective coatings of nerves, affecting movement, sensation, and body function.
Monday is the day of multiple sclerosis worldwide, raising awareness of the condition among people around the world.
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MS affects about 4,300 New Zealanders, three times as many women as men. Commonly seen in young people, the average diagnostic age is 32 years.
“When someone was diagnosed in their mid-thirties, they probably had a family about them and everything changed,” said Walker, a man in his own family.
“Relationships are very difficult. Counseling is very important not only for people with multiple sclerosis, but also for their families.”
Walker, 55, first noticed something was wrong when he was “slightly dragging” and had a hard time hitting some notes on the saxophone with his left hand.
“When you are diagnosed, the doctor, neurologist who diagnoses you, all they have to do is tell you your diagnosis. They don’t really know what will happen next. I won’t tell you.
“This disease is known as snowflake disease and hints at the fact that two people are not the same as the symptoms. There are more than 50 or 60 different symptoms and the two are not the same.”
The theme of this year’s World MS Day is “connection,” and Walker, president of MS Taranaki and vice president of MS New Zealand, encouraged newly diagnosed people to join the local MS community.
“MS societies have knowledge that is a living experience, and they have all sorts of strategies to help.
“They are hiring field officers. I met her for coffee and got to know each other. And she could turn me in the direction of many things I need to know. It’s done, and one of them is exercise. “
Walkers who live near Leppeton try to ride their bikes four or five days a week.
“I was aiming for 200 kilometers, which means it’s probably about 150 kilometers down,” he said.
“Muscle fatigue is a significant problem, and fatigue and termination are major problems.
“Exercise kept me mobile in many ways because I know you only use or lose it. Understanding that exercise is a medicine is MS’s It’s very important to people. “
Exercise is just one part of living with an illness, and good sleep, socializing, and small dietary changes such as eating more salads all help.
Walker rattles the list of committees he participates in-mainly related to health and cycling-he says it’s part of keeping his mind busy.
MS New Zealand has urged Pharmac and the government to improve the treatment of MS patients, ensuring one major change.
Beginning July 1, people who have had one bout of MS symptoms will be able to take the drug.
“Currently, you need to attack MS twice before MS can start taking the drug.
“It’s a bit like telling someone, hey, look, you hit one stroke, we need to make sure you really need it, so we’re you I’ll wait until you make the next stroke before you start giving to any medicine. “
Walker said people with multiple sclerosis need to be positive and hiding in the corners doesn’t make sense.
“Reach out to the local community. It’s something you can learn to live with, it just needs some changes.”
