P A T I E N T  E X P E R I E N C E – A T A X I A

NAME: Christine Gray
       
COUNTRY: Canada   

AGE: 47

DIAGNOSIS: Sporadic Spinocerebellar Ataxia 2 (May 2004)

REASON FOR COMING FOR TREATMENT:  Christine was diagnosed with Spinocerebellar Ataxia type 2 in May of 2004. She had been treated with I.V. antioxidant reduced glutathione, calcium EAP, and NADH. She also showed an allergy to mold sporobolomycies. As a result, she was receiving allergy desensitization serum. In the past one to two years, there has been dramatic progression in her speech difficulties and she has had balance/ gait problems.

START OF TREATMENT: December 20, 2006

BEFORE THE TREATMENT:

Videos (Dec 25th): Before1, Before2

She walked with a wide-based and unsteady gait, and could not tandem walk. Her balance was poor. Some of her fine motor skills declined. Also she had slight speech difficulties with her speech being slurred. She had problems with fatigue and felt slightly depressed. Her muscles were stiff and sore. 

AFTER THE TREATMENT (January 16, 2007): 

VIDEOS

Jan 3rd, Middle2

Jan 11th: Later1, Later2

Jan 16th: End1, End2

On Hospital: Staff1, Staff2

Update (April 19, 2007):

Hard to believe it's been 3 months. My abilities are still good - I have good and bad days, but mostly I'm doing better all the time. Sometimes it's like the clock's been rolled back several years!  I still ache at times, but it usually goes away. My energy is great, and my mental well-being is 100% better.

Some things I can do more easily now or couldn't do at all before include walking and striding, using stairs without a railing, using a chair, stepping on and off curbs, carrying cups of liquids without spilling anything, speaking without slurring my words, balancing on one foot to reach for something, and writing. I practice daily on the treadmill, balancing board and stairs, and for fine motor skills I play solitaire, use a screw board or squeezeball, write, button and unbutton a shirt. I think these exercises have made a big difference for me.