Let’s play this My Odd Sock one more time.  Please enjoy!

 

When coping with multiple sclerosis, you can learn a lot about your disease by simply looking in the toy closet.

At least I did anyway.

 

The board games you played as a kid can provide you with a better understanding of MS.  In particular, things like what you are thinking…and what you are feeling.

These silly kids games also can help explain your MS to others.

Let’s play and we shall see….

 

 

 

In Milton Bradley’s “Don’t Break The Ice,” a player tries to stay up on a slippery surface as blocks all around are crumbling downward.

Which block shall we knock out next?  And will our whole world tumble if we choose the wrong one?

Sounds familiar.  In MS, we question if we are making the best decisions for our health, the correct meds, doing the right thing.  And we worry should the blocks collapse.

 

 

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Sometimes with MS or any chronic disease, it seems like you get walloped over the head no matter what you do.

That explains why these moles in “Whac-A-Mole” by Toy Biz are wearing yellow hard hats.

Stupid vermin.

 

 

 

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With MS, weakened muscles, awful balance and foot-drop can make standing & walking difficult.

 

Kinda like treading on marbles in Tyco’s “Ker-Plunk.”

 

Players pull out the sticks…one by one…causing the walking surface to shift & change…..

 

 

 

 

…And before you know it, your butt meets the floor with a resounding “ker-plunk!”

 

So THAT’S how they came up with the name.

(I usually add several colorful expletives when I ker-plunk!)

 

 

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Having a soft spot for pachyderms, explains my fondness for “Hungry Hungry Hippos” from Milton Bradley.

This game also makes a good example for an MSer.

Because with MS, you aren’t just dealing with one symptom–and one alone.  Heck, those with MS struggle with two, three, four even more all at once!

So you end up with numerous hippos (each representing a symptom of MS) trying to feast on your backside.

These hippos aren’t just hungry, they are “hungry-hungry.”  Sounds like a eating disorder to me.

 

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Probably the best example of a kid’s game relating to MS is Milton Bradley’s “Ants In The Pants.”

 

Geez, what MSer doesn’t have the creepy-crawly feelings going up & down their arms and legs?

 

We don’t need to flip ants into our pants….They’re already in there!

 

 

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Finally, you can describe the “Why me?” feeling of MS with Parker Brother’s game of “Monopoly.”

 

Sometimes when you are having a rough day and nothings going right…it can feel like landing on “Boardwalk”, complete with hotels….and now’s time for you to pay the rent.

 

 

 

 

….Oh, and did I mention the iron was hot?

 

 

 

 

 

Does a particular game describe YOUR medical condition?

If so, it’s your turn to roll and make a play with a comment.

Otherwise, this game is over.