The MS Time Zone

It’s all about the big four….the Eastern…the Central…the Mountain…and the Pacific.

Of course, I’m referring to the four time zones found here in the U.S.

When I say “big,” I’m really talking about the Eastern, Central & Pacific only.  The Mountain is like the ugly stepchild time zone no one cares about.

And what’s with the state of Indiana?

They can’t decide if they’re in the Eastern or the Central.  Indiana flip-flops more than a politician at election time!

But on to the issue at hand.

Within each of the four time zones, those of us with multiple sclerosis live each day by a different clock.

I call it The MS Time Zone.

It’s that time of day when your body pulls the plug on energy levels.

Your feet move as if you are wearing cement shoes.

Balance becomes as unstable as a Middle Eastern regime.

And spasticity tightens its grip like Chris Christie in spandex.

Though this time of day may be different for you, my MS time zone falls between 4pm and 8pm each day.

No matter when I take my Baclofen, or rest or how I plan my day…at 4 o’clock, a switch is flipped and I go from Dr. Jekyll to Mr. Hyde.

It can be an ugly transformation.

One that makes small children wet their pants.  (No wait, that’s me)

Small children & adults alike flee from my lurching form.

I go from not-so-good to really bad in a single leg spasm.

The worst thing about the MS Time Zone is most activities happen between 4 & 8pm.

School functions, sporting events, social gatherings all seem to begin as we wind down.

What do you do to battle this problem?

I’ve tried resting during the day to “save-up” my reserves to no success.  (Then, I’m twice as frustrated as I have wasted the whole day!)

So just because I live in the Eastern Time Zone, doesn’t mean my MS-riddled body has to.  MS seems to reside in a time zone all its own.

Note:  Readers in the Pacific Time Zone, this post will appear three hours later.  Check your local listing.