 Throughout my life, I have been very athletic. I have always participated in many sports, competitions, and tournaments. I was a left-footed soccer player.
In May 2008, I was the fastest person in my school, however I sometimes used to have a few cramps during my soccer games. As a soccer player, I thought it was pretty normal. As time passed, I started to realize hair loss, and thigh/leg stiffness.
By the end of June, I had pain in the first few steps when I wanted to walk, and I also had pain when I sat down, or bended my knees (I could no longer stretch, straighten my leg, and of course play soccer).
By the first week of August, I had to move to the States in order to study at my new University (PSU). I saw a few doctors who kept on telling me that I only had muscular tears. I believed them. However, my leg only got worse, and I eventually had to stay on crutches for the next two months.
My parents made me come back to my country, to see the doctors (who diagnosed me with linear scleroderma). They gave me corticosteroids with calcium to have every day.
My left leg which was double the size of my right leg when it was swollen. It shrank and became half the size of my right leg with the medication. I am still hypersensitive in my lower left leg.
Now, it has been three weeks since I am on the medications and I believe that there is a great improvement, yet I still cannot walk properly.
I really hope I will overcome this disease and go back to playing soccer. I know it is not easy for a person to deal with this. I would really like to know whether there are any athletes who overcame severe linear scleroderma in their leg. Feel free to email me and ask me questions about it. |
Judith Thompson Devlin is the ISN Story Editor