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I am beginning physical therapy this week

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    I am beginning physical therapy this week

    This post could have gone in MS Treatments and Symptoms, or in The Wellness Room. I have commented about it in several other posts: one post about many appointments, and in some exercise check in posts.

    But, I decided to start a post specifically about PT.

    Per my request, my local doctor referred me to physical therapy. My MS Specialist, my husband, and myself have all noticed declines or weakness in various areas.

    My initial appointment was on Tuesday this week. The physical therapist began with an evaluation or assessment of my abilities and my needs (posture, gait, range of motion, strength, mobility, etc). She had me do some exercises there and she printed out a series of six exercises that she instructed me to do at home daily.

    After the assessment, etc, and checking on my insurance coverage, they recommended that I come back twice per week for six weeks, for a total of 12 appointments. Although insurance coverage helps, there is a $50 copay per visit, for a total out-of-pocket charge of $600 for me. I decided to go ahead and do it -- that my mobility is worth it. They gave me a 10% discount because I paid it upfront at the first visit.

    My second visit is scheduled for today. Most weeks, I'll go Mondays and Wednesdays.

    I have a high respect for physical therapists and their field. Although it's been more than 10 years, I've received physical therapy a number of times in the past, during MS flares with big mobility symptoms. They have greatly helped both my mobility and some severe dizziness that I experienced in 2002.

    I am hopeful that I can regain some of what I've lost and that I will be motivated to continue the exercises after the six weeks are over to help me to retain the abilities that I have. My MS Specialist often tells me that one effective way to delay progression is to exercise regularly.
    ~ Faith
    MSWorld Volunteer -- Moderator since JUN2012
    (now a Mimibug)

    Symptoms began in JAN02
    - Dx with RRMS in OCT03, following 21 months of limbo, ruling out lots of other dx, and some "probable stroke" and "probable CNS" dx for awhile.
    - In 2008, I was back in limbo briefly, then re-dx w/ MS: JUL08
    .

    - Betaseron NOV03-AUG08; Copaxone20 SEPT08-APR15; Copaxone40 APR15-present
    - Began receiving SSDI / LTD NOV08. Not employed. I volunteer in my church and community.

    #2
    I really hope you have success with PT.

    I've been there several times and dropped the ball at home. So, it was wasted on me. Just try to keep up the therapy on your own at home. I felt a little better while I was in therapy with a therapist. But I just couldn't make myself carry on by myself.
    Marti




    The only cure for insomnia is to get more sleep.

    Comment


      #3
      Thanks Marti.
      ~ Faith
      MSWorld Volunteer -- Moderator since JUN2012
      (now a Mimibug)

      Symptoms began in JAN02
      - Dx with RRMS in OCT03, following 21 months of limbo, ruling out lots of other dx, and some "probable stroke" and "probable CNS" dx for awhile.
      - In 2008, I was back in limbo briefly, then re-dx w/ MS: JUL08
      .

      - Betaseron NOV03-AUG08; Copaxone20 SEPT08-APR15; Copaxone40 APR15-present
      - Began receiving SSDI / LTD NOV08. Not employed. I volunteer in my church and community.

      Comment


        #4
        Good luck with therapy. I know I followed up at home and it helped, that was many yrs ago

        Shoo
        Shoo

        Comment


          #5
          Thanks, Shoo.

          I had my third appointment today. I've been doing the exercises daily; sometimes twice daily because they are short and simple. Although, occasionally, a new exercise creates tired muscles, even though it appears simple.

          I'm not noticing changes yet. So far, I've had three different therapists. Actually, I think the first one was a physical therapist and the other two were assistants. But, the remainder of the time I'll be working with the same two during my visits, so I expect they will have opinions about my success and if my strength and abilities are improving.

          Actually, visit #1 was mostly assessment and assigning home exercises. Visit #2 seemed to tire me quite a bit. Visit #3 seemed easier. I needed a couple of really brief sitting breaks. Or, at least I requested and took them. I've learned that, if I keep pushing after I reach a tired stage, there is really very little gap until I become exhausted. So, if I take a short break when I am only tired, I can start up again and not reach the point of exhaustion.

          It hasn't been difficult, at all, to motivate myself to do the exercises; they only take a few minutes. I do the lying down ones in the morning before I get out of bed. And, sometimes again before I get up from my nap. I need to remind myself to do the standing ones, but, so far, I've remembered. I'd like to get to the point where I think about it after using the bathroom. Then I could remind myself to also do those more than once a day.
          ~ Faith
          MSWorld Volunteer -- Moderator since JUN2012
          (now a Mimibug)

          Symptoms began in JAN02
          - Dx with RRMS in OCT03, following 21 months of limbo, ruling out lots of other dx, and some "probable stroke" and "probable CNS" dx for awhile.
          - In 2008, I was back in limbo briefly, then re-dx w/ MS: JUL08
          .

          - Betaseron NOV03-AUG08; Copaxone20 SEPT08-APR15; Copaxone40 APR15-present
          - Began receiving SSDI / LTD NOV08. Not employed. I volunteer in my church and community.

          Comment


            #6
            I'm happy to hear pt working out. It seems like the pt people always do the assessment on the first visit any way that was the way the pt did for me. I have been through a lot of pt, ot,and speech over the yrs.

            I always did my exercises in the morning before my shower. I just combined all my exercises that I learned from all the different pt some were hard, some easy.

            Don't give up Mamabug keep on going anyway that's what I used to tell myself

            Shoo
            Shoo

            Comment


              #7
              Thanks, Shoo. Fourth appointment was yesterday. It's difficult to "measure" if PT is helping. I seem to feel less tired after my appointments, so maybe it means I'm gaining strength.
              ~ Faith
              MSWorld Volunteer -- Moderator since JUN2012
              (now a Mimibug)

              Symptoms began in JAN02
              - Dx with RRMS in OCT03, following 21 months of limbo, ruling out lots of other dx, and some "probable stroke" and "probable CNS" dx for awhile.
              - In 2008, I was back in limbo briefly, then re-dx w/ MS: JUL08
              .

              - Betaseron NOV03-AUG08; Copaxone20 SEPT08-APR15; Copaxone40 APR15-present
              - Began receiving SSDI / LTD NOV08. Not employed. I volunteer in my church and community.

              Comment


                #8
                I have only one more PT appointment. Six weeks of twice a week is just about over.

                I want to continue what we've been working on there. I seem to have more strength during appointments to do more than I could do at first and I can get by with fewer breaks. I really don't notice any difference at home in my day-to-day abilities. But, I'm hopeful that the PT has helped, overall. And, that it will continue to help -- either in building strength and stamina, or even in just delaying or preventing additional decline.
                ~ Faith
                MSWorld Volunteer -- Moderator since JUN2012
                (now a Mimibug)

                Symptoms began in JAN02
                - Dx with RRMS in OCT03, following 21 months of limbo, ruling out lots of other dx, and some "probable stroke" and "probable CNS" dx for awhile.
                - In 2008, I was back in limbo briefly, then re-dx w/ MS: JUL08
                .

                - Betaseron NOV03-AUG08; Copaxone20 SEPT08-APR15; Copaxone40 APR15-present
                - Began receiving SSDI / LTD NOV08. Not employed. I volunteer in my church and community.

                Comment


                  #9
                  I am happy to hear that pt has helped Are you doing what you learned in pt at home?

                  Like I said before I did what the pt showed me and I did them at home.

                  Shoo
                  Shoo

                  Comment

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