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Always_Believe · 01-29-2016, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catra121

I am so sorry to hear about everything you have been going through...it really sounds just awful. While I'm not saying you should give up on it just yet...if you get to the point where you KNOW it's not a good fit for you then don't feel bad admitting that and looking for another option. The crazy thing about treating this monster is that we all respond to different things. The program sounds great in theory...but if you don't feel that the people who are supposed to be helping and treating you are listening to you and addressing your concerns then that IS a problem.

Don't get me wrong...I am all for physical therapy and the benefits it has...but it's a careful balance and it is SO important to have a physical therapist that you trust. I ended up doing at home PT prescribed by my PCP...best move ever. I was able to conserve all the energy I would have used for travel and focus that on doing the therapy. We did a couple times a week and once she trusted that I could and would do the exercises on my own then we went to once every 2 weeks so we could stretch out the therapy so I wouldn't run out of covered visits. I can't tell you what a difference it made having someone who I trusted and who trusted me...and as a result I saw the best progress I ever had with PT.

Keep us updated on how everything is going...I am so sad hearing that the experience has been disappointing so far...I hope it gets better. Take care of yourself.

Honestly, I think if my baseline pain level was a 4-6, this would be an awesome program. My pain level is teetering a 7-9 going into this with zero medication (pills, creams, patches, etc.) for pain. Unless you count the night time amitriptyline. This leaves immobility as my only method of pain reduction. How does one expect a pain level 8-9 to reduce to a tolerable level if one is supposed to do PT with a beginning pain level of 8? Am I supposed to say "Ok. I know my pain is an 8 but I have therapy exercises to do." Nevermind those exercises take me to a 10. How does one justify to themselves they are willingly, forcibly putting themselves to an intolerable pain level?

Those were my questions today. I didn't seem to get any answers. No, at this point I do not think the PT is a good fit. I also question the pain psych as so far I have seen 2 different ones in 2 weeks. Pain doc is still up for review. OT is awesome. 3 hours (driving) or 4 hours (train + 2 hours wait time) round-trip just seems to add to the "where is this going" aspect. I have no problem with doing PT, IF I have some way to relieve the pain it puts me in. So far, it's only making my pain increase, which makes my function decrease.