Shelly,
Sorry to be so persistent but this info is important for people searching for any type of physical therapy that will not (usually) flare a tos'er.
You are probably aware of the physical therapy technique of Peter Edgelow P.T.
Dr Ellis thinks very highly of him. I followed his protocol for several years and it was the only physical therapy protocol that I could do and not get a flare up. It really helped loosen up my rigid spine, etc.
Dr Ellis is in Berkeley and Peter E is in Hayward. One time I flew up to Oakland and another tos'er from Canada met me. We both saw Dr Ellis for his Heparin B12 injections and photonic laser stimulation. Then we both went, met, and had a complete session with Peter Edgelow. It was quite a girl's weekend away, but traveling with someone with tos is really nice. If they aren't feeling well then you probably aren't either so you both grab your heating pads and take a nap before you go out again.
Peter's technique is really great. The thing I like most about is you buy an indoor/outdoor thermometer at like a Radio Shack. You take tape and attach the end of the wire to the end of your finger. Then you are able to follow the temperature of your hands.Say when you are out walking and the temperature of the finger that the thermometer is attached to drops, this lets you know that you need to stop the activity as your hands are getting cold( your body is getting stressed)
Also, when you slowly advance on his protocol, if you try a new exercise and the next day when you check the temperature of your finger and it is lower than before you did the new exercise; then you must stop the new exercise as your body is not ready to advance to a new exercise.
It incorporates a lot of biofeed back and your body tells you what you are able to tolerate (i.e. temperature of your finger goes down) This is what Dr Ellis says about physical therapy on his website.
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"The first step is to obtain appropriate physical therapy with an individual who has significant expertise in this disorder. I usually recommend Peter Edgelow
(510.732.7881),
www.edgelow.com, who has developed a technique that is effective. I encourage you to find someone with expertise in and knowledge of the techniques so ably described by David Butler in his “Mobilization of the Nervous System” and “The Sensitive Nervous System". If your physical therapist asks you to perform exercises that increase your symptoms consistently, find another one."
W.Ellis M.D.
http://www.doctorellis.com
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