Bobby
Sounds like you just need to keep working on it. It takes time sometimes
to get back to walking on legs or feet.

I would talk to pt on Monday, I have a feeling if they think you need
the doctor they will suggest you go see the doctor.

Also you might want to work on getting an cane.

Donna

I now have two canes...a fold up one and a regular one. I use the regular one a lot. Makes me feel my age. The physical therapists are young so I don't know if they have the experience to recognize that I might need to see the doctor. the guy that owns the place hasn't talked to me at all. He has a ph.d. and I don't know what else in p.t. Maybe I should ask the girls if they should ask him. I admit I am not doing any exercises at home. I am too tired.

Yes. Ask for help.


M

I wouldn't doubt the knowledge of the PT's based on their ages alone. Sometimes being newer anywhere in the medical field can be a good thing because they are up to date on newer things, where older practitioners have to choose the right continuing education classes on their own to stay on point.

I think this is the perfect example of the pot calling the kettle black, but sometimes the point of PT is to build you up to the best you can be, while realizing you have limitations

I think it's a good idea to talk to your PTs about what kind of activity level is reasonable for you... like what is a reasonable distance for you to walk.

i have to admit that i was wearing the wrong shoes. I don't think that they have any idea. They see me get up which is quite wobbly from a seated position. I told them after I tried ten minutes on the bike I was so sore the next day and had trouble more than usual walking. sometimes i walk so well. they admitted that they hadn't worked with a stroke victim. I did buy some lined paper and will practice writing the alphabet in upper and lower cases and bring the paper into them. maybe we can skip that exercise if i do it at home. they also don't realize the order they have me do things. I did something with my hands and then they tired and when they had me do the next exercise of climbing up and down little steps on the wall, my hands were already shaky. they should have had me do that first. they don't get it that even though i smile and laugh a lot i am as frustrated and discouraged as h##ll

Stroke patients are regularly referred to PT, so that is a sign of inexperience. Personally, I would not feel comfortable going to PT somewhere that had never worked with MS patients.

10 minutes is a long time to be on a bike if you have trouble standing from a seated position, especially if they are working you out after that.

I would ask to meet the head guy at the center to go over your medical history and have him take a look at your care plan. I'm sure that he has worked with stroke patients. Maybe he will have some worthwhile input or can refer you to a PT there who has worked with stroke patients.

I agree about seeing if the main guy would look at your records. And even
look at the plan your using.

I did the bikes but not more than a couple of minutes I don't think.
I have also done the stairs, I would let them know you would like to
do the stairs first. I used to tell mine. And they were fine with my asking that. Especially when they saw how unsteady I got later.

Donna

i think the stairs would be much harder for me

Maybe, I did my stairs for balance mainly. But I would tire out so I had
to watch it.

Donna

I agree with you not continuing with your current PTs. If someone who hasn't worked with a stroke patient is treating you, they should be observed by someone with experience, or at the very least, be consulting someone else who has it.

There does come a point where no matter how long we go, or how hard we try, that we won't improve anymore. Unfortunately that may mean that we won't get back to where we were before an illness or injury.

I don't now if you're at that point or not, Bobby. I don't know if the PT you have been seeing has given you enough of an opportunity to see your full potential or not. But I know that you saw another PT previous to this one, so you can compare the two experiences, and how your body feels in comparison.

Do you feel like you have more left in the tank? Do you want to keep trying?