I may have mentioned this countless times and forgotten (that's for another thread), but I've had major pains in my neck and back, especially with the cold weather this winter. Saw my PCP yesterday, and she scheduled an MRI (cervical spine only) for this Thursday, just to make sure there's nothing new going on. Also, she set me up with physical therapy on Friday, since I won't take any prescriptions for the pain (make me too sleepy/loopy)..I'm just wondering if anyone here has had good experiences with PT and pain control..I'm trying to think positive, but this is not an area I'm real familiar with..Any info would help. Thanks!

I just learned something recently (I think); that "PT" in the US is "physical" therapy, whereas in Canada PT is "physio" therapy. I now understand physical therapy to be like exercises, whereas physio therapy is more like a chiropractor manipulations, TENS, ultrasounds, etc, and done by a licensed therapist.

Could you please clarify what you are referring to?

Cherie

Sorry for the confusion..Physical Therapy.

You were clear . . . it was me who was messed up about the definitions between the two countries.

I've done "physio" therapy lots of times, but not physical. Do you know what kind of exercises they might have you doing?

I agree a MRI of the spine (T and C) is a good thing before you start. If I have active inflammation in my lesions, many types of exercises do not go over well with me.

Light exercises, that improve posture, stomach and back muscles, strengthen tendons, etc. have been a life-saver for me though.

Cherie

That's good to know..I don't know exactly what kinds of exercises they'll show me, but I do know pain management is a part of what they'll go over. I suppose they can't really say for sure till after the MRI. I'm glad the appointment is on a Friday, though..Doesn't take much to wear me out any more, and I'll have Saturday to re-arrange any body parts I might misplace..

Hi there,

I have had physical therapy for my TOS pain and it helped, especially the ultrasound.

Just a caution though, sometimes the PT's can be a little aggressive. So if it hurts tell them and dont do anything that hurts it could make things worse.

i also like the ultra sound, and if it hurts tell them , good luck on this hope it is not anything serious with the mri, any suggestions about a disc out of place or arthritis? I know the changing of the barometer can and does effect folks,

I just started physical therapy on my knee (hurt it in a fall last month) and I'm actually kind of enjoying it.

I have to do special lifting exercises for my knee (weight on my ankle) and last week the PT guy introduced me to the recumbent bike, and the Total Gym exercise machine.

It's actually been kind of fun to see how to do this stuff properly. I do them at home too (no bike or Total Gym here)

I can kind of feel it starting to help me. My knee doesnt feel as bad as it did, and I'm starting to feel a little bit better in the legs and hips.

I just need to ask him for a suggestion on an exercise for my left shoulder (chronic tendonitis) I want to build up my upper body strength. It was really embarassing to go bow shooting with my boyfriend and I couldnt even draw the bow. (boyfriend had to pull it back for me) A girl at the range let me try her bow, and I couldnt draw it back and it had a much lesser draw strength on it. It was pretty sad.

I guess if I want to shoot paper targets, I'll have to get the boyfriend to teach me how to fire his .380 handgun instead of the bow. (the bow looks way more fun tho, and it's not as noisy)

Don't have any disc problems, and just the very beginnings of bone degeneration (nothing serious, just normal "yeah your getting old" stuff)..I have a high tolerance for pain, so I'll have to watch myself as much anyone else.
I hope nothing's going on with the MRI, too, but I haven't had one in two years and it's probably a good idea. I'm still walking, but walking goofier, if you know what I mean..And the neck pain started about the same time as the lesions in my c-spine started popping up, so I'm a little nervous about that~though there's probably no connection..
Thanks!

I have had PT in the past, both in home and at a PT center.

It was from the in home PT where I learned to enjoy using "therabands" and when those finally wore out I found Pilate Bands. The bands have helped me with pain and stiffness....I still use them

At first I did have pain from the PT but, I hadn't done any exercise in awhile and using muscles and moving in ways I hadn't in a long time. The PT was mainly for my ankle which I had broke and non-weight bearing for 7 weeks.

Until the PT could work specifically on the ankle she was working on upper body strength and leg strength. It was at this time I also learned you can exercise from the comfort of your own bed - who woulda thunk it

Hoping you have a good experience from PT