Dakota,

The so-called insurance I had (which I paid for myself as a part-time college instructor and self-employed person), whose doctors were responsible for my damage, did nothing to help me beyond the neurologist who finally diagnosed me giving me the most basic treatment.

Thus: disabled, no income, no physical therapy. Lived on borrowed money for a very long time. I would have loved to have good therapy, and now I am learning just how important it would have been.

Things still are changing, so there's still hope for those last big problems. I am now getting some minimal help, and hope to get more soon.

Thank you for asking.

rose

Considerthis I often hear you talk about stress which we all relate to but some it takes a stronger effect on. Have you worked on "coping" mechanisms? I really think biofeedback is so great for anxiety and I'm sure could help with stress too. I think finding healthy ways to cope then for it to build up is so important.

Yes, I hear you.

I'm beginning to wish I'd had more exposure to Buddhism growing up.

One thing I did that has helped a lot was buy a massage chair. I got an iJoy on sale at Sharper Image.

It has been great (except for when it was in the room next to one of my phenomenal leaks).

See, up until recently the most minimal exertion or stress would cause my muscles to contract, thus bending me over. It's from the tetanus nerve damage. I look like a survivor of BAD osteoporosis.

But with the massage chair, it relaxes the muscles.

I know it's dumb that I can't relax them myself, all on my own. But I can't.

There is just soooo much stress, relating to my condo and the privy pit and the hydrogen sulfide... and then the foreclosures and the state court refusing to accommodate my disability AT ALL.

It's just so frustrating.

For almost two years I was living on $11 a week, (additionally I paid my web hosting, I did that first because to me it is SO important that people understand about B12 and how it can protect them from the kind of nerve damage I have.)

When there's on going poverty, I don't think there's an easy way to do biofeedback... especially if there's any cost involved.

But, if someone has the money, if indeed I'm right about there being a cost involved, then I bet it's great.

As an aside, my massage chair was around $300. Which has been money Well Spent.

I got it after I sold my rental... Whew. I was soooo lucky I was able to protect it from the state court long enough to sell it. The state court very much wanted to take it away from me... and I think the state court is angry that I won over them using federal law, and that is a part of the reason they foreclosed and sold my condo behind my back...

See, it's just sooo stressful.

And then there can be other elements of stress as well.

Thank you for thinking about me, I really appreciate it.

((((((((((daniella))))))))))))

--and enjoy the water; it's fun to be semi-weightless, considering how ground-bound so many of us are the rest of the time.

And Rose, what you related sucks. As does what so many others have related. More grist for my single-payer health insurance not tied to employment status rants.

Thanks, Glenn.

Yes, and for cutting the so-called insurance companies out altogether. They've had their chance, and politicians in bed with them have enabled them to take all rights away from "members" who pay for their own insurance.

Imagine all the good that could be done with the money being thrown at insurance companies.

But some mechanism also should be in place as an incentive for people to be responsible consumers. I think it is unfortunately necessary in this society of quick, easy fixes and wanting to have it all regardless of how it affects others.

rose

Billye, that sounds like Bliss. I had my 2nd session of a new physical therapy today. This was ordered by my colon guy (nice to have a guy for each organ, huh?). It's from a group that does only pelvic PT with women. Most of the women have some sort of pelvic pain. Or stress incontnence.

But this therapist is great. She said she thought my butt pain, what remained of it, was from my SI joing and restrictions around it, and in two sessions she's helped. Today she had me sitting and pressing against her while she dug her fingers or elbows into the sciatic area of the buttock, or along the spine. I can move more.

The general new thing I've been learning is that it's not good to stretch muscles in spasm, or try to strengthen them. First, they are all saying, get the restrictipons and spasm out with myofascial release, muscle energy work, trigger point acupuncture, or deep muscle massage. Then strengthen. It's helping.

Oxford gives me a general 5 sessions of this.

Whoopy-do.

Gosh I can relate to crappy insurance issues. I'm sorry though for everyone too. I guess I have become numb to them sort of and know mine will barely cover anything. When I was IP for anorexia it costed 1500 a day and my insurance would not cover. They don't care its just about getting stable but in the long run creates more issues when people go in and out cause they don't get complete care.
Considerthis, I'm so sorry and I can see where you do have a lot of stress along with others. I wish I could help more. Do any of you have family that could help? I know its hard to ask sometimes but that is what family is for and I'm sure you would for them.

Good luck with PT, silverlady, and let us know how it is going when you have time. The pool sounds wonderful. I really need to go to our local pool. I'm sue we all do.

As I'd tried water exercises [ and I was the youngest there by about 15 years?] Honestly, it was shortly after my onset and I was weak, very weak...Things came to rule it out...first. I'd started in early fall...it got cold early..I was WARM=OK in the facility, but in the 10 minutes from the pool to home, well my feet and hands truly turned BLUE PLUS! I'd spend the rest of the day exhausted from the water [that 'resistance' thing] and just sleep under an electric blankie on HI till I couldn't stand it anymore. Since my own sweating/regulation systems are compromised other than taking in more water...what could I do? It was [sort of like Dan] stubbing my ingrown big toe to the point of emergency treatment by my podiatrist.. that made me stop the water thing, tho It's a WORKOUT...without exception. I'd really jammed the nail into to toe and the podiatrist refuses to cut it out, as 'complications mite occur'.. I can't blame him for caution. Especially as he was the one who'd convinced me to get second opinions and more.

Most of what you're probably doing is a sort of accellerated 'Pilates' or 'lo-impact' bunch of stretching and strenthening set of exercises... They usually start you out to what I call BEYOND THE LIMIT and it's up to you to be a bit assertive here and SAY: YEP!!!! BEyond the limit? When you've been far less mobile and flexible than BEFORE you got hurt, you really can't expect to DO as before...realistically? The key is to go slow, if you get shaky or wobbly on one excercise, switch off to another for a 'different' part of you.. Probably the whole body at this point 'needs work'? Speak up when, doing reps on any one thing...you feel the 'deadness or wobblies' start to come on..not after. You can always do something different and come back. Till you meet the numbers or the 'minutes' of PT... I promise to post anew, under a new thread the series or various sites for exercies that I have found which are useful.. Each aspect tho is body-site specific...it's up to you and the PT to determine what-which-alls work best for YOU and what YOU need.
With PT, sometimes IF you REALLY hurt in some key places, it is to your benefit in the long run to COMPLAIN. Modifications in the 'program' can and will be made to do the best works with the least pain..Good therapists can spot trouble areas just by 'putting their hands' on you...They are folks to treasure...Cultivate and keep a relationship with these people even after you are 'done' with your course of therapy...

I sure wish I was with you...each of us going: YOU WIMP! But, IT HURTS!...etc..how about FIVE more? etc.. I won't make the BET tho...I believe that you will walk far less like a duck after 10 sessions! I know I did? I relapsed only because of fractured foot and ankle issues last year and had to start over.
It's hard work, but it's stuff that CAN and will be done...Improvement is inevitable! Show us it is? Hugs in the interim! 's- j