Physical Therapy-Do or Do not?
 

Would like to find out if physical therapy has helped anyone. I am being sent to be evaluated to help with core stregnth of upper body (arms & hands) and also for balance issues. I didn't really think this is necessary but I am being told that since the pattern we are noticing is that currently my body is on a three week pattern; we should take this step to keep what I have & try to enhance it, so I don't lose it later.

What types of physical therapy are out there that won't wear me out or make tempurature issues? Did anything help for balance issues? Inquiring minds would like to know~! :Dunno:

do it!

I think PT does a lot. I've done several rounds of PT. It takes a couple of weeks to notice it helping, but it really does help in my opinion.

I'm about to beg my physiatrist for some more PT. I have a new flare affecting my hands. I need my hands to crochet, knit and type. Can hardly type right now, and I cant crochet or knit at all right now. I want to get back to crocheting soon. hope my flare stops soon so I can crochet again. I really miss it. flares are so boring. I need something to do.

After my first major attack of MAJOR vertigo I went through over 6 months of physical therapy to retrain my balance and eyesight. Prior to that, I had been flat on my back in bed for 6 months. I credit physical therapy with giving me (most of) my life back. Without it I don't think I would have ever gotten out of bed again. I am close to normal now. Not quite normal, but pretty good. My scores on the weird machine with the moving floor went from 16% to 80% over 6 months.

Hi new2net98,

I strongly believe in PT as well as exercise. The issue of heat can be dealt with afterwards with a cool shower.

From the begining this disease has affected my mobility. When I was diagnosed my neuro told me the best thing I could do is Walk. I looked at him like he was crazy since I was in a severe exacerbation and moving, let alone walking, was very difficult.

Every relapse I have had (5) has affected mobility. Walking, as well as PT, has allowed me to regain what I would lose due to the exacerbation.

Everyone with this disease can exercise. Each person has different abilities and limits and exercise will vary depending on the persons capabilities.

Depending on the damage this disease has done you can get to a point where signals are not getting through and exercise is not helping to rebuild strength and muscle.

You can use it or lose it but you won't you will not know if PT is beneficial to you unless you try. PT is a great starting point in learning how to exercise with this disease.

Treadmill?

No, it was one of these. When I started I had the worst score the PT had ever seen (16%), and she specializes in balance problems. I worked it up to 80%, but could never really get above that point.

I had 2 sets of PT last year. It helped me w balance, gait, a slight R foot drop, and falling. I was falling because every so often my L leg crosses over and trips the R one.

The best thing I got from it was walking confidence and endurance. I got to the bus stop at the end of my street several times and the bus would have just left. Not wanting to be late, I walked to PT past 3 more bus stops fairly close together. By the time I got to PT, all of my gait and other problems were showing which helped them.

After PT, I walked home. I always walk home from "up street." By the end of PT I was walking both ways by choice. All of the problems I was sent for were mostly better or gone.

ANN

Until I can get to the physiatrist next week,I'm doing exercises at my computer desk while reading.

I just upgraded my computer so I can use the dictation software To post to the forums while I'm exercising (I have an Apple computer. They just came out with the new operating system)

The dictation leaves something to be desired like punctuation, But at least I can "type" things and have it come out readable.

Right now I'm walking in place in front of my computer while talking to my computer to tell it what to say. Moving around makes me feel a little bit better. I can't wait to get the new prescription for physical therapy next week though. I'm really hoping It'll help.

Looked at this apparatus...do they design them for ultimate torture capabilities or what?? LOL...renaming this the rack! Looks like it would be ok for bungy jumping though. Just a lil humor; halfway to canceling this appt. Walking still working...when I feel up to it; been pretty hot here. Only thing that makes it difficult is the gravel, pinecones, etc on the road or the dang neighborhood dogs. :D

Worried mostly because symptoms are on the downside to the pattern, so, am worried that I will somehow "fail" the initial evaluation & score lower than what I am typically able to accomplish.

It isn't in me to accept less than what I am capable of doing. Is life interesting yet??? Too funny~

My short answer, cause I'm going to bed now, is Absolutely!!!!:hug:

lol! It wasn't torture! They only put me on that machine every 4-6 weeks. It was good to get an objective assessment of my progress as it went along. Early on I wasn't feeling the results, but the scores were steadily climbing. It was good to have that reassurance on tough days.

That PT experience was overall wonderful and REALLY REALLY helped me.

As for scoring too low initially, I think that is better than scoring too high. The last thing you want is for the PT to send you along before you've been helped!

Huge fan of PT here. PT has saved me many times, for different things. Once I was sent to a specialist in balance. She had MS herself. She watched me walk, said I had a typical MS meander, even though I was not aware of it. She gave me balance exercises which pulled me out of vertigo, but the main thing for the vertigo was that maneuver they do which gets your balance fixed quickly---so it was both the maneuver and the exercises.
And I had great success with PT after an injury to my low back. And I continue doing the low back exercises. I am now going to start a home routine of running in place and raising on my toes, since I am able to walk now after taking P32 (radiation), which made the circulation in my toes work again (this last part had to do with Polycythemia Vera).
And I am walking more, but always when the sun is almost gone. Sun is my enemy.

I thought I should also mention that PT can be really fun sometimes. It's something to do to break up a boring week.

I did aqua therapy last winter and had a blast doing that three days a week. didnt care for the constant smell of chlorine, but the swimming was great.

dry land pt was good too. I found a great group of physical therapists that were cool to work with.

Not happy. Didn't think I had lost "that" much. Was very wrong.

Now have 5-8 exercises with BANDS; each 10-30 repetitions...twice a day. Can barely remember to take pills, now have this to remember. Then, have to fishtail around my two coworkers & try to set up appointments I can keep. Therapist wants to have two appts a week.

Knew this was gonna be a PITA.

Maybe just mad over the loss of motion. Left leg is worse than I thought & so is balance.

Just when I thought things would be easier, not harder. Must be my day to whiiinnnnnneeeee. :Bawling:

I don't do PT, never have. I ride my bike all over the place without issue and I don't have balance problems.... sometimes I wonder if I even have ms.... Seriously..... I don't think I have it.

Do it if you need it... I hear they can do wonders.

Sorry, N2N98.

Yes, there is work involved. Some of it is like play but some of it is definitely work. It is worth it to make yourself stronger and stop losing muscle mass.

ANN