Physical Therapy
 

I've been approved for in-home PT. My Neuro thinks it might help with my balance issues and gait.

Has anyone here had PT and if so did it help? I've got to do something because my walking has just deteriorated so much over the past 12 months. :(

physical therapy helps. But, you have to make sure you do the exercises even when you're not at the physical therapy appointments.

I was doing really well with the PT in 2014 until I got frozen shoulder, and the pain from that kept me from being able to do anything. That's when my walking got really bad, and I've had a really hard time catching up from that. The frozen shoulder wasn't an MS thing. (flu shot in the wrong spot in my arm. Next flu shot goes in my butt)

The last couple of times I asked for PT for the walking issues, the doctor Rx-ed something completely different than what I asked for, so I went a few times because it was helping another issue, but not the one I specifically asked for, and then I decided to just try and deal with the issue on my own.

And the time before that, my insurance had been screwed up by my then-insurance carrier no longer working with my preferred group of hospitals. So, I went to a different PT provider, and got the worst treatment I've ever gotten from a physical therapist ever. That also put me back, because at the time, I didn't quite realize that I could say something. Next time I go to a PT appointment, and I feel like the therapist is either ignoring me, or actively mocking me (both of which happened at that place), I'll be leaving immediately. Asking for their supervisor, and then switching to a different PT place.

i think it can work, or at least make things better. it's worth a try.
be committed to do the work when PT isn't there.

keep us posted.

Hi Kitty,

It would be worth trying.

I have had PT a few different times, it has always been beneficial for me. I was in PT the beginning of mid June to mid July and was doing quite well. I had to put my PT on hold as my husband was going in for spine surgery and would not be able to take care of him and continue PT.

I will be restarting PT in about a week and looking forward to it.

Hope your PT works well for you. Have patience as it can take time to notice any positives results. You will be given PT exercises to do on your own and even when PT stops you will need to continue the PT exercises or you could lose what was gained.

Hi Kitty,
I went for balance PT specifically. I go to the RMmsC. Jeff Hebert a PH'd came up with eye therapy for balance. It worked wonders for me.. I was falling a lot and now for 2 years not much (only when I do something stupid :)). I do it at home, now only a couple times a week. I hope where you live they have picked up on this because I totally recommend it.

I do not know about therapy for walking. My R leg drags. I do some core strengthening PT, PT for a thigh muscle and exercise 5 times a week.

Good luck
Linda

The PT therapist comes today at 11 AM so hopefully she'll have some exercises I can do here at home. I'll let ya'll know how it went!

How did PT go Kitty?

It went well. Thanks for asking! I can have PT twice weekly for 8 weeks with insurance covering 100% of it. :)

We did some strengthening exercises and she left me with instructions to do these several times a day.

She also looked through the house and determined that I need some sort of device that will help me get up from the toilet if my legs become too weak to hold me. She requested a prescription from my Neuro and once she has that she will set up delivery of the device. It's something that can fit over and around my existing toilet.

She will be back on Thursday and for the most part it will be the same lady each time. She has an assistant who can fill in for the times she is unavailable.

The cat liked her so I guess that confirms all is well! ;)

Glad it went well and insurance covering at 100% is always a plus :)

Cat approved....awesome!

Probably a riser. I had a riser over my toilet when I broke my ankle and it was quite helpful. It has grab bars on each side, has it's own it's own seat and fits over the existing toilet.

I really hope, over time, you see the benefits of your PT :hug:

Well, my legs are sore so I guess the PT is doing what it's supposed to do. I think I might have overdone it on Wednesday but I expect some soreness at least until my legs get used to the stretches.

I'm not sure how long it will be before I see some improvement in my balance but I'll be waiting and watching. I think it's one of those things where you don't really realize the benefits until after the fact.....one day you can do things you otherwise couldn't do the prior week. And you realize the exercises are working.

Legs still sore but getting better. I found this picture of what it feels like to walk with MS.....at least for me.

[QUOTE=Kitty;1162031]It went well. Thanks .
She also looked through the house and determined that I need some sort of device that will help me get up from the toilet if my legs become too weak to hold me. She requested a prescription from my Neuro and once she has that she will set up delivery of the device. It's something that can fit over and around my existing toilet. "

Kitty,
I'm glad the therapy is working for you. :)
When I read the description of the "device" to help you get off the toilet, with it going around and over the toilet, and mentioning "a presciption" and "delivery of" what instantly came to mind for me was a Patient Lift, commonly called a Hoyer Lift, but mine is an Invacare brand. (Less expensive, just as effective.) I've had mine over 10 years and it's used every day any time I have to transfer to anything. It also goes around and over a toilet and is used when one's legs can no longer support them. Unfortunately, the higher toilet seat and a riser installed underneath the toilet base and even extra grab bars won't help one stand if the legs just won't hold you up, even for the short time it might take to transfer from chair to toilet and back.
I'll try to attach a picture(s) of the "hockey stick" grab bar in my home bathroom. It worked better than any other horizontal or verticle grab bar I"ve ever used ... and it's prettier, too. I chose a color to match my bathroom.
I also had two straight ones added inside the shower, one horizontal one that helped me sit and stand safely and a verticle one to balance with when leaving the shower.
If it turns out to be a lift, you will also need a patient sling that works for your needs.
I'm hoping the toilet additions will be all you need, but if you need more, let your doctor or rehab folks know.
Don't do what I did. I transferred to my toilet only with the help of my husband and a swivel disk. But even that didn't help for long. One day hubby was helping me off the toilet as we'd done many times. He had his arms under mine and wrapped around me; I had mine around his neck. In the very short time it took to turn and sit on my powerchair my legs turned to jello, my arms let go of his neck, and the only thing keeping me off the floor were his arms which had slid from around my back to under my arms.
I was literally screaming at him to let me go so I could slide to the floor, but he valiently tried to keep me up. It felt like my arms were ripping off at the shoxers.
He eventually let me go and I knew there was damage done to my left rotator cuff. Ever since then - about 5 or 6 years ago. I can no longer lift my left arm much at all, partly crom MS,partly from bad pain when I try.
But I did it to myself.
Don't be as dumb as I was. If you are falling, try to relax and slide tthe ground.

Kelly, I used one of those in my hospital bathrm, once I was able to use the bathrm. I don't need one at home, since I have a high rize toilet and grab bars.:)

PT and OT helped me a lot but I have to do some excersizes every day to keep up my strength.

Good luck :)

@msblue---

Aren't hubbies great for that :p. I'm just thankful that sudden trips, falls and slips has been so much of a part of life since meeting the DH that he now knows "hands up and walk away mister...." :D which sounds terrible asking the DH to just stand there and let you drop, but it hurts so much less than fighting gravity. I'm a pro at falling but a complete amateur at being caught.

Just checking....... How's the PT helping so far? I hope it's a smashing success!!!!:). oh and the toilet?

Well, still haven't gotten my toilet seat attachment. Guess they have to wait for insurance to approve?

My last visit with the PT therapist is today. After today I will have to do my exercises on my own......which I've been doing all along anyway.

I'm having some pain in my left leg. Feels like the muscle behind my thigh and knee is too short. I chalked it up to the leg stretches I do a couple of times each day but it's just not getting any better. I didn't do any stretches yesterday and it does feel a bit better this morning. Think I'll just continue my balance exercises and give the stretches a rest. I told the therapist last time she was here but she didn't seem to know what to do about it. :rolleyes:

I do better doing the exercises by myself. When I know someone is coming over I tend to try and get the house all straightened up......and I have to get dressed..ugh..:o. By the time she gets here I'm exhausted already!