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.