I was just saying the other day how sick of appts I get...last week I had: an appt with my GP, an appt with my Nuero, 2 physio sessions, 2 chiro sessions, 1 massage session and a dentist appt!!! No wonder I can't go to work.

I have been in physio/massage off and on (more on then off) for nearly two years now...I hit a plateau at one point where no one knew what to do with me. I know now if I miss a session I pay for it but I do get sick of travelling to and going to appts...esp when the results are not immediate.

In the past while I was trying to be diagnosed I would take a break...it gets frustrating when no one knows what is wrong!

Hang in there!

i'm on the other side of the fence. i'm on Medicare and they dont allow PT for chronic pain. i haven't had PT for TOS in a really long time due to that. i am really longing for PT but am still trying to find an adequate PT for me post surgery. And i know it is really awful when the PT doesn't understand our situations. and i think it's perfectly reasonable to swtich to another PT in another clinic when you are getting either the $.99 treatment or at PT who isn't knowledgeable about TOS.

Something that worked for me was to have the PT appts on the day i went to the pool or for me to use their gym before the PT. usually they allow you to use their gym at any time while you are a PT client. i almost always found something i could do there, like using the ball, breathwork, using a bike, or stretching. When you do Peter Edgelows pgm there is always some component you can do, like the breathwork, at the PT clinic.

Now i really struggle to find something that can get my heart rate up w/o disturbing my tos and neck. something Peter Edgelow showed me was to lay down on a pad behind an exercise bike, put my feet onto the pedals (just the way you would if you were seated) and bicycle that way. i could get a short workout that way w/o flaring my body.

now i'm really frustrated as exercise makes my neck and arm hurt a lot and my arm swell. (now that my TOS has developed a vascular component.) i tried a fancy new elyptical machine yesterday and my arm started swelling and changing color after using it for just a few minutes. and i wasn't even using the arm function; i held my arms at rest in my pockets. the sales guy, a trainer said my arm was shaking too. I want to find some way that i can exercise while in front of the TV as i fear i have no cardio exercise. i can walk very slowly and gingerly with arms in pockets or on fanny pack and keep the arm swelling a huge amount. i was told to avoid vigorous exercise for fear of "throwing a clot". i think maybe it's time to have the surgery if i can't do any cardio. i was practically in tears at the store. any suggestions much appreciated

Hi,
I was totally devastated when I realized that my post op PT ruined me again for life. I had six months of pain free life with no MEDS believe it if you will.....lol.....then they got me doing intensive return to work physio and it broke me whatever good the surgery did the PT ruined it. I was feeling awesome and ready to go back to work with light duties could do a little cpu the phone work in the cancer clinic looking after patients who were more ambulatory....then WHAM life ruined by bad PT so BE VERY VERY VERY VERY CAREFUL when choosing who is going to do your pt post op. No treadmill ever no theraband ever no weight lifting ever only light stretching and positional exercises with no weight. You will end up a bitter old woman like me!!!!

just a warning!!!!

Love and hugs,
Victoria