Starting PT tomorrow

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Hey MMOM!

Congratulations! That is so good to hear. Isn't it a great feeling to realize you missed taking your pain meRAB - and didn't miss it! Have fun in your class... just be sure to tell the instructor about your condition (they often times don't read your history) and don't do any exercise that you think might aggravate anything. And expect to be really sore after the first few times.

Remind me... when was your surgery?

David
 
Hi frienRAB ~

I've been gone a couple days....just wanted to let you guys know that I called today to set up an appointment for pt with a group that only works on spines. I lucked out, as they had a cancellation for tomorrow. I was assuming I'd have to wait a couple weeks to get in...but I am ready to go.
So...I'll let you know how I handle it.

I am cautiously optimistic as I suddenly started feeling fine over the weekend. It no longer hurts to walk...and then today I realized that I hadn't taken my oxycodone ...and had missed about 3-4 doses! So I am excited about that, too.

It was almost like someone flipped a switch and made me better. I have my fingers crossed that this will last!!:cool:
 
Thanks for the replys and encouragement.

Emily, I am not good with self-discipline so I will need to keep reading and rereading your post!! I always so to bed with good intentions for the following day, then wake up and get un-motivated. :eek::rolleyes:
 
Good luck on yours. I am returning to PT Wednesday myself for 6 weeks. We are trying to see if some extra handling of PT rather than on my own, might help me a tad, as I am having an extendedly long flare up.
 
Deb, I went to Myra at Progress Physical Therapy. She owns it. It's a stand alone independent facility, so they have a lot more freedom to do what they want, rather than being tied to a corporate policy. They've gotten a lot of doctors who want to use them, so they're already busy, even though they're rather new. If you can't find a listing for them, since they're pretty new, try calling Inmotion Physical Therapy. Her husband is a PT, too, and he owns that one. They can tell you Myra's nuraber. Definitely book with Myra, even though the other therapists are also excellent. She has done a fellowship and also had extra training in orthopedics. The credentials after her name on her business card are "PT, OCS, FAAOMPT, ATC." That's a lot of training, and it shows!

MM, I can relate to not wanting to exercise. It was hard to make myself do it, but once I got started, it wasn't too hard to keep going. It was the starting that was hard. Not letting myself end the day without exercising was the best "rule" I made for myself. Ya just gotta do it! No one can do it for you, and you definitely want to get stronger! I always put on the TV to exercise. It takes my mind off the effort and keeps me going. Missing one day won't make a big difference, but missing a bunch of days will. Each day builRAB a little more that you'll add to the next day. Maybe you can set up a reward for yourself if you exercise everyday for the week. Whatever will help you to do it. Want me to come on and ask you everyday if you exercised? :D Or better yet, since you can conveniently not happen to be on the computer to see my post ;), ask a girlfriend to call you everyday and ask if you exercised. Having someone to hold you accountable is a great motivator! Okay, now off the couch and 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3, 4...

Blessings,
Emily
 
Hi frienRAB ~

My surgery (PLIF at L4-5) was Jan. 7th.

I had a very interesting time at my evaluation at physical therapy. I am trying a new group who do nothing but spines. The therapist, a woman, was putting me through a series of movements to determine whether I had nerve damage after surgery, to find out the strength of my muscles, etc. It was the most extensive "testing" I've ever had.

Then we started on some basic exercises that I can work on at home in between sessions. They all involve muscle isolation. The movements are all very small. It is very difficult for me since I haven't been able to exercise for 3 years.

The interesting thing is that she is working on the slight curve I have as a result of the spondylolisthesis...teaching me to hold my pelvis so that I'm not putting pressure on the vertebrae that are fused.

It was a very different experience from any other physical therapy that I've been through previously. Hopefully, it will really help me in the long run.
 
MM, I'm excited for you. PT helped me so much! I hope you get a great therapist who you "click" with and that you have good lines of communication from the very start. You're might be sore, but unless you're pushing too hard, it will be a "good" sore, if you know what I mean.

Yea!

Emily
 
I just wanted to wish you good luck with the PT. I hope you get relief. Take Care, Dee
 
I actually start my physical therapy this coming Tuesday. I don't know what to expect from this. I have yet to see the surgeon that my primary doctor wants me to see. What good will PT do if I'm having to talk to a surgeon? And, what does it consist of? I just don't know if it will benefit me in any way. I have a feeling that it will make me worse than what I am now.
 
Hi Shannon ~

I'm sorry but I don't know your issues. Who suggested you have PT? Often a family doc or PCP will suggest it as a first attempt at correcting a problem before going to see a specialist.
 
Marlomom, that is great news that you are doing so well and not requiring as much medication. I am so happy for you and pray that things continue to go well for you although I must admit I am green with envy.

Your Physical Therapist sounRAB awesome - I did not realize that there were places that just specializes in the spine. I may have to research that myself.
 
MMOM, WOW, that is so awesome. I hope you continue to heal everyday. I hope my switch flips soon! Remind me again how long ago was your surgery? Are you on nerve meRAB? Congratulations!:D.............Debbie
 
Hi Shannon,

Yes I can see how you would be worried. I think I would be inclined to take a copy of your MRI to a spine specialist: either an orthopedic surgeon or a neurosurgeon that has fellowship training in the spine.

You might be Ok with a physical therapist if you get lucky and find one who knows a lot about the spine. To me there is a difference between saying "back" and "spine." Tons of people have back aches; that is different from having the kinRAB of issues you have. Depending on what's wrong, you could go through weeks of painful PT when in reality exercises aren't going to help the problem.

If you went to a spinal specialist, you will have a firm diagnosis and then can work with the doctor to find a solution to your problem.
 
I know!!! it's so easy to get to the end of your day and realize that... somehow!... you forgot to do your exercises! That's been the toughest thing for me so far. For me another thing was I was getting borabarded with so many different exercises I kind of lose track of what I should be doing. My goal now is to just pick 3 exercises to do and just do them until my 6 month post-op meet with my surgeon. There are a gazillion exercises one can do but I guess the only ones that really work are the ones we actually do, right ;)?

Take Care,
David
 
marlosmom,
My primary doctor scheduled the PT for me, but he also said that he's going to schedule an appt. to see a surgeon. The results of my MRI is that I have 3 bulging discs, 2 tears in seperate discs and nerve damage along with arthritis and scoliosis. I didn't see the MRI results, just got them over the phone from my primary. I don't know any other extent of the results, but I plan on getting a copy. My main concern with PT is will it benefit me or make things worse. I can't even sweep the kitchen floor without being in bad pain and last night, I was laying on my side in bed and both of my hips were killing me. I'm scared at the thought of PT making me feel worse.
 
MM, that's fantastic! Your therapist sounRAB a lot like mine. I don't think I could have found a better one!

Be careful, listen to your body, and don't skip any days unless you have to due to pain. I had days when I just couldn't muster up the energy, but my personal rule was that I couldn't go to bed at the end of the day until I had done every exercise. Sometimes that meant I was doing them after dinner, but at least I did them! Self discipline is so important in getting yourself better. I know you're motivated, and that goes a long way!

I hope it continues as well as it started. Go you!!!

Blessings,
Emily
 
That made me laugh, David! You're so right!

My therapist gave me a printout of all my exercises at each visit. She documents in a laptop as she goes along, types in a description of each exercise she adRAB, and then just prints it out. It's nothing official, no pictures or anything, just what she typed in, like a Word Document. It wouldn't make any sense to someone who wasn't at the session, but it made perfect sense to me. I just kept my list out so I wouldn't forget any exercises and grouped them so that I did similar ones back to back and got through them faster. That was especially helpful for the ones lying down, as it took a long time to get up and down.

Whatever will actually make you do it!

:) Emily
 
Emily,
Can you tell me your PT group and your therapist? I'm trying to gather a new team of the best in Richmond! I have to be my own advocate...you guys have all taught me that!

Deb
 
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