Hello, I'm hoping some of you "veterns" to PT can help me. My PT said that she's thinking of releasing me this coming Tuesday, since my back is getting better. However, I can't sit more than 20-30 mins at a time, can't lay flat on my back at all, sometimes can't sleep at night, etc. I am improving, but I don't know enough to totally stop PT. Is this normal to stop before you're 100% and just continue exercises at home? I started Oct 1, 2003 going 2X a week and now am down to once a week. I should add that most of my pain seems to be just musclar and a very rotated spine with most of my pain at T12/L1 area. Thanks for any advice anyone can give me.
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chronic back & foot pain & now severe allergies! Just shoot me!!
I guess the question is, is there a continuing plan to help you reduce your back pain, increase your ability to sit. As a fellow no-sitter, i can relate. Is there a doctor in this picture? Someone who is following your progress?
Thanks for replying! Well, my primary care dr has said to just call him if my pain doesn't go away or gets worse. He said since it seems to be muscle and posture related that an MRI isn't really worth doing at this point, since it's responding to exercise and PT. I guess I'm just scared that if things get bad or "go out" if you will, that I'll be back to square one. You know, having to go back to the dr, get another referal to PT, etc. I've never done this before, so I don't know if this is standard practice or not.
My PT seems to think that it is just going to take time and that I don't need so much "hands on" care anymore and I can just do my exercises at home. I guess that's true, but it still worries me a little. Last night I was up until 3 am with muscle spasms that seem to get worse when I lay or sit down Then again, some days I'm totally pain free.
If it were me, I would trust my own body, which is not an easy thing to learn to do. Particularly if PT seemed to increase the pain, lead to sharp or burning pain, that's often a signal it's going in the wrong direction. If the sciatica (leg pain) comes back, or you have anything resembling numbness, tingling, weakness in a leg, I'd also get back in touch with the doc asap.
These things often do take a long time to heal. The fact that you have some completely good days is also a positive sign. But, while relevant strengthening and posture issues can be very important, not pushing it (out of impatience) is also important. Had I paid closer attention early on with my own problem, I think I might have avoided a lot of problems that came later. But, of course, easy to be wise in retrospect, and no real way to know. Take care!
Have you seen a specialist? If not, that would be my next step...you don't mention a diagnosis, so I am wondering if you have had an MRI or other diagnositic tests?
Hope you find the answers you seek.
Carol
No, I haven't had an MRI. I'm starting to wonder if I should. My main problems are in my T spine, so it's from a slight curve in it and bad posture, being overweight, etc. All things I am changing, so my pain is slowly going away. It's not 100% gone though. All my leg pain and numbness has been gone for over 2 months though! It was coming from my hip and not my back. It was rotated and PT corrected it. Once the Sciatica went away my dr said I should just try PT since all the pain is in my T spine, which is hard to injure without an accident. I think if it was lower back pain I would have already had an MRI since disc injury is so common. I should add that I've had x-rays done and also about a zillion blood tests to rule out this and that.
Standingman-I'm just curious how long you have had your problem? I can't seem to sit over about 20 minutes at a time and if i do sit that long, usually when i stand up or move its so much pain it hurts to breathe and i asked my dr how much longer this would last and he just shakes his head and says he doesn't know.
Hello, I'm hoping some of you "veterns" to PT can help me. My PT said that she's thinking of releasing me this coming Tuesday, since my back is getting better. However, I can't sit more than 20-30 mins at a time, can't lay flat on my back at all, sometimes can't sleep at night, etc. I am improving, but I don't know enough to totally stop PT. Is this normal to stop before you're 100% and just continue exercises at home? I started Oct 1, 2003 going 2X a week and now am down to once a week. I should add that most of my pain seems to be just musclar and a very rotated spine with most of my pain at T12/L1 area. Thanks for any advice anyone can give me.
I have been in physical therapy for about 5 weeks now, and I can tell you from experience, you'll never be 100%. I have severe cervical and lumbar spasms, and am recouperating from a lumbar sprain stemming from an accident. I was hit by a car (as a pedestrian). I go twice a week, as well. I started on aquatic therapy, and they saw no improvement, I was actually getting worse. Now I am doing massage, hot/cold pads, electric stimulation, and weight training. I still suffer from spasms throughout my entire back, and comfort is something I have long forgotten. If you feel that therapy is still needed, I would recommend speaking w/your orthopaedist, or primary care, and see if you can't get a prescription to extend the visits. You may also try working it out with the pt as well. The place I go to is willing to keep me on the roster, even though my prescription for it expired, simply because they feel it would be more beneficial to me. Be sure to advise them that your pain is still there, that you cannot function as well as you had prior to the injury. Relate all symptoms so they can specify the regiment of therapy to your needs. I have pain radiating down my legs, they believe that my nerve is somehow affected. They modified my regiment so that it would put less pressure on that nerve and still be an effective therapy.
Anything's worth a shot...good luck
Then again, some days I'm totally pain free.
I have been in physical therapy for about 5 weeks now, and I can tell you from experience, you'll never be 100%. I have severe cervical and lumbar spasms, and am recouperating from a lumbar sprain stemming from an accident. I was hit by a car (as a pedestrian). I go twice a week, as well. I started on aquatic therapy, and they saw no improvement, I was actually getting worse. Now I am doing massage, hot/cold pads, electric stimulation, and weight training. I still suffer from spasms throughout my entire back, and comfort is something I have long forgotten. If you feel that therapy is still needed, I would recommend speaking w/your orthopaedist, or primary care, and see if you can't get a prescription to extend the visits. You may also try working it out with the pt as well. The place I go to is willing to keep me on the roster, even though my prescription for it expired, simply because they feel it would be more beneficial to me. Be sure to advise them that your pain is still there, that you cannot function as well as you had prior to the injury. Relate all symptoms so they can specify the regiment of therapy to your needs. I have pain radiating down my legs, they believe that my nerve is somehow affected. They modified my regiment so that it would put less pressure on that nerve and still be an effective therapy. 
