my pt story....can you believe this?? - Brain & Nervous System Disorders Message Board

nate930 · 02-10-2003, 12:50 PM

Hey to all!

I started going to a physical therapist a few weeks ago and after a couple of visits I have to say I was pretty discouraged. On my third visit, my pt tells me she is sending me to another therapist within the facility. At first I was not sure how to take it, because I thought she was giving up on me.

The new therapist was this wonderful woman who proceeds to tell me that she just happened upon my files and read my symptoms. My symptoms were all too familiar to her because she had dealt with the SAME thing!! Go figure! Here was someone within the health industry who could actually understand what I was going through.

She had rear-ended someone many years ago and didn't start having symptoms until several years later. She saw an ENT who ultimately sent her to a neurologist who diagnosed her with Cervicogenic Vertigo. It's the dizzies or "spaceys" and all of the other wonderful symptoms, including sinus problems(caused by movement of that bone above your eyes)and spatial disorientation. These symptoms are caused by nerves in the neck slowly being closed off by out of contol tension in the neck and shoulders.

I've been doing alot of craniosacrial therapy and I'm having more better days of late. I do excercises at least 3 times a day, which is essential to recovery. Interestingly, I was putting pressure on a stress ball on my neck and I could feel the difference in my symptoms. I would get a moment of relief. It will take a while for me to get alot better since I have been dealing with this since 1993. So I must be patient.

Also, one thing my pt won't and can't do is diagnose. She still recommends I see a neuro so I can give a name to this problem.

I just wanted to fill you all in on what was happening and how cosmic it was to be found by another therapist within the facility who had been there, done that.

nate

[This message has been edited by nate930 (edited 02-10-2003).]

rgraf8 · 02-11-2003, 08:53 AM

Hey Nate,

Glad to hear that you've found a PT with a little more understanding of the problem and are starting to experience some relief. I hope you continue to progress and get your life back. We are all different and start to see results at different times. For me, I got worse before I got better and it took a good 15 sessions before I stopped going. The other process I underwent by the neurologist was called dry needling. It's used for difficult cases where small needles are inserted into the muscular knots and moved back and forth. The theory is that the muscle will release, returning blood flow and oxygen, allowing the healing process to begin and returning nerve function. Since any one spot in the muscle can have many knots, it may require several treatments (think of it like peeling back layers of an onion). It hurts like hell but you will notice improvement several days later, after the swelling goes down.

I was also curious about what type of exercises you were given. Are they similar to the "dizzy strtches" I posted or something new. I've found that doing them daily, and especially when I start to tighen up, improves things big time, but was wondering if you have something different to try. I've also started a yoga program and go in for ocassional deep tissue messages. Both seem to have gotten me over the hump and I would strongly recommend sustained stretching to anyone with this type of disorder.

Good luck and I hope you continue to get better.

Kamden · 02-11-2003, 10:22 AM

Nate, I am so happy to hear a therapist can actually relate to your symptoms! What helped me at home was using a tennis ball up against a wall to get some knots out myself, it would bring my symptoms right back, so I knew it was the right place. But yes, it can take awhile to start feeling better, I got worse before I got better too. My treatments took months, but it was well worth it, not to be dizzy and off balance, thinking I was going crazy. Good luck in your recovery.

nate930 · 02-11-2003, 01:03 PM

Hey rgraf8 and Kamden!!

Thanks for your continued support. It means sooo much to me. I'm doing upper cervical exercises which include postural elongation, head nods, scapula squeezes, horizontal swimming, cervical stretch in 3 positions(my fave), pec stretch in 3 positions. I also do inferior oblique stretches which are sidebends with the neck(also love these).

I'm also going to find out more about the needling. My muscles are so tight, I wonder if I would be a good candidate for that. I don't even care about the pain. I just want my brain back!!

I'll keep you posted. And thanks again!

Sincerely,
nate