brent wrote:
For some reason the link won't work for me :[
That's strange, because it's just a ThisIsMS link to a post I made a while back. Try again. It may be the way your computer is set up. It's interesting that lots of people think also that TiMS blocks outside links since they can't get those to pull up sometimes, but I'm able to open any link that is posted. Well, that is, any link that I dare to go to.
BTW, I've been to physical therapy at our local rehab center pretty much every year since my diagnosis, and have plenty to say about it, but haven't had time to post since I work full time. I can't quite figure out what you're talking about with a month-long MS rehab. Never heard of that. The only way I get PT is with a doctor's referral for a specific problem -- saying you have MS won't do it.
For insurance purposes it has to be 1 or 2 specific problems (like foot drop, balance), that can be addressed by therapy, and to continue, it has to show measurable progress & improvements. The fact that I have MS is considered by all my therapists, but it's not the referring diagnosis.
I get 3 times/week, 1 hour at a time, for one month. If I show improvement (and I always do, since I never miss and also work out at home), they add 2 more weeks. That's as much per year as my insurance will cover, and it costs thousands of $. I'm still making payments on my share of the PT sessions from 2 years ago. This year's didn't cost me, because I had surgery first (non-MS, of course), and used all my deductibles with that.
Another thing is that I have plenty of PT issues besides MS, and my body changes month to month & year to year. I've been exercising at home for 25 years, and PT is great, but it has only helped me evaluate myself and given me some more specific exercises & movements to do at home for whatever my latest issue is. In fact, I usually would do my own exercises at home before I went to PT later in the day.
An interesting note is that the first trip to PT was immediately after my MS and HNPP diagnoses 10 years ago when, coincidentally, my right knee (my non-MS leg) swelled up like a cantaloupe (not MS -- I chipped my knee in high school), so at PT/OT they taped my kneecap into place 3 times a week, gave me a couple of exercises for that and an exercise ball for my finger tremor (plus wrist braces for carpal tunnel from HNPP).
Both of those things improved my life considerably, finger works now, knee still works, so I encourage people to try PT, but they only work because I've been using the ball and exercising my legs for the 10 years since then. Therapy & rehab only work if you incorporate the lessons into the rest of your life, so I've bought (cheaply) most of the things they used and more: step platform that converts for balance, hand exercise ball, therabands, small dumbbells, kettlebells, mat, ankle weights.
And my PT every year has been for completely different issues. Hoping that everyone finds a therapeutic approach that works for them -- without being drowned with debt.
Edited to add that my point is... PT/OT are great for MS patients. But...each of us has such a unique MS presentation, and it's ever-changing, day to day, month to month, & year to year. I'm wondering how a month-long, one-time "MS Rehabilitation" would help us?