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Importance of Therapy Evaluations
I know I have talked about this before but after yesterday I feel I should bring it up again. I had an OT evaluation yesterday and was again very surprised at the results.
It was again another confirmation that I do have the correct diagnosis.
I knew I have weakness in my hand but oh brother!! It is far more than I realized. No wonder I am dropping things!
The positive side of therapy is it gives you more pieces to your puzzle and the therapists give you strategies to cope and make life easier.
Yesterday I found out there are these neat little gadgets that actually help you button your clothes! Who knew!!
I am getting one so I can actually button my kids little shirts!! :-)
They also want me to get a mobility scooter so I can keep active. I love to shop in the mall but can not walk the mall very far before my legs stop cooperating.
A wheel chair rental would be an option except for my hand strength is just not there. Now I know why I get so tired. My muscles wear out and can not keep up.
So anyway, if you are in limbo get an OT and PT evaluation. I think those might pieces of information would be very valuable.
LA dx'd 2008
It was again another confirmation that I do have the correct diagnosis.
I knew I have weakness in my hand but oh brother!! It is far more than I realized. No wonder I am dropping things!
The positive side of therapy is it gives you more pieces to your puzzle and the therapists give you strategies to cope and make life easier.
Yesterday I found out there are these neat little gadgets that actually help you button your clothes! Who knew!!
I am getting one so I can actually button my kids little shirts!! :-)
They also want me to get a mobility scooter so I can keep active. I love to shop in the mall but can not walk the mall very far before my legs stop cooperating.
A wheel chair rental would be an option except for my hand strength is just not there. Now I know why I get so tired. My muscles wear out and can not keep up.
So anyway, if you are in limbo get an OT and PT evaluation. I think those might pieces of information would be very valuable.
LA dx'd 2008
Hi Elaine,
That makes complete sense. I can still make a good bicep muscle. Actually my arm itself is not so weak but it is my grip that is the problem. My hands do not look frail. They look as strong as ever.
The therapist could see the frustration in my face when I was trying to squeeze that handle on the meter. She asked me if it hurt.
It didn't hurt at all I was just really trying to squeeze and my right hand was not working.
I told her about the days when my legs just stop working. I can go up the steps early on in the day but as the day goes on it is like I am telling someone elses legs to walk. Crazy! She assured me that is normal with MS and I was not nuts.
The OT's father has MS and she was very understanding and helpful. I was able to ask her what I thought were goofy questions and she didn't look at me like I was a nut.
She responded with a smile and understanding.
She told me not to let anyone say that MS is the end of the world. Her father has his up times and his down times but he uses adaptive equipment to help him through those bad times. That made me feel better and completely validated!
LA
That makes complete sense. I can still make a good bicep muscle. Actually my arm itself is not so weak but it is my grip that is the problem. My hands do not look frail. They look as strong as ever.
The therapist could see the frustration in my face when I was trying to squeeze that handle on the meter. She asked me if it hurt.
It didn't hurt at all I was just really trying to squeeze and my right hand was not working.
I told her about the days when my legs just stop working. I can go up the steps early on in the day but as the day goes on it is like I am telling someone elses legs to walk. Crazy! She assured me that is normal with MS and I was not nuts.
The OT's father has MS and she was very understanding and helpful. I was able to ask her what I thought were goofy questions and she didn't look at me like I was a nut.
She responded with a smile and understanding.
She told me not to let anyone say that MS is the end of the world. Her father has his up times and his down times but he uses adaptive equipment to help him through those bad times. That made me feel better and completely validated!
LA
Hi LA. Craig was at the therapist yesterday and she was explaining muscle weakness vs muscles not getting the messages from the brain.
She was saying that in a person with out a neurological disease, then muscle weakness would be the diagnosis when you can't lift the legs, or stand for a long time etc. However, when you have MS, many times what appears to be muscle weakness is actually demyelinated nerves not getting the message to the muscles to do their job. So it is a lack of signal to the muscles, which over time, can cause muscle weakness. But since Craig is early in the MS, then she said what he has is poor nerve signals to (still strong) muscles.
In the end, the result is the same. But I thought it was very interesting to hear the therapist's explanation.
Elaine
She was saying that in a person with out a neurological disease, then muscle weakness would be the diagnosis when you can't lift the legs, or stand for a long time etc. However, when you have MS, many times what appears to be muscle weakness is actually demyelinated nerves not getting the message to the muscles to do their job. So it is a lack of signal to the muscles, which over time, can cause muscle weakness. But since Craig is early in the MS, then she said what he has is poor nerve signals to (still strong) muscles.
In the end, the result is the same. But I thought it was very interesting to hear the therapist's explanation.
Elaine
thanks for the info...I will find out more when I see the MS specialist and see if it would be helpful for me as my left side is alot weaker then my right... and I would like to know more about it..
Have a Happy New Year!!
wobbly
undx
Have a Happy New Year!!
wobbly
undx
It is pretty easy although wearing. They start out by asking a lot of questions to try and pin point what your problem areas are.
Then they have you do things that check balance, endurance, and strength.
For PT I had to stand as long as I could. Stand with my eyes closed. Lift my leg out as far as I could. Reach out as far as I could. Push against the PT's hand with my feet, in, out, up, and down.
Laid on the exam table and did some leg movements there.
For OT She asked a lot of questions and did a little exam. I had to put my hands in the air, put them behind my back. She pushed and pulled on my arms. I had to hold my arms out and try to keep my fingers spread out while she pushed them together.
She had this thing I had to squeeze as tightly as I could that measured my grip.
I am right side dominant and unfortunately it is my right side that is really affected. On the strength meter I measured a 25 with my first try on the left hand. Then a 15 with the second try and a 10 on the 3rd try. She was looking to see if my strength was in the normal range and if I maintained it. 25 showed some weakness in my left hand.
My right hand......was a 3 another 3, then a 2. She told me not to use my right hand for weight bearing any more because it was not safe.
Nothing is painful but so informative. I never would have guessed there was that much difference between my two hands in strength.
Interestingly enough my right hand is still better at fine motor functions than my left.
I think the PT OT evaluations have given me so much information. More than my MS doctor.
I now know clearly where I am at with MS and what my disabilities are and that I am not imagining them. That helps me. There are tools to help make my life more functional so I do not struggle through my day.
For those in Limbo I feel it would give them valuable information for not only their doctors but for them.
LA
Then they have you do things that check balance, endurance, and strength.
For PT I had to stand as long as I could. Stand with my eyes closed. Lift my leg out as far as I could. Reach out as far as I could. Push against the PT's hand with my feet, in, out, up, and down.
Laid on the exam table and did some leg movements there.
For OT She asked a lot of questions and did a little exam. I had to put my hands in the air, put them behind my back. She pushed and pulled on my arms. I had to hold my arms out and try to keep my fingers spread out while she pushed them together.
She had this thing I had to squeeze as tightly as I could that measured my grip.
I am right side dominant and unfortunately it is my right side that is really affected. On the strength meter I measured a 25 with my first try on the left hand. Then a 15 with the second try and a 10 on the 3rd try. She was looking to see if my strength was in the normal range and if I maintained it. 25 showed some weakness in my left hand.
My right hand......was a 3 another 3, then a 2. She told me not to use my right hand for weight bearing any more because it was not safe.
Nothing is painful but so informative. I never would have guessed there was that much difference between my two hands in strength.
Interestingly enough my right hand is still better at fine motor functions than my left.
I think the PT OT evaluations have given me so much information. More than my MS doctor.
I now know clearly where I am at with MS and what my disabilities are and that I am not imagining them. That helps me. There are tools to help make my life more functional so I do not struggle through my day.
For those in Limbo I feel it would give them valuable information for not only their doctors but for them.
LA
LA, can you describe the OT and PT eval a bit?
I know I'd like to know whats involved...
Thanks for this Miss,
Shell
I know I'd like to know whats involved...
Thanks for this Miss,
Shell
Thanks LA, and I'm glad this is working so well for you.
Don't let us hear about you getting a speeding ticket in the mall, now...hahaha
No really, it sounds like this OT is doing wonders for you and giving you back the ablility to do the things you love.
Take care and keep us up to date about what's happening.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
doni
Don't let us hear about you getting a speeding ticket in the mall, now...hahaha
No really, it sounds like this OT is doing wonders for you and giving you back the ablility to do the things you love.
Take care and keep us up to date about what's happening.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
doni
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