Joint hypermobility disorders :

First PT Tomorrow after being out of my cast - - Posted by Lizzie (Lizzie - UK), 16 July 2003

Hi guys

I'm going to be going to have my first PT appointment  tomorrow - so wish me luck!!  

It wil be 2 weeks since I have had my cast off that I had on for 10 weeks - do you think that they will do anything different in my rehab if I mention my HMS/EDS III?

I expect that they will only be looking after my left knee that I had damaged the MCL and LCL and suspected medial meniscal tear - I'm also waiting for an MRI as my OS has queried PFS - do you think that they will do much on my first visit?

Cheers
Lizzie xxx
Posted by SL99 (SL99), 16 July 2003

Hi Lizzie,

It's great to hear that you are finally out of the cast - how does your leg feel? I hope you're not in too much pain my friend.

I'll be thinking of you adn sending lots of good luck vibes your way tomorrow for the PT session. I would definitely mention about the hypermobility Darl as it can alter the way they assess you and of course affect certain exercises they can and can't give you. Don't be afriad to tell them if something hurts either...and not just your leg. A big problem with physio for HMS sufferers is the pain treating one joint can cause others if not careful, so just be careful and take it easy!

They'll probably take it veyr easy with you tomorrow, with you just being out of cast and not knowing the full extent of the injury/follow up from the MRI yet. So it'll probably be more of an assessment and basic movement and strengthening exercise tomorrow.....and possibly some ultrasound if you still ahve pain and or swelling.

Anyway, hope all goes well and I'll be thinking of you. Let me know how things go Sweetie and know I'm here for you whenever.

Love and hugs.....Jo
xxx
Posted by Shazinoz (Shazinoz), 17 July 2003

HEy Lizzie and Congrats for being castless

DEFINATELY tell them as it will also make a difference even to simple things like there exams as you are naturally more lax than is normal and they need to know this as they may otherwise assess you incorrectly as better or worse than you really are.
SAlso it can make a huge difference as to how you are treated (as Jo said) as one they have to protect all of your other joints while at the same time not making you injured knee worse or MORE lax (as in most people afer a cast application they are worried about getting ROM back and if they work on this too hard you may end up too far into hypperextension thus causing you more problems by increasding your hypermobility and putting you are a higher risk for injury AGAIN.
GOOD LUCK
Sharon
Posted by Stacey (Stacey), 17 July 2003

Hi Lizzie

I agree,  tell the PT that you are hypermobile.  I had one PT work so hard to get my full ROM back including the hyperextension that it came back before the normal ROM.  I have also found that i have never really had ROM issues,  it comes back easy and once i explined to my PT today about HMS /EDSIII she says it all makes sense and she is going to do very passive therapy to not agrevate my knees (this PT is fo my ankle)

Stacey
Posted by rhea (rhea), 17 July 2003

I'm so glad you have gotten out of your cast!!!!  I hope your PT appt goes really well.  And yes I too agree with everyone and strongly suggest you mention the HMS/EDS III to your PT and anyone else dealing with you.  Things that are good for one joint often cause problems with another.  IE  a straight leg raise may be good for quad strength but if you have loose hip joints (like me   ) you could do more harm to your hip joint then good that you achieve for your quad strength.  It's all kind of a balancing act really...

All the best with PT.  I hope you start improving in PT very quickly!

(((Hugs)))

-rhea
Posted by Lizzie (Lizzie - UK), 19 July 2003

Well I had my PT and it was okay - I had a session of accupuncture, which wasn't that bad! Hmmm - yes it was.  The first needle was quite painful and then the second needle was okay, but then he put a few in that were really painful and the last one had me nearly jumping off the treatment bed with pain.  The pain eased off and my PT was away with another patient.  Then he came back and twiddled with the needles, which started off the pain again and he did this once more - it was really painful.  I couldn't wait to get the needles out and that wasn't very comfortable either

I treated myself after to a lunch and a couple of drinks with a few friends - the next day I had such pain in the anterior of my knee - I was going out of my mind with the pain.  I think with the hot weather too has not helped as I've not been sleeping well either.  Pain and lack of sleep do not help.

I am feeling a lot better now after giving in and taking a diazepam, along with my other pain meds and as the weather isn't so hot, I've managed to get a couple hours of sleep.

PT on Monday!! aaagggghhhh - we shall have to wait and see what fun I will be going through!  

Lots of love to my odd bods  
Lizzie xxx
Posted by SL99 (SL99), 19 July 2003

Hey Lizzie,

I'm sorry that your first PT session was so painful Darl, I found accupncture to be quite painful too when I had it for my back a few years ago. It was supposed to relax me but I spent the entire time in agony and worrying that if we had an electrical storm I would fry with so much metal sticking out of me!  

I hope that things go better for you on Monday and that your knee is feeling a little better now. And don't forget to tell them is things hurt or aren;t right for you...even if it desn't say that in the text book. Remeber we know more about our bodies and pain than they do!  

Take care and know I'm thinking of you.

Love and hugs....Jo
xxx
Posted by Shazinoz (Shazinoz), 20 July 2003

I too can't tolerate acupuncture with needles. I have had laser acupuncture as well and this DID NOT hurt. I think it is our HMS/EDS make up that makes this more painfulo than it should be, and I also tend to get a problem the day after etc treatment when my body responds differently (actually I am told it responds like an EDS'er <LOL> so I guess I am NORMAL <LOL> for an EDS'er).
Lizzie PLEASE tell them this hurt and how badly you reacted and refuse to have it again (at least for a while) YOU have to tell them straight away if you hurt a lot (OK, Even if he (the PT) is with someone else CALL OUT and say that it is HURTING a LOT or that it is HURTING.
Hope this helps
Sharon
Posted by ATsoccergirl (ATsoccergirl), 20 July 2003

Lizzy-

I have to ask, where does the PT think he can get off doing acupuncture in the clinical setting?  I'm not famillar with Billing codes in the UK.  But in the US a physical therapist cannot bill for that type of treatment.  I cannot imagine a clinical manager supporting that type of treatment either.  I'm just imagining all the lawsuits that could occur since they recieve no training in it.  They also cannot do it due to their practice acts.  I guess standards in the UK just must be that lax to allow such treatments to occur.
Posted by Lizzie (Lizzie - UK), 20 July 2003

ATSoccergirl

I presume that the PT was trying to relieve my pain first of all.  I don't know why he is treating me this way.  I am relying on his experience.  The treatment is through the NHS, so there is no billing.  He also has had training, as he would not be allowed to perform this otherwise.  I had to fill in a form for the accupuncture to see how well I do with it.  He also had to go through everything that the accupuncture would do, especially if I felt tired through the session as he said that I could faint.  I was yawning my head off, but I have never fainted in my life, and I certainly wasn't going to then.  The needles were really painfull, especially when he kept twiddling them.

I've got another PT session tomorrow.  I'll see how I go.

Lizzie xxx
Posted by rhea (rhea), 20 July 2003

Hi Lizzie,
I had 5 consecutive accupuncture treatments by my naturopath.  I found the insertion of the needles to be uncomfortable, but not unbearable.  However the day after each accupuncture treatment I'd develope a bump very similar to a mosquito bite over each area where a needle was inserted.   I think that if accupunture is causing you that much pain then you should request not to have any further accupuncture treatments, or if you do wish to try it again do it with someone who has more experience with it.  

AT- Many PT's in Canada can take accupuncture courses and become liscensed to perform treatments in clinical settings.  I'm not sure if they are allowed to bill OHIP or not as the establishment I went to was a private clinic.  

I hope you feel better soon Lizzie!

(((hugs)))

-rhea  

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