I Went along to the Therapy Centre today, I havent been for a couple of years. Decided to give Physio ago to try and relieve some of the pain and stiffness/numbness that is getting gradually worse.
I was so pleased to see the same therapists that were there 2 years ago and surprised that they actually remembered me. Dont know why i had left it so long
I was quided through some light exercises together with lots of welcome support. Today was like agreat big breath of fresh air the therapist went through the symptoms I had the last time I was there and the problems I was having now, taking time to actually listen explain things.
Still have pain and stiffness but my visit today has deffinately perked me up a treat.
Looking forward to my next visit next week : )
Any one who hasnt been but thinking of going to one of the MS Therapy Centres, just do it. They offer other treatments or just go along for a coffee chat. A really great bunch of special people
I have, as you say, been thinking, but never gone.
I think part of the issue is I don’t drive, so it’s a bit of a f*rt to get there. It’s much closer than it used to be, since it relocated recently, but I’d still have to take the bus somewhere I don’t really know, and there’d be a walk at both ends, as neither bus stop is ideally placed. I can walk OK - up to four miles when I really want/need to, but at the same time, it still puts me off, when I can’t go somewhere without an unwanted walk.
I sent in my doctor’s permission months ago - but I think they will have lost or thrown it away by now, and I’m embarrassed to ask the doctor a second time. I was slightly peeved I needed it at all, because you can go anywhere else and have most of the alternative therapies on offer, without needing a doctor’s note! I don’t really see what it has to do with my doctor if I decide to have some physio or aromatherapy independent of the NHS.
I was also a bit put off by the membership form, which says something to the effect that I agree it is MY DUTY to do all I can to raise funds for the centre. Perhaps it’s selfish of me, but I’ve no intention of getting involved with fundraising, so I’m loath to sign any statement acknowledging it as “my duty”. I know they’re hardly likely to enforce it, so I should probably do what I expect most people do, and sign and forget all about it. But I just feel uncomfortable saying I’m committed to fundraising, when I know I’m not. I don’t think fundraising is everybody’s cup of tea, and if I do decide to donate my time and energy, it would probably be some other contribution, but NOT that.
Hi Tina, Im sure that the Therapy Centres provide transport for those who cant get in, but dont quote me on that as im not 100% but worth checking out. Also a gp refferal/permission isnt necessary I just rang them and made my appointment. You have to pay a yearly membership £10 and a donation towards any therapy but dont recall signing anything for fundraising.
Give them a ring and speak with them, its the most support Iv had in a long while. You have nothing to lose by calling : )
I think policy varies from centre to centre, as they’re all independent. Mine definitely wouldn’t accept new clients/patients without their doctor’s say so. A damn cheek, I say! Also our membership is double, at £20. And really not happy about the fundraising obligation. I feel much the same about that as I do about the MSS keep writing to me, on the scrounge. It just doesn’t seem right to me, to approach the very people needing help, and suggest they ought to be funding it!
I know funding has to come from somewhere, but it doesn’t seem right that the intended beneficiaries should be targeted. And I almost have a moral objection to supporting charities that primarily benefit myself, and others like me. It feels a bit mercenary - a bit like only giving blood in case I am injured and need it back. That’s probably not a very good example, as we’re not allowed to anyway, but you get the idea…
I feel I’d rather support charities that don’t deal with the same problems I have, as giving to get it back yourself just doesn’t feel right somehow.
I am glad that you found the Therapy useful. In my experience MS Therapy centres are a welcome addition to many MSers Therapy regime.
I have been a member of out local centre for 10 years and in that time it has progressed from providing therapy for people with MS to a whole range of illnesses from Cancer, Cyrebral Palsy, Crohns disease, sports injuries etc.
I am so empowered by the work that the centre does (they get no Government funding and rely on donations) that I am now on the centres committee raising funds to keep it open.
Many of the physios give their time free or at a reduced rate to the centres and to go privately could cost musch more and through the NHS could take much longer.
It operates on a shoe string and besides providing a range of therpaies (HBOT, physio, counselling, yoga, reflexology, podiatry, hair cuts …) it also provides a valuable social opportunity for many people with MS. Some people do pop in just for a ‘coffee’ and a chat (there is no charge for tea or coffee)
Charges are minimal and people who can’t afford to pay aren’t expected to.
Fund raising is obviously important and people do what they can.
I would certainly recommend going if you have one near you.
I never cease to be amazed at the number of people who take and don’t want to give back.Some of the comments in response to your post are quite unbelievable.Like others have said these centres are self funding and you don’t have to go ‘fundraising’ to give something back.Volunteer in another way, help with the tea making train to operate the Hyperbaric Oxygen Chamber or something else useful.You just can’t win with some people.
I hope you keep going to the centre and that it gives you some help in your fight against this damned illness .Some just don’t deserve the help that these places give.Even down to not charging those who can’t afford to pay.
It’s like donating your organs you shouldn’t be prepared to accept one if you’re not prepared to give yours.
I’ve been associated with a Therapy Centre and still do some volunteer work for it. Yes, they are all different and offer self help, ie the membership (usually) decides, via trustees, on all policies, charges and treatments/therapies. I’m surprised they insisted on a dr’s referral as that rather goes against the spirit of supporting all people affected by MS, and also that the form included a duty to fundraise - sounds like someone inexperienced (or who didn’t realise the effect of their words), was allowed to design the form - at least, that would be giving them the benefit of the doubt!.
Most of the Centres are dependent on fundraising as they get little or no statutory funding, depending on whether they’ve been able to negotiate to supply services on behalf of the NHS, so that’s the main reason for fundraising - so that they can offer services for free to members, tho’ they are likely to ask for a donation.
Re the MS Society - I think if you ask not to be contacted about fundraising, that should be all that is required for you to be left in peace. Thankfully, there are many people who are willing to support the charity to pursue its goal of helping everyone affected by MS. However I can understand your point about not giving to a charity that you are a potential beneficiary of. Tricky - if your donation helps to find a cure or improve services, then many people would benefit.
I would just like to point out I do NOT use the centre and “not give back”. I just don’t use the centre, precisely because I don’t want to feel obligated to take on fundraising activities I have no interest in or talent for. As far as I’m concerned, if I’m going to be made to feel indebted for help, and as if I don’t deserve it unless I’m willing to get involved in things I don’t want to, I’d rather not accept it.
It’s sad that MS isn’t enough of a qualifier, without having to prove yourself worthy, by commiting to fundraising. I’m sure a lot of people sign the form, without ever intending to do the fundraising, and just don’t worry about it. But I wasn’t happy to put my signature to something I knew I wouldn’t do.
The MS Therapy Centre Tina is talking about is based on the principle of self-help. To me personally that essentially means we have to ask for help as there is no one out there seeking us out. Self-motivation is about the last thing I feel capable of most of the time, which makes me feel helpless, which makes me feel rubbish about myself…and so on!
I have used the centre. Please be reassured that there is no one standing around with a clipboard making you feel bad about not volunteering for every fundraising event! I did go to the Autumn fayre and bought some things. That, and posting things on facebook, is the extent of my fundraising. No one has ever asked me to do anything, or made me feel bad that I can’t go tin-rattling in supermarkets like I used to for other charities. I felt bad about that anyway!
They really do know that the people coming through the door aren’t exactly fit and well and could do with being made to feel welcome. And give you a nice smile. There are volunteers at the centre who have MS themselves. They use the centre and do what they can to make everyone welcome.
Tina, I am so sad that you feel that you can’t even go and find out what the place is like. I understand why it’s hard to go through the doors - it took me ages and made my boyfriend take me. However freindly a place wants to be, it’s still intimitating to even walk to the front doors, never mind through them. I have had some couselling there and still very guilty about needing to use the centre in the first place.
I don’t know what acess to the centre using public transport is like. I suspect not good. There is probably a bus stop a ‘reasonable’ walking distance away. That’s reasonable for me is more than a few years ago when I didn’t need a stick to help me walk! I couldn’t now, that’s for sure.
I do realise it would be on the honour principle, and that nobody would be literally checking up on me to make sure how much fundraising I’d done. But I did find it rather offputting to be asked to give such an undertaking at all - whether or not anybody checks you’ve kept to it.
Since my earlier post, I’ve looked at the form again, and noticed the wording seems to have been amended slightly, but this time to make it more explicit that they’re asking for a regular monthly donation - so not “fundraising activities” as such. This is in addition to the £20 to join. I don’t know if this is better or worse. A money gift might be easier to commit to, for someone who doubts they’d have the energy or motivation to get involved in “fundraising”. But on the other hand, I have no money coming in at all at the moment, either. If I gave them a monthly gift, it would be from my savings, that I’m using to live on. So I really don’t think it’s right that the form has no option for: “I cannot/do not want to give extra at the moment”. It’s all set out in such a way that they expect your monthly direct debit mandate along with your application! I suppose you could score through that paragraph, or fill in an amount of zero. But if it’s really meant to be welcoming to everyone with MS, then it shouldn’t have an application form with strings attached, asking for more money - or at least, not without making absolutely clear it’s optional. I see nothing on the form to indicate it’s discretionary. It’s more like: “Say here how much you’re going to give!” Not impressed with that at all.
