Hi I’ve had two physio appointments now. The first three weeks ago she gave me some exercises to do which I have been doing regularly. She wanted to leave it three weeks as I had only just had a relapse and she did not want to give me too much and do too much for fear of tiring me out. I’ve had another appointment today … She didn’t do exercises as such, checked how I was progressing and agreed I was getting better but muscle tone is still lost although not massively but nonetheless not as good as the right leg. She used an ultrasound machine with electrical currents which made my leg do a lot of twitching etc and hurt and then some laser. She said to to stimulate the muscles and the nerves and something to do with signals. I do feel the leg feels better from that even though I don’t know what it was exactly. What I wanted to know is have others had this type of physio and is this neuro physio? I’ve gone to a private physio company and she appeartly has experience in neuro physio? Just wondered if I’m doing right really? Thanks xxx
Hi Lisa, I have had the ultrasound therapy, but not laser, and it was done before I was diagnosed, so not by a neuro physio. It was just a normal sports physio. So no, I don’t think that type of therapy is neuro physio, specifically - although that doesn’t mean it’s wrong, and shouldn’t be included. I don’t think neuro physio is that different to ordinary physio, except that the physio will have more UNDERSTANDING of the type of problems we might have, and why. I don’t think they will necessarily have different tools and techniques - just better insight into what’s going on. “Experience in neuro physio” sounds slightly vague, and might not mean the person IS a qualified neuro physiotherapist. I don’t know if it matters that much, as long as you feel it’s helping. However, if I was looking for a new physio from scratch, I’d probably choose one who was definitely a neuro physio, not one who just claims to have experience in that area. You don’t really know if their experience was a one-day course, or what it might be. I’m not dissing your physio - if it’s helping you, that’s the main test, and I see no reason to panic and drop her. But I’m not absolutely sure she’s a neuro physio. Tina x
Hi
I agree with everything Tina said. I’ve had neuro physio plenty of times before but never had what you’ve had. When I asked one of my physios what the difference was with a normal physio, and he said a large part of it is just an understanding of the way neurological conditions affect the body. For example, a normal physio may not appreciate just how much fatigue can affect us or how quickly our muscles can get tired.
But like Tina said, if you find your one is helping you lots then that’s great, and I hope you get a lot of benefit from it.
Dan
Thanks for that. Yeah I’m not sure she has that much experience directly with neuro, maybe just did some at uni or something. However she did refer to m.s within the appointment and how it affects the signals etc, also kept saying that to be quite tactile with your limbs particularly the bad ones is a good thug…I.e brushing the leg with your hand, hairbrush etc as this keeps it stimulated or something along them lines. The machine she used yesterday I do feel may have helped … She said that the muscle tone in my lower left leg had decreased not massively but she felt he machine would increase hopefully the tone and wake the muscle up by stimulating it. She referred to fatigue although this isn’t something I feel I massively suffer with. And said that on the next app she needs to know how this made me feel…I.e tired leg, body etc and how I generally felt. I’m worrying now that I’ve gone to the wrong person…this is physio my health insurance is paying for so I only have five sessions. I have got an NHS app in the next couple of months but think this is standard NHS one. There are no Neuro physios near me either, I need them nearby due to other commitments. Like I said I do feel its slowly improving and whilst this machine thing really hurt yesterday I’m wondering if a few sessions might make the leg stronger? X
Hi Lisa,
I’m a bit sceptical of some of the things she says, and it reinforces my feeling she’s probably not a neuro physio.
For example, if, as seems most likely, problems with your leg are actually down to damage somewhere in your spinal cord, I’m not sure how the “hairbrush” advice would help, as your leg nerves aren’t “asleep” and need waking. On the contrary, they’re probably wide awake and ready for work - just can’t get messages to and from your brain properly.
Having said that, IF it’s all free anyway (insurance is paying), I don’t really see what you’ve got to lose, as it won’t actually be dangerous to have physio from someone who’s not a specialist neuro physio. It’s probably still better than nothing - they just won’t have such a detailed understanding. What would the alternative be? If the insurance Co. didn’t have any recognized neuro physios on their “approved” list, I’m guessing you’re stuck with whatever they’ve got?
I also think (if I may say so) - you might have slightly unrealistic hopes for physiotherapy. It can help, but it’s NOT a miracle cure, and may not ever restore full function, and certainly not after two sessions. Think of it more as learning to make the best of what you’ve got, rather than a promise of a cure. I’m sorry to say you might always have a weak leg in comparison with the other one - only time will tell. But a weak leg with physio is probably still going to be better than a weak leg with no treatment at all.
I’m very surprised there are NO registered neuro physios in the area. Mine would even come out to the house - although I didn’t want that, because then I’d have to do the housework! 
I found it exhausting enough having the physio, without thinking: "OMG, I’ve got to vacuum and tidy up first! ".
Tina
x
Haha your last sentence made me chuckle. I agree I am clinging to the hope my leg will get better, but I have a feeling its not gonna happen…to the point im even considering a folding stick for my bag for times when I may want to walk further. As you may or may not know I have a three year old and I’m so worried this is going affect in a bad way the fun things we do and the holidays we have etc 
my walking I feel is getting better but nowhere near what it was in terms of how far I can walk…I don’t trip it just feels heavy and weird. Just done an hour yoga with balancing and postures and was fine so things are coming back in terms of strength I think. The more I think about it the more I think she is not a neuro specialist. My leg is okay from what she did but I wouldn’t say it’s at different from before I went in accept the muscle, the valve feels like its worked out at the gym or running. So not sure that’s the effect it should have in terms of m.s physio! I did however ring the hospital about my NHS appointment in march…the lady assigned to me is a neuro physio so that’s good…I see her on 20th march but might ring to see by chance if she can get me in earlier. We on holiday in may so i want to try get as strong as I can. Just hope I don’t have another relapse either, fingers crossed! Thanks you for your honest advice and opinion hun. Xxx
hi lisa
nothing to add to the replies you have had.
but hydrotherapy is great. a local group of neuro physios “neuro voices” ran a course - just 6 sessions
there were 6 people in a group with 2 physios in the pool with us.
i really miss it now that its finished.
good luck
carole x
Thanks now do you get onto that? X
Oops how not now x
My local MS group runs a neuro physio led session in a hydrotherapy pool at the local special needs school. May be worth seeing if any of the MS groups local to you run anything similar you can join in with.
Is there a criteria? X