Unsolicited Physio Appointment

Everyday living
1

OK, I know it’s unusual to complain about getting an appointment, but I’ve just received a “confirmed appointment” for physio I neither wanted nor requested.

My MS clinic has just moved, or is in the process of moving hospitals, so I’m having the Devil’s own job trying to simply cancel the appointment as “unrequired” - I’m getting passed from pillar to post, getting nothing but recorded messages and automated queueing systems.

I eventually left a voice message on the OLD number, which is only staffed part time. It didn’t say anything about the number being discontinued (yet), so I’m hoping any messages left there still get listened to, otherwise I have no way of cancelling the appointment, and there is a very strict message at the bottom of the letter about being discharged if you miss it without notice!

There seems to have been a bit of a crossed wire, as at my last neuro appointment, we tentatively suggested physio IF I continue to have reduced gait confidence following a road accident as long ago as last October. As far as I was concerned, we were simply discussing options I might like to take up IF it was an ongoing problem, but it now seems that was interpreted as: “Yes, I’d like physio please!” It doesn’t help that I get very stressed about going to the hospital at all, about anything - AND I don’t hit it off with the physio (apologies to any who know who I’m on about and think she’s wonderful - she probably is, if you and she are lucky enough to be on the same wavelength, but I just wasn’t at all).

Reading the write-up from the last consultation, I suppose it is open to (mis)interpretation. It reads: “…if she has ongoing problems with gait confidence it would be a good idea for her to have physiotherapy and she concurred”.

Note the word: “If”. I was secretly thinking: “No chance”, but wasn’t rude enough to say so. As I thought we were only discussing provisional courses of action, and not that I was agreeing to an appointment, I didn’t see any need for an emphatic “No thank you!”. But apparently, my lack of objection has been taken as indicating: “Yes please, book me an appointment!”.

Gaaaggggh!

I suppose it’s good they’re proactive, but I shouldn’t end up having to fend off unwanted appointments. I don’t think my “gait confidence” is noticeably worse than it has been for years and years, although my range has suffered, following both the accident, and a recent minor relapse or pseudo relapse, which the neuro didn’t seem too worried about. I don’t feel I have a pressing need for physio, as I am getting about as well as usual - just not quite as ambitious distance-wise.

Tina

2

You can’t win can you Tina. After my ‘knew knee op’ l was going for physio at the local hospital. Lovely girls - all aged about 12!!

l have been good - doing all the exercises as shown. After 5 appointments - the last one held in ‘the gym’ - where we had to do a circuit of the exercise machines - l mistakenly told the physio that l have 3 of the machines at home and do use them regularly. So l then find l am ‘struck off the list’ - as l am well able to manage at home. One thing the physio did point out was l needed to see a podiatrist for orthotics. As my feet fall in and then so does my knee and hip. Also, one leg is longer then the other. My GP - did refer me for orthotics - but it was at a hospital an hour away - and the waiting time 18 weeks! So l contacted the local private physio centre and the following day had an appointment. They studied how l walked [or didn’t walk] checked the difference in leg length - and ‘moulded’ the orthotics to how my feet should be to improve my gait. l was told to only wear them for an hour at a time and gradually build up to using them fulltime. Well, they are like magic. As soon as l tried to walk in them - l found such an improvement - that l kept them in all the time. With the short leg now a bit longer - and the other one with the arch supported - life is much better.

And all for £60- The podiatrist did show me some Pilates exercises to improve my ‘core-strength’ - and arranged for me to see their Pilates teacher for a free assessment. This was supposed to be for 15 mins - but an hour later l came out like a new woman. Yesterday, l went for a one - to -one hour session. Most of the exercises l can do standing up [holding onto rollator ] and others sat down or lying on their couch. lt was £38 well spent. Eventually, after lots of practise at home l might join one of her classes - as she only takes 4 people at a time. And there is the ‘bed’ to lie on. lts a long time since l have been able to get down on the floor and up again. We did exercises on a gym ball [l call it a fat ball] l do have one and can balance on it whilst watching telly. You can feel all your muscle twitching whilst balance on it.

The physio classes at the hospital - meant l had to get someone to drive me there and drop me off at the nearest entrance. Then it was quite a walk to get to the clinic. Not easy. Then after the class - l would have the same walk back and wait for my lift. For you - l know it is even harder as you have to wait for buses etc. l fully understand your anxiety about hospital appointments. lts nothing for me to have had to wait 3hrs - and sitting down is not for me - l need to be keeping on the move otherwise my joints just seize up. Then you think you need the loo - and wonder if you can go and get back before they call out your name. And for some reason the whole experience is so exhausting. All l want is to go to bed afterwards.

3

Oh, honestly - that is equally barmy - being discharged when you wanted the sessions, after making the mistake of admitting you could do the exercises at home…

But yeah, the hospital - I agree, so exhausting! And that’s even if I’m not having physio, but just the twice-yearly two-minute chat.

I hate going anyway, but yes, I do think the transport hassle adds to the angst. I’ve always got that worry about whether I will get there in time - or at all! Any kind of anxiety greatly adds to fatigue, as you will know,

I wouldn’t rule out physio IF there was a specific problem that greatly needed rehabilitation. My dislike of the lady is not such that I would cut off my nose to spite my face, if it was very obvious I needed help.

But I don’t think that’s the case at the moment. Again, I think it’s down to mistakenly saying something that’s been misunderstood. I explained that I haven’t been doing many/any of the organised walks I used to do, because it has been so rainy, and I lack confidence on wet ground. But I think he took this as being a new problem, and not something I’ve had since forever!

Even as a child, I lacked confidence on slippery or uneven ground - it’s not a new thing that’s come on since my traffic accident. So I very much doubt physio is going to fix a fundamental limitation that has been there for decades, and might or might not even have anything to do with MS. I think the best way to maintain/regain my confidence with walking is just to go walking - but I don’t think a bit of physio is going to make me confident in the wet, because I never, ever have been. If I used to be OK with it, I would see some prospect that they might be able to help me improve. But I don’t see much prospect of fixing something that never worked in the first place.

I don’t know if I started very young with MS, or if I was born with some pre-existing problem that meant I always struggled physically. Back in the 60s, unflattering terms like: “minimal brain damage” and “clumsy child syndrome” were bandied about.

To the point I always believed a certain part of my brain must be underdeveloped or missing BEFORE MS was ever suspected. I knew I couldn’t balance and stuff - but it was normal for me. So when I had my first MRI, I was quite surprised that (apart from the half-dozen lesions) none of my brain was missing or developmentally abnormal. I said as much to the neuro!

He laughed and thought I was absolutely bonkers, and said, you’re a bright girl - good job, loads of qualifications - why on earth would you imagine any of it was “missing”? I said: “I dunno, it’s just that I’ve always been clumsy - I expected there to be something wrong with it!”

He said: “No, no, it’s perfect - apart from the holes!” LoL! I love that - me all over - and all of us with MS I s’pose. “Perfect apart from the holes”.

Tina

x