Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Increased Pain with PT

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Increased Pain with PT

    Hi everyone,

    I just finished my 3rd week of physical therapy and I've found that my pain has increased greatly since I started. I'm definitely stronger now though. My increased pain is in my shoulder blade and this sends shooting pain down my right arm. I had this problem before my surgery but not this bad. Now my leg has the same type of pain. My arm will also get very tingly. I've told all of this to the physical therapist but I'm still doing the same exercises. I've had an MRI of my neck done to check for herniated discs but they appeared fine. I'm going to see a neurologist next month for the arm pain/numbness and possibly an EMG of both arms. Does anyone else have these sort of problems? This pain has me really depressed lately. It's slightly worse than it was pre-op. I was not expecting this.

    Thanks,

    Shell
    Chemist, 30

    1998- 18 degrees
    2003- 33 degrees
    2005- 37 degrees
    2006- 44 degrees
    May 2007- 47 degrees
    December 2007 - 50 degrees X-ray

    Surgery May 27, 2008
    Fused T1 to L2
    Curve corrected to 15 degrees X-ray

  • #2
    Hi Shell...

    It seems to me that you might want to find a new PT. If you've talked about the pain, and your exercises didn't change, you're working with someone who is incompetent. Be sure that you're working with someone specialized in spine.

    Regards,
    Linda
    Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
    Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

    Comment


    • #3
      Hi Shell

      Wow, its been a year! You might want to slow down on the PT. Maybe skip a week and see if you recover.

      I did all of my recovery at a snails pace and listened to my body. My PT was a huge success, and hopefully you can get this shoulder, arm pain under control.

      Linda is right, if your physical therapist isn't responding in any way to your cries of pain, something's wrong. If they have never worked with a scoliotic, they should say so, and at least put on the brakes.
      Ed
      49 yr old male, now 63, the new 64...
      Pre surgery curves T70,L70
      ALIF/PSA T2-Pelvis 01/29/08, 01/31/08 7" pelvic anchors BMP
      Dr Brett Menmuir St Marys Hospital Reno,Nevada

      Bending and twisting pics after full fusion
      http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/showt...on.&highlight=

      My x-rays
      http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...2&d=1228779214

      http://www.scoliosis.org/forum/attac...3&d=1228779258

      Comment


      • #4
        Thanks Linda and Ed! I have PT again tomorrow and I'm planning on telling the guy flat out (again) what is wrong. If he doesn't change my exercises I'm going to call my surgeon and ask him to recommend someone. A week off may do me some good too. When I'm not at work, I'm at home lying on the couch recovering from the day. This is not fun.

        Thanks again!

        Shell
        Chemist, 30

        1998- 18 degrees
        2003- 33 degrees
        2005- 37 degrees
        2006- 44 degrees
        May 2007- 47 degrees
        December 2007 - 50 degrees X-ray

        Surgery May 27, 2008
        Fused T1 to L2
        Curve corrected to 15 degrees X-ray

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by briarrose View Post
          Thanks Linda and Ed! I have PT again tomorrow and I'm planning on telling the guy flat out (again) what is wrong. If he doesn't change my exercises I'm going to call my surgeon and ask him to recommend someone. A week off may do me some good too. When I'm not at work, I'm at home lying on the couch recovering from the day. This is not fun.

          Thanks again!

          Shell
          Shell,

          some muscle soreness after PT is ok, but not what you describe. Sounds like you have a good plan. When I overdo it with my arms, I also get pain around the shoulder blades (and sometimes it takes up to 10 days to get completely better); however, I don't have any shooting pains like you describe down your arm.

          I hope you can figure this out and maybe get a gentler PT.
          __________________________________________
          Debbe - 50 yrs old

          Milwalkee Brace 1976 - 79
          Told by Dr. my curve would never progress

          Surgery 10/15/08 in NYC by Dr. Michael Neuwirth
          Pre-Surgury Thorasic: 66 degrees
          Pre-Surgery Lumbar: 66 degrees

          Post-Surgery Thorasic: 34 degrees
          Post-Surgery Lumbar: 22 degrees

          Comment


          • #6
            I had a similar experiance working w/an exersice ball. My PT had it on a bed & had me lay forward on it while my feet stay on the ground. Then I was to roll it back and forth using my hips. Yea...I just didnt move like that, but I tried. I then, after 4 rolls in both directions, said " Um, I dont think I should be doing this one" She asked why....I told her, its very uncomfortable and it feels like Im over extending my spine/back. I was VERY sore the next few days and I told her I refused to do that one again. Taken care it.....that one bit the dust. I did take a week off too....and felt bad about it...not doing any of the "hard core" thigh/leg moves, but I promised myself I would start fresh tomorrow!
            Lynn -30.... something
            DxD @ 8 yrs old: 10* curve-no brace-no nothin'!
            At age 26: Thorasic 48*/Lumbar 50*
            At age 34: Thorasic 58*/Lumbar 60*
            Posterior T5-L4 Fusion Jan 14th, 2009 w/Dr Tribus
            UW Madison, WI Hospital
            **AFTER: less than 10* Thorasic/15* Lumbar**

            Comment


            • #7
              Originally posted by LynnMarie74 View Post
              I had a similar experiance working w/an exersice ball. My PT had it on a bed & had me lay forward on it while my feet stay on the ground. Then I was to roll it back and forth using my hips. Yea...I just didnt move like that, but I tried. I then, after 4 rolls in both directions, said " Um, I dont think I should be doing this one" She asked why....I told her, its very uncomfortable and it feels like Im over extending my spine/back. I was VERY sore the next few days and I told her I refused to do that one again. Taken care it.....that one bit the dust. I did take a week off too....and felt bad about it...not doing any of the "hard core" thigh/leg moves, but I promised myself I would start fresh tomorrow!
              Lynn & Shell,

              I didn't like the exercise ball either. The PT put it on the ground and had me lean across it (like on my hands and knees with this ball supporting me underneath. Then either with no weight or just 1 lb weights in my hands, she'd have me raise one arm at a time and then one leg at a time, and then one arm and the opposite leg BOTH at the same time. This just seemed to put too much stress on my back and I was ALWAYS sore afterwards. We both jointly decided that it just wasn't right for me.
              __________________________________________
              Debbe - 50 yrs old

              Milwalkee Brace 1976 - 79
              Told by Dr. my curve would never progress

              Surgery 10/15/08 in NYC by Dr. Michael Neuwirth
              Pre-Surgury Thorasic: 66 degrees
              Pre-Surgery Lumbar: 66 degrees

              Post-Surgery Thorasic: 34 degrees
              Post-Surgery Lumbar: 22 degrees

              Comment


              • #8
                Lynn and Debbe,

                I'm not a fan of the exercise ball either. I can't believe they had you lay across a ball with a fused spine! I do that same move but without a ball underneath me.

                I just got back from PT and told the guy that I thought the exercises were aggravating my shoulder and arm. He had me do only leg stuff today. My shoulder is still hurting really bad so maybe the exercises aren't related to the pain. This is so frustrating.

                Shell
                Chemist, 30

                1998- 18 degrees
                2003- 33 degrees
                2005- 37 degrees
                2006- 44 degrees
                May 2007- 47 degrees
                December 2007 - 50 degrees X-ray

                Surgery May 27, 2008
                Fused T1 to L2
                Curve corrected to 15 degrees X-ray

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by briarrose View Post
                  Lynn and Debbe,

                  I'm not a fan of the exercise ball either. I can't believe they had you lay across a ball with a fused spine! I do that same move but without a ball underneath me.

                  I just got back from PT and told the guy that I thought the exercises were aggravating my shoulder and arm. He had me do only leg stuff today. My shoulder is still hurting really bad so maybe the exercises aren't related to the pain. This is so frustrating.

                  Shell
                  Shell,

                  I would think it's more stress on the spine without the ball underneath. It was there for support. I think for me it was more a matter of doing the one arm opposite leg at the same time that put me over the edge. Anyway, if something bothers you, the thing to do is stop until you're feeling better then try again slowly, or just cut out that thing all together. AFter a few times of that really getting to me, we mutually decided it was enough!

                  How is your shoulder hurting? Around the back, where your shoulder blade is, or at the very top of your arm?
                  __________________________________________
                  Debbe - 50 yrs old

                  Milwalkee Brace 1976 - 79
                  Told by Dr. my curve would never progress

                  Surgery 10/15/08 in NYC by Dr. Michael Neuwirth
                  Pre-Surgury Thorasic: 66 degrees
                  Pre-Surgery Lumbar: 66 degrees

                  Post-Surgery Thorasic: 34 degrees
                  Post-Surgery Lumbar: 22 degrees

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by debbei View Post
                    Shell,

                    I would think it's more stress on the spine without the ball underneath. It was there for support. I think for me it was more a matter of doing the one arm opposite leg at the same time that put me over the edge. Anyway, if something bothers you, the thing to do is stop until you're feeling better then try again slowly, or just cut out that thing all together. AFter a few times of that really getting to me, we mutually decided it was enough!

                    How is your shoulder hurting? Around the back, where your shoulder blade is, or at the very top of your arm?
                    I'll have to try that exercise with the ball. I have one at home. That one doesn't bother me though.

                    My shoulder blade area hurts the most- sometimes at the base of my shoulder blade. The worst pain is about 1.5 inches to the right of T2 and T3. It hurts just to touch that area and it also burns most of the time. Massaging it shoots pain down my right arm. I also have a lot of pain in between my collar bones on the right side. Are you still having shoulder pain? Is yours anything like this?
                    Chemist, 30

                    1998- 18 degrees
                    2003- 33 degrees
                    2005- 37 degrees
                    2006- 44 degrees
                    May 2007- 47 degrees
                    December 2007 - 50 degrees X-ray

                    Surgery May 27, 2008
                    Fused T1 to L2
                    Curve corrected to 15 degrees X-ray

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      How did you find your PT? Was the place recommended by your doctor? Is there a listing of PTs who specialize in spine exercises? Like SRS for doctors?

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Originally posted by aterry View Post
                        How did you find your PT? Was the place recommended by your doctor? Is there a listing of PTs who specialize in spine exercises? Like SRS for doctors?
                        I've wondered about that too. Are there PTs that are specifically trained in therapy for after fusion? If not, I'd be extremely leery to work with a PT even if they were well trained in the spine...

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by aterry View Post
                          How did you find your PT? Was the place recommended by your doctor? Is there a listing of PTs who specialize in spine exercises? Like SRS for doctors?
                          aterry, The UCSF spinal deformity clinic has a list of local physiotherapists who specialize in spine, so you might want to start your search at your specialist's office.

                          MissEmmy, I doubt there is any specific training for treating patients with spine fusions. My physiotherapist worked on the spine floor at the hospital prior to going into private practice. So, she had a lot of experience from that perspective.

                          --Linda
                          Never argue with an idiot. They always drag you down to their level, and then they beat you with experience. --Twain
                          ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          Surgery 2/10/93 A/P fusion T4-L3
                          Surgery 1/20/11 A/P fusion L2-sacrum w/pelvic fixation

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            Originally posted by briarrose View Post
                            I'll have to try that exercise with the ball. I have one at home. That one doesn't bother me though.

                            My shoulder blade area hurts the most- sometimes at the base of my shoulder blade. The worst pain is about 1.5 inches to the right of T2 and T3. It hurts just to touch that area and it also burns most of the time. Massaging it shoots pain down my right arm. I also have a lot of pain in between my collar bones on the right side. Are you still having shoulder pain? Is yours anything like this?
                            Shell,

                            my pain is the same, about 1.5 inches but to the left of T2 & T3. Massage by my husband helps, but only for a few minutes. Any more than that drives me crazy and starts to hurt. I don't have any of the collar bone problems though. My shoulder issue is a frozen shoulder, and I'm back in PT for it which is really helping.
                            __________________________________________
                            Debbe - 50 yrs old

                            Milwalkee Brace 1976 - 79
                            Told by Dr. my curve would never progress

                            Surgery 10/15/08 in NYC by Dr. Michael Neuwirth
                            Pre-Surgury Thorasic: 66 degrees
                            Pre-Surgery Lumbar: 66 degrees

                            Post-Surgery Thorasic: 34 degrees
                            Post-Surgery Lumbar: 22 degrees

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              Originally posted by debbei View Post
                              Shell,

                              my pain is the same, about 1.5 inches but to the left of T2 & T3. Massage by my husband helps, but only for a few minutes. Any more than that drives me crazy and starts to hurt. I don't have any of the collar bone problems though. My shoulder issue is a frozen shoulder, and I'm back in PT for it which is really helping.
                              So how do you know if you have frozen shoulder? I've been wondering if I had this since I saw one of your past posts about it. I'm able to rotate my shoulder. I have some limited movement but I assumed this was from being fused up so high. Did you have this pain pre-op?
                              Chemist, 30

                              1998- 18 degrees
                              2003- 33 degrees
                              2005- 37 degrees
                              2006- 44 degrees
                              May 2007- 47 degrees
                              December 2007 - 50 degrees X-ray

                              Surgery May 27, 2008
                              Fused T1 to L2
                              Curve corrected to 15 degrees X-ray

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X