Guest guest Posted September 14, 2010 Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 , Just curious... Was the PT you went to one of the major chain outfits (like Health South, Physiotherapy Associates, etc) or was it in a hospital or an independent therapists office? Just wondering. When I first did PT, my insurance sent me to Health South. That is what was covered. They did a fair job (but they also thought the problem was a herniated disc - or just the herniated disc). I thought that office was good. After my first surgery, I needed PT. I called my insurance and they covered Physiotherapy Associates. I went to one and they were awful. I left in more pain than when I went. When I asked the therapist if he had experience dealing with people with NTDs or TC, he said no. I ended up finding an independent therapist who had experience and agreed to accept my co-pay that I would have paid to an in-network PT plus what the insurance paid. I was lucky. After my second and third surgeries, my insurance also said they would only cover Physiotherapy Associates. They have tons of offices all over ATL. I called each location that was in a reasonable drive to see if they had experience treating people with NTDs. They all said " no " and even refused to see me (at least they were then acknowledging their limitations). I told my insurance and they said they would still only cover PTA. I told them I had called all their locations within a 30 min drive (which was still farther than I was supposed to be driving) and they said that there was no limitation on how far away they were, so long as they were considered in the ATL metro area (ATL has one of the largest metro areas in the country, so that is absolutely ridiculous!). I ended up finding the PT that was with the hospital close to my house (that was a level 2 trauma center, so they had experience treating people with SCI/D). I was just wondering what facility you were at. It has been my experience that these large chains book too many patients per therapist at one time. And they don't have experience treating people with NTDs or TC. Jenn > > > This what started physical decline which I occasionally reflect on and wish > I didn't listen to her and trusted my instincts. the major issue with that > place was that the supervision was inadequate. They would show you something > and then go to the front desk. I am sure I probably wasn't doing the > exercise right but should have been supervised and redirected if I was like > other places I have visited since. > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 14, 2010 Report Share Posted September 14, 2010 Jenn, The PT place I went to was part of a small chain and called Sportsmed. The only reason I went to them was because they were up the street from my work and I was able to work it in during my lunch breaks. The injury I had was related to a minor pulled muscle in my right thigh. Sent via BlackBerry by AT & T Re: Cathing , Just curious... Was the PT you went to one of the major chain outfits (like Health South, Physiotherapy Associates, etc) or was it in a hospital or an independent therapists office? Just wondering. When I first did PT, my insurance sent me to Health South. That is what was covered. They did a fair job (but they also thought the problem was a herniated disc - or just the herniated disc). I thought that office was good. After my first surgery, I needed PT. I called my insurance and they covered Physiotherapy Associates. I went to one and they were awful. I left in more pain than when I went. When I asked the therapist if he had experience dealing with people with NTDs or TC, he said no. I ended up finding an independent therapist who had experience and agreed to accept my co-pay that I would have paid to an in-network PT plus what the insurance paid. I was lucky. After my second and third surgeries, my insurance also said they would only cover Physiotherapy Associates. They have tons of offices all over ATL. I called each location that was in a reasonable drive to see if they had experience treating people with NTDs. They all said " no " and even refused to see me (at least they were then acknowledging their limitations). I told my insurance and they said they would still only cover PTA. I told them I had called all their locations within a 30 min drive (which was still farther than I was supposed to be driving) and they said that there was no limitation on how far away they were, so long as they were considered in the ATL metro area (ATL has one of the largest metro areas in the country, so that is absolutely ridiculous!). I ended up finding the PT that was with the hospital close to my house (that was a level 2 trauma center, so they had experience treating people with SCI/D). I was just wondering what facility you were at. It has been my experience that these large chains book too many patients per therapist at one time. And they don't have experience treating people with NTDs or TC. Jenn > > > This what started physical decline which I occasionally reflect on and wish > I didn't listen to her and trusted my instincts. the major issue with that > place was that the supervision was inadequate. They would show you something > and then go to the front desk. I am sure I probably wasn't doing the > exercise right but should have been supervised and redirected if I was like > other places I have visited since. > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 17, 2010 Report Share Posted September 17, 2010 Hi ,  I was in your same position last January when I had to learn how to cath my then 4 month old. I am really not a " medical " person at all and thought that there was no way I could do it. My husband actually learned how to cath first, because I just couldn't bring myself to do it because I was afraid I would hurt my baby. My hubby cathed him for the first 2 days, and then after seeing him do it, I finally had the guts to try. I was able to do it the first time trying and after that time, I could do it. I now cath my now 11 month old 6 times a day. It has become routine, and I no longer fear it and it is not hard. Getting over my fear was the hardest part. I do have a schedule down... it's every 3 hours for us (but he can go overnight without cathing). As he grows, we'll move to every 4 hours. I also feared I would have to go to the ER, but never had to. My advice would be take someone with you when you learn who can help you out and see the process. Having my hubby there was a life-saver for me, as the nurse who taught us was not the warmest person in the world. You will be able to do it. If I can do it, you can.  If you have any more questions, please email as I feel for you because I felt the exact same way.  :-) Allie Subject: cathing To: tetheredspinalcord Date: Thursday, September 16, 2010, 6:12 PM  just a follow up question to my original post. I more than likely have to learn to cath on Monday, still terrified but resigned. I was wondering how long it took to learn and if anyone ever ended up going to the ER to get cathed because they couldn't do it while learning. Also, do you usually get a schedule down? I know everyone is different but just wondering. Thanks for taking the time to answer me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 17, 2010 Report Share Posted September 17, 2010 Thanks for emailing me. Unfortunately I have no one to take with me. I am single and live alone. I know that it is fear more than anything but I can't seem to help it. I still have hopes that I won't have to do it but deep down I know I will. Right now I have a catheter in 24hrs and everyone says that my quality of life will be better learning how to cath. I am sorry about your son, that had to be difficult. Don't think I would have been able to do it right away either. Thanks for writing me, your advice makes me feel a little better and less alone. Subject: cathing To: tetheredspinalcord Date: Thursday, September 16, 2010, 6:12 PM Â just a follow up question to my original post. I more than likely have to learn to cath on Monday, still terrified but resigned. I was wondering how long it took to learn and if anyone ever ended up going to the ER to get cathed because they couldn't do it while learning. Also, do you usually get a schedule down? I know everyone is different but just wondering. Thanks for taking the time to answer me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 17, 2010 Report Share Posted September 17, 2010 Yes, most people have a schedule. I guess it depends on if you can feel when you need to go or how much you drink but I would say 4-5 hours is pretty typical. As for going to the ER, that is an option but I think you will find that its not as bad as your mind imagines it to be, kind of like the boogey man that turns out to be a towel over the chair...you'll be fine Subject: cathing To: tetheredspinalcord Date: Thursday, September 16, 2010, 6:12 PM Â just a follow up question to my original post. I more than likely have to learn to cath on Monday, still terrified but resigned. I was wondering how long it took to learn and if anyone ever ended up going to the ER to get cathed because they couldn't do it while learning. Also, do you usually get a schedule down? I know everyone is different but just wondering. Thanks for taking the time to answer me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 23, 2010 Report Share Posted September 23, 2010 , Take it from me...someday soon you'll 'hit the right hole' (it's the one in front) without even thinking about it. lol! And I'm proud of you! You don't seem so scared anymore. Yay! >Thanks a lot for the encouragement but geez, how in the heck do you figure out >the right hole finally with no mirror. I know it is only the third day but it >is frustrating! Jodi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 28, 2010 Report Share Posted September 28, 2010 I think it took me about 2 weeks as well. I know I was using the touch method by the time i was released from IP rehab. Jenn On Wed, Sep 22, 2010 at 2:32 PM, chiara_sulprizio < chiarasulprizio@...> wrote: > > > i think it took me about two weeks to finally go without the mirror. its a > little tough to have so many things to keep track of, but it sounds like you > are getting the hang of it! that is great news. > > chiara > > > > > > How long did it take before you didnt have to use a mirror anymore? I > seem to be needing it more today than yesterday when I first started. I am > sitting on the toilet and that works fine except for the seeing part. > >  > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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