Re: Physiotherapy-prevent for the future

[Guest guest]

From: Stavroula Kitiri <stavroula.kitiri@...>

Subject: Physiotherapy-prevent for the future

cammaltby@...

Date: Saturday, April 2, 2011, 1:23 PM

Dear Cam,

thank you for the information which was really very helful for me.

I am 38 years old and I am fused from T2-L2 with harrington rod instrumentation

27 years ago. I didn't have any problems since last year that I developed back

pain, muscle stiffness and because of the harrington rod I was not allowed to do

an MRI, I had a CT scan that showed osteoarthritis and bulging of discs below

the fusion from L3-I1.

I delivered 3 children with normal birth who are 10, 5 and 3 years old. I am

Head of Pharmacy Department in a hospital. I work less hours at the moment with

modification not in my duties but in my work hours. We have decided to reduce my

working hours, my neurologist suggested because osteoarthritis he said will

never get better and taking in mind that I have also 3 kids to take care of and

having problems at this age, he suggested to work part time. If this becomes

permanent solution they have to reduce my salary and duties as well.

I agree with this and with less hours I may have more time for swimming and

pilates and taking care the kids. But I don't want to loose my position, I am in

the same position for 13 years and I love my job, I have spent so many hours to

organize everything but I have also to think about my future. I have so much

energy at the moment. Yes you are right, I have pain mostly in my waist and

shoulderplate in left side.

I have tried last year the scoliogold method in SOS scoliosis phsysiotherapy

clinic in london (7 hours a day for 4 weeks). I felt that this helped me and I

have a program to continue at home (we made special room for this).

Unfortunatelly I do not have always the time because of work and kids.

The exercises where mostly de-rotation for people to correct scoliosis and there

was no person with fusion, so I am not sure if with these exercises the

osteoarthritis progress. I think long hanging helps.

I have not met in my whole life another person with fusion. I wonder if there is

in US a place where physiotherpy for people with harrington rod with special

exercises or if with a special program we can slow the progress.

Fortunatelly I have low weight, I had always had low weight and this is

something good for me as doctors said.

I would appreciate if you can tell me again your opinion and suggestions.

Thanks a lot

>

> Stavroula,

>

> I am sorry I cant recall if you introduced yourself, or told us where you

live, but I am guessing that you are not in the US? I ask because every country

has different disability laws and what goes for one certainly would not go for

another.

>

> If you reduce your hours without a concurrent doctors diagnosis that you must

do so, does that not limit your entitlement in the future to disability?

Also...making the reduction will lower the threshold upon which future payments

will be based....so I advise you to seek council on this from someone who

specializes in disability before you undertake this course of action.

>

> I get the feeling that you have already made up your mind to undertake a

fitness regimen, and I am guessing that you already have a fair amount of

pain...which is prompting you to do so. Please forgive me if I am incorrect...I

just cant imagine why you would do so unless these statements are correct. I

wonder if you have make attempts to modify your work environment in ways that

might make you more comfortable. Have you the ability and relationship with a

supervisor that will permit you to experiment with such modifications?

>

> I dont recall if you said what you do for work, how old you are or how long

your fusion is. Also...what levels are you fused to, if you know?

>

> I can only related from my own experiences and whats available in my own

community so I may be off base...but you can not exercise full time...it might

well make things worse for you. Why not take a slower approach? Continue with

your pilates 2 or 3x a week and swim or walk the other days. They say the

aquatic environment effectively doubles the workout so just :30 mins of well

planned time in the water can be quite effective without giving up your whole

day. Likewise...walking :20 minutes, finding a way to walk to or at work during

breaks can have the same effect as a walking program at home. And of course if

you are looking to shed weight then that can be done while working simply by

watching your calorie intake and planning carefully for nutritious meals. Taking

weight off slowly is said to be the best method...so just eliminating 200

calories a day (or burning them) will yield about 20 lbs in one years time. So

think slow and steady.

>

> If you havent already found it in our links...there is a book call " Pilates

for Fragile Backs " written by member Andy Stanton and here is a link to it:

>

> http://www.pilatesforfragilebacks.com/index.htm

>

> I am not endorsing this book or promising anything from it. I never did

Pilates myself, we are just sharing whats out there. I believe Andy will

correspond with you if you have questions. My recollection is that she undertook

her pilates in an effort such as you are making, and still did go on to have

more surgery, but she certainly would be a wealth of knowledge for you.

>

> Take Care, Cam

>