OK OT is for occupational therapy
So I have been under going occupational therapy for RA-induced carpal tunnel syndrome. I think it's fantastic. So I started do some research and thinking (bad sign) and same as I first read in June 06 when I was diagnosed, occupational therapy is suppose to be part of your RA treatment. And I believe it, and kept wondering when it would be introduced. I am already beginning into ulnar drift with my right hand.
The tips of my two middle fingers (Joonie that's for you) are still completely numb, but overall, both my hands are moving better and just plain feel better. If this is permanent nerve damage, I know understand why I finally ended up in ER after four nights of horrifying pain.
Two times a week I get a paraffin hot wax, ultrasound, and exercises. And I am doing exercises at home twice a day. My reading says that OT helps with the development of the hand ulnar drift and is generally helpful over for RA patients.
So my question is, how many of you are under or have done OT as part of your RA treatment? The only reason this happened is because I started having CTS again, told my rheumy, who said go to your primary, and she ordered it up. Her nurse said they had a hard time finding an occupational therapist. I am just surprised the rheumy didn't ever bring it up. Just curious if anyone else does OT as part of their regime. Happy Holidays! Cathy
Glad the therapy is helping you Cathy....I've had physical therapy on and off for years for Fibro in my back and neck...it "unlocked" my muscles so I could move and turn my neck without crying.There's an PT department in the arthritis centre where my RD is, and I
have an OT assigned to me. When my RD thinks I need OT she sends me
down there and then I go for as long as needed. I went for quite a
while for my knee. I got all kinds of physical therapy and they have a
little gym where they showed me exercises I can do on machines, They
also have a warm water pool where they teach RA friendly exercises and
I went there for 8 weeks.
There's an OT department, too, and they made me some new insoles.
Intergrated medicine is really great and something that socilaised medicine really facilitates!
Thanks Gimpy - I had sudden onset CTS symptoms once before and it was straight to the hand surgeon, whose only recommendation was immediate double hand surgery. I declined because I wanted an explanation of why I had developed this suddenly, and it wasn't repetitive motion. No mention of OT, splinting, checking for something underlying like say, RA, nothing, straight to surgery. Then the symptoms suddenly went away until recently. I am very glad my fabulous primary and I decided on OT because I am not a surgical candidate if this is caused by inflammation.
I am unsure whether I have permanent damage however, as this weekend I had four days of rest and every morning when I wake up there are no symptoms, and after I get up and start moving around, the numbness returns. I think that's a good sign.
And I have to agree, this is a big difference between insurance-run and socialized medicine.
I have just finished PT after having it for a year. It has been a lifesaver.