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I had total knee replacement surgery. Pt was ordered at a brisk pace immediately. Because of certain conditions I had to stop opiates and pain meds. However I did do PT till that point and was released from PT by my doctor. That is when the biggest fibromyalgia flare kicked in and this one is extremely debilitating, almost crippling....My rheumatologist insists I should continue PT, but I have read material saying with fibro you need to go Slow, sometimes , like you, nothing until you are ready. I read current material and new research that explains the why and when and it does not always agree with mainstream medicine....Because fibromyalgia has no cure right now, I feel patients should be given leeway on deciding how to get and use care -a give and take relationship w/ your doctor because the protocols aren't really working well enough to make the calls definitively and until there is an actual cure this is a situation where collaboration is key....Like you I will refuse at the right times. I will not be bullied by doctors for protocols that are not proven cures or proven protocols that actually work across the board... and open for research and open adjustments and collaborations. Why should I be expected to listen when the treatments are not across the board in success for everyone...that type of authority seems invalid and are "best stabs" at things that sometimes work but not always.
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@orest I do know that the "experts, whether Drs or PT professionals know much more text-book wise about PT than I do. But there is a certain common sense understanding about the basics of PT that is very accurate in judging it's effectiveness once tried. Combining that with what your body experiences during and after PT is a powerful and legitimate criteria to realize if that PT is beneficial or even appropriate for you as an INDIVIDUAL. Unfortunately, too many of these "experts" do not give enough credence to that feed back. The prescribing of PT when inappropriate can be just as damaging as prescribing a wrong drug! I believe too few Drs recommend PT without considering; is it for the proper condition, is it the appropriate time, what are the best procedures for that condition, the patient's physical limitations, provider's knowledge of specific difficulties and ability to provide for them and many more. At times I feel a patient is just plugged into a formula and Pt is the next thing on it so it's prescribed. Not every one in the field is like this, but there are enough that are, so in so many cases we have to become our own best advocate and that can be a challenge considering what most of us have to deal with!
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@orest to add to my previous rant: be sure that your PT person for fibromyalgia knows what they are doing -many say they deal with fibro, but they really aren't. If they cause more pain they don't know what they are doing. the American Fibromyalgia Association (AFSA) has tons of great searches -look up Myofascial Trigger Points ( MTP )-it will blow your mind...ask your fibro doctor and or PT person if they know and subscribe to this information....if they don't find a new doctor if they don't want to learn about this.