Hi Mary,
Thanks for your prompt reply. I was also surprised at the knowledge
my doc has displayed. I even heard him diagnose another patient
with Reflexive Sympathetic Dystrophy, which is another
controversial, but very real disease. It seems he's been watching
the same Discovery Health shows I have. :-P
You are correct in that my physical therapy has been core
strengthening exercises, some straight leg raises and some
ultrasound (the ultrasound was short-lived, since it provided no
relief and was kind of a pain for the therapist to do). When the SI
pain started, they began doing the TENS treatment on my back along
with some heat (while completely ignoring the piriformis pain).
This past Monday, my chiro doc told me there was nothing more he
could do for me and sent me on my way. It sucks when the healthcare
professionals kind of give up on you without a direction to go. I
see the sports med doc next week. Hopefully I'll be able to try a
different PT approach if I gripe enough.
The SI pain is starting to come back, probably since I'm starting to
tense up again. I'm hoping to be able to visit the masseuse again
soon, but boy that is pricey! Your idea to just save that money and
see a private therapist is tempting....I'll have to call around and
see what I can find.
If my sports med doc refers me to pain mgmt, I gotta take that
appointment or risk disciplinary actions if I don't. As far as the
military is concerned, I AM at that last desperate ditch effort,
cause if they can't fix me, they lose me and my years of expensive
training. A year of being unable to perform my trained duties is a
long time to them, since they spent so much money to train me. I am
gonna try to get referred to another military DO with the trigger
point therapy experience, since that has done wonders for the back
pain and given me a measure of hope. Maybe doing that can hold off
the pain mgmt folks for a while yet.
I hope everyone is doing well and having a low pain day. Thanks
again Mary!
Kayti
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