ANA Discussion Forum
Post-Treatment => Headaches => Topic started by: Mei Mei on April 20, 2011, 01:18:40 am
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I'm a new person. The nurse practitioner referred me to Myofacial Release Therapy in Georgetown Hospital PT Dept. Still have more therapy to go but sure beats surgery and having an electric stim implant: The headaches are gone but still having some issues with the neck and scalp, lower part of head. It is painful to touch but one step at a time. I am headache free.
Give it a try. Find a therapist in your state.
http://mfr.somapt.com/
Sincerely,
Mei Mei
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Mei Mei, I am so glad this worked for you. Keep healing!
staypoz
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Mei Mei, you don't know how thrilled I am for you that life is finally better! I hope it keeps on that way now!
Cheryl R
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Mei Mei ......
It is incredible all of the hoops you had to jump through before being relieved of your awful headaches. So glad the myofacial release therapy worked! This should be very encouraging to others dealing with chronic headaches post-op.
Keep us posted. Clarice
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Mei Mei ~
I'm delighted to learn that your headaches have finally been conquered. Many prayers and your determination to seek a solution are to be acknowledged. Your headache travails and the positive conclusion to your journey to relief is an inspiration to those facing similar issues and feeling frustrated and discouraged. Be like Mei Mei and don't give up! There will be an answer!
Jim
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You just made me smile ;D and laugh, Jim! You can't give up. I'm so lucky I found Maureen Moriarity who referred me to Michael and Scott at Georgetown. They are miracle workers. There's still more work to go. He keeps finding knots where I didn't know I had pain and he works it out. He knows all the spots that are connected to the Occipital Nerve and C2 ...all the way down the back of my shoulder which didn't even hurt. They really are well trained. Dr. Niparko's nurse wrote me a note and is going to tell him about it and refer their post op headache patients to this.
Thanks Clarice, Cheryl and Tricia!
Hugs and Happy Easter!
Mei Mei
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I am headache free.
Mei Mei,
I cannot believe I just read that! Miracles do happen, God helps those who help themselves, etc, etc! :D I am soooo happy for you.
Let's pray that this positive turn continues. Will be interested to see if others have tried this sort of treatment.
Pleased as punch that you posted this!
Maureen
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You're great, Moe!
It takes several sessions to get all the kinks out and there are several hundred kinks, believe me. Google your state and you will find a therapist.
Are you going to be in Cincinnati on June 17 19? I hope so. I want to meet all of you.
Hugs,
Mei Mei
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No Cincinnati this year. Maybe next year.
I'll be recuperating from my Alaskan cruise :) for my 50th birthday :D :D
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Well, congratulations! I hope you enjoy the cruise. Will get to meet you someday.
Mei Mei
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Oh, Mei Mei, I am so happy for you! This really is such very good news!
-Tod
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One word for you Mei Mei....Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy! :) I am SO glad you are FINALLY finding relief!! Now life can go on, eh? Jim's right, perserverance does pay off!! Thanks for the fantastic news!
Jay
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Thank you, Tod and Jay! I'm so happy now. I still have pins and needles and a stiff neck so I have to keep going until all the bumps are ironed out. I'm sharing the news so that none of you ANers go the route I went trying everything else. I never heard of this before and yesterday I had an appointment at the Arthritis practice. I hadn't seen him since Feb and told him to take all those drugs off my list. Told him I'm not having any more headaches. His reply: AWESOME...over and over again. Also sent a note to Dr. Niparko's nurse and she said she would share this with him and tell future patients to go.
The problem is that it is hard to get appointments with them. They are so much in demand.
It's going to be a Happy Easter this year!
Mei Mei ;D
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Congrats again Meimei...
I had my first appointment today...it went very well..my therapist name is Terry.
she seems to know alot about the muscles where the pain is generating from.
She said my muscles are all in a bunch..tight all the time..causing pain and inflamation.
i go back on Wed.
There is hope...
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Oh dear, Cindy!
I can't tell you how happy I am for you. You have to keep going two to three times a week...just book up those appointments with her. There are millions of knots needing to be released. When Michael kept saying: Here's another one. I replied: It's like a land mine! and he laughed and laughed. It was a great comparison. We have lands minds in our neck shoulders and scalp that have to be released. I'm so happy your on the road to wellness! Dr. Ducic said ablation was a "waste of time" but instead referred me to Maureen who in turn referred me to Michael and Scott.
YIPEE! ;D
Hugs,
Mei Mei
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I had to join in on the shout out support for myofacial release therapy. While I am still pre-op, I was dealing with debiliatating daily headaches that were just awful. My neurologist referred me to 4 weeks of myofacial release therapy (3x week) and BAM.... worked like a charm. After just a few treatments I felt a world of difference as it released pressure on my occipital nerve.
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Wow! I'm so happy for you. I wish it were mentioned earlier to me and to all of us. It has been around for a long time, I've found out but none of us knew about it here on the Headache Forum. My doctors never referred me to it, but my nurse practitioner with a PhD: Dr. Maureen Moriarity referred it to me.
The appointments are hard to get but once you're on the schedule, you on the road to healing.
Congratulations and hugs to you!
Mei Mei
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Yesterday the therapist told me Your shoulders are not earrings....i am so stiff,,my shoulders are up near my ears....she did some traction,massage.3 sets of 10 on two diferent machines...heat for 15,She said she broke through on layer of tightness..more to come next week.
Thanks MeiMei
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You're welcome, Cindy. I bet you were sleepy when you left and will sleep well tonight. My therapist had me move my eyes in different directions as he was pressing on my occipital nerves to help release it. It was such a crazy feeling...moving my eyeballs so that he could feel my nerves on the back of my head. Just incredible stuff!
Hugs,
Mei Mei
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Hi Mei Mei
I'm so glad to hear your headaches are gone!!!
Jennifer
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Thank you. I hope they will be gone for everyone here.
It's been a long and arduous road.
Mei Mei
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Hi Mei Mei,
Congratulations on finding some help! I'm going to look into it. Have you ever heard of A.R.T.? I have a wonderful chiropractor that does this & it sounds very similar. It worked miracles on my plantars facciitis.
On a side note, my headaches are not nearly as bad as yours. I think I jinxed myself with my last post a while back about being headache free. It lasted 3 months! I was so ecstatic! Then I drove to LA twice in a row & the final straw was going bowling! Oh the pain! I don't know how you've carried on.
Thanks so keeping us all posted!
Carolyn
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Thank you. Do what you can that helps.
I am in Turkey now. The airplane ride over was so hard on my neck. and occiptal area. I thnk it might have been the air pressure.
Talk later when I come back
MM
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Mei Mei,
Hope you are having a wonderful and headache free time in Turkey. Your experience with Myofacial Release Therapy has been inspiring. Ken is continuing to deal with headaches and finding a way to eliminate the headache meds would be wonderful.
Miranda
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I hope Ken is better and all of you are going to MRT. I am headache free still, but still have pressure in the side of neck and sub occipital area. There are still pins and needles on the AN side of the scalp and it is very tender....BUT NO HEADACHES!!!!
Am home again now since last night and will go for therapy this afternoon.
Mei Mei
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Just came across this tread..So happy for you Mei Mei...you have suffered alot...and happy for those who have found this type of therapy..:))))
Jo
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Hi ..does myofacial therapy help with headaches after radiosurgery as well.. ornly caused by traditional surgery?
Thanks
anna
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I don't know if it does. I think it might because you would have some tension to release from the pain of the headache. If I were you, I would get a referral for a month of sessions twice a week and talk it over with the therapist.
Yesterday Michael massaged my first ribs and it was so painful. I didn't know that the pain extended that far down but he said it is all connected. Today I woke up with a big headache and it's probably from trying something different. I hadn't had a headache in about two months so something must have happened to stir things up.
He was trying to loosen things for the surgery that is scheduled today at noon at Georgetown with Dr. Ducic.
We decided to go ahead with it since the myofacial cured the headaches but the Titanium mesh is still entrapping the C2 nerves and the C1 is involved down to my first rib and back of shoulder. My neck is killing me and I still can't turn my head. The pins and needles on the scalp and ir stings when I touch it. I'm still behind Myofacial release therapy but I have to do this surgery today because all three nerves: Lesser, greater occipital and dorsal were so damaged beyond repair from my AN surgery. The worst thing for AN surgery follow up that I experienced was my Summer and Fall taking Voltaren, then Lyrica, and finally Lithium. Never go the drug route...at least internally. Right now I am using Voltaren cream to rub on my neck and the scalp.
Will write to you on Saturday when I get home.
Mei Mei
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Oh, WOW, Mei Mei .....
Truly was hoping your headaches were a thing of the past, with the myofacial release therapy ...... and maybe this is only a temporary function of the latest session.
Best wishes and prayers for success with this surgery today.
Clarice
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Mei Mei ....BEST wishes for today's surgery! Hope it will make things way better and looking forward hearing from you on Saturday!
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Mei Mei, I hope this goes well for you and has been way too much pain and stress for you! I really wish for nothing to not go right and have problems like you had in Cleveland. I wish you well! Cheryl R
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Mei Mei,
Sorry to hear that you have to go under the knife again >:( Praying for a successful surgery and recovery.
And little to no headaches too!
Maureen
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Mei Mei,
I hope you are feeling well.
Thank you for all of your insight and advice. I went today for my first visit to Myofacail release. I am praying for some good results.
I hope you continue to see results.
Take Care,
Bell
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HHey Bell, glad to hear you've started on MRT. It's powerful stuff.
Hope you are sleeping well tonight. I slept for two days after my firt two sessions. ;D
Mei Mei
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Hi Mei Mei ..glad to see you are back from surgery and feeling great! My husband is scheduling his myofacial appointment today in NYC. Will keep everyone updated regarding results.
Best Anna
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Wow! I'm glad everybody is going to MRT! I'm so excited. It sure will help whatever ails you. My therapist release the nerves on my first rib. I didn't know I had pain there, but somehow it is connected to the Cervical nerves so he knew he had to work on all the other stuff. This was the last time I saw him...the day before my surgery. I got a headache and he thinks it came from releasing the 1st rib.
Keep sending those great reports.
Mei Mei
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I just thought I would chime in. I have been lurking for a while now. I had surgery 2 years ago and am still in daily, totally debilitating pain with my headaches. I am on a whopping amount of pain meds to cope with them but am hoping to taper some of these down over the next year… I am going to write a full update of my journey later on but, inspired by this tread I am going to see a myofacial release therapist tonight! I will let people know how my treatment goes (I’m in Melbourne, Australia…)
Thanks for the 'heads' up on this approach Mei Mei :)
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;D Lupy et al, I'm so happy to hear from you that you are starting up MRT. It's really the most powerful thing I've done to get better. It's the best thing invented since Starbucks! >:D I have to thank the nurse practitioner, Maureen Moriarity, at Georgetown Neurology for prescribing it for me. The plastic surgeon, Dr. Ducic who did my excision surgery referred me to her. Prior to that I was doing what everybody else is doing for the Post-surgical headaches...taking pills, pills and more pills. The pills are not a solution and just make you sick, nervous maybe, constipated and sleepless.
Everybody keep me updated on your relief. I am delighted to read all your great news. I get my stitches out on June 21st just after I come back from the Cincinnati Symposium. Then I can have the MRT done on my C2 nerve on my neck that is bothering me; until then I ice it.
In good health,
Mei Mei
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OK, well I am a bit annoyed. This woman was advertised as a myofascial release therapist by her agency, but at the end of the treatment said she was only a ‘myotherapist’. >:( Myotherapy is much stronger than myofascial and although I feel much more free in my neck and back, I was up until 5am with pain and had to skip work today. This is even after I told her to go gentle. However, I do tend to have a strong reaction to treatments the first time so will hold off on a final verdict for a few days. Meanwhile I am going to keep looking for a myofascial therapist. They are very few and far between in Melbourne! I will keep people updated.
One weird thing did happen, and this may just be me, has anyone else ever had big emotional releases during or after surgery? I was very shaky and distressed after this treatment and couldn’t stop thinking about the operation? She said something about muscles holding memories, have other people heard of this?
(I am emotionally OK now, I have drunk lots of tea and watched lots of Top Gear!)
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Oh, I feel really badly for you. I had a headache once after MRT, but that was when he tried something new so with my feedback, he went back to the strategies he was using on day one. What I do know is that there was so much tension in my scalp that during the first session, I fell asleep and started babbling in my sleep, the second visit made me just as sleepy and I came home, went up to bed at 1:30 and slept till 7:30. The next day I also slept the entire day! For someone with insomnia this is a miracle.
I wish I could help you find a certified person in Melbourne. There are two men that work on me Michael and Scott. Scott is from Australia coincidentally so I will call Georgetown PT tomorrow and get back to you in the afternoon. In the meantime, shoot the people on the Myofacial Release Therapy website an email for possible referrals in Melbourne.
Here is the contact information:
http://www.myofascialrelease.com/fascia_massage/public/default.asp
They rank their therpists by levels of expertise. Shoot for the top and get the highest qualified in Melbourne. Don't get a novicel
I'm thinking of you and I promise to get back to you.
Sincerely,
Mei Mei
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Hi Mei Mei,
Thank you SO MUCH for this information and I look forward to hearing what else you're able to find out. As far as my treatment goes. My back and neck feel GREAT after MYOtherapy but my headaches have been quite bad :-\. I will give it a few more days and see how I go.
I am going to try a few more Myofascial Therapists around town and see how that goes... But, as I am taking next year off to try and get off the drugs, I may end up flying over to see your guys if needs be. It sounds extravagant but given how much we currently spend on doctors and pills it might even save us money. However, in the mean time I will keep researching in Melbourne and update as I go to help out any other Aussies.
Thanks again Mei Mei,
Lupy
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Sure, anytime I can help, let me know. You'll need a prescription from a doctor and these two guys Michael and Scot (the Aussie) are booked solid for 6 weeks because their Myofacial Release is so much in demand. Please write to the website that I gave you...under "Contact Us" and ask them for any names from Australia. I hope you find some there. I wrote to Michael to ask Scott but he didn't write back all day yesterday. They are so busy that they don't have time to talk with each other.
Wishing you well in your search.
Mei Mei
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Dear Lupy,
Right after I answered you this morning, I got an email from Michael and this is important. He said I wasn't getting totally Myfacial Release Therapy, but joint mobility therapy of the C1 and C2 and he is what he said in part. All of us are individuals and the therapist there in Australia has to see how you present.:
Sorry Mei Mei. I didn't do a very thorough job of my patient education regarding treatment specifically. Actually, it was joint mobilization more than myofacial release that provided you with the greatest relief.
Specifically you presented with a malalignment of C1 vertebrae on C2. Once Scott and I restored the joint mobility between these two structures, you reported long term lasting results. While we did apply MFR (myofacial release) techniques as well, the results you got from that form of treatment appeared to only be temporary. Why addressing these two structures relieved your headaches is that these two structures are what the cranium sit upon. Therefore they hold and guide the head in everyday use. That's why you have to continue practicing correcting your forward head posture inclination on a regular and absolutely daily basis. If you continue with this poor posture fault, it is very likely you can trigger the cause of the HA's to return as it disrupts the natural mobility of structures that can cause headaches.
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Hi Mei Mei!
Thank you so much for that. Although I know everyone's pain and problems are individual this information is really helpful simply because I have felt for a long time my C1 and C2 are out. While my surgeons deny it, many of my therapists have questioned it. I'll keep hunting for a good Myofascial therapist and see what they think... Although, I think I am going to have a rest from hunting out practioners as my head is still in quite a bit of pain and I have a hoiliday coming up I don't want to miss out on! But I will keep people updated as to how I go. Thank you again for this information and thank your doctors for being so helpful! You are so lucky to be getting such wonderful help. I find it is hard to even get my doctors to take my pain seriously... grrr! >:D Luckily I am far too stubborn and detrmined to let anyone or anything hold me back from what I want to do i.e., get well! :D
Thanks again,
Lupy :)
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This from Michael my MRT PT:
Mei Mei,
Likely the headaches are coming from your upper Cervical Spine dysfunction...hopefully. Therefore I'm recommending that you take 2 tennis balls put them in a sock tied off to keep the balls together. Lie on your back (floor) and place the balls at the base of your skull while resting your head on them...you know the spot (place we often massaged). This contraption is to try and use acupressure to the muscles that can cause a headache (self myofascial release techniques). You may also gently nod your head up/down stretch these muscles or gently roll head small amounts to left/right to increase pressure where needed.
The headaches have likely returned do to the dysfunctional way your carry your head throughout the day. Appropriate posture is going to be necessary to avoid this from continuing.
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:'( Had a problem with Michael today:
I went to Myofacial Release therapy this afternoon for a 3:30 appointment in the PT Department with Michael Utrecht. He was finished at 4:30 and then put some needles in my scalp and neck muscles to break up a spasm. I heard an announcement to several therapists that their 4:30 appointments were waiting. He told just as he did last week he would be back in 20 mins, but this time 30 mins. I waited and wait and then my back which has been out for two days was hurting even more. I finally got off the gurney and asked if my had forgotten me. They said maybe he went to the bathroom. They couldn't find him so one man who I do not know said he would take out the needles. I asked the time and he said it was 6:30 so I'd been flat on my stomache for 2 full hours or more. I had to go to the bathroom and was hungry but more important is that my father's aide leaves at 3 and it was now past 6:30. I told the man who took out the needles that it felt very stiff and my back was hurting. He said to go home and drink a lot of water. I got home and got my father's feeding tube going for his 4th feeding of the day. Now I will give him another feeding and then water. My back is worse than before for lying on my stomache for over two hours. I put a hot pad on it and some ice on the spots where the needles were.
There is no excuse for what happened today. Please cancel my appointments with him. I don't want to go there again. I will find another therapist. I have to take care of myself.
Sincerely,
Seroun M. Wang
cc: Maureen Moriarity
Am so tired of all of this demanding for someone to care....
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Mei Mei ~
I'm sorry to learn of the outrageously insensitive treatment you received at your therapists facility. You're right: no excuse for that kind of abuse of a paying patient with pain issues. Your note to his office was pretty much what I might have written in your situation; factual, civil but clearly indicating your anger born of frustration. In my never-to-be-humble opinion, you did the right thing. I hope you feel better by now and can find a more caring practitioner. I sympathize with your disappointment in Michael and other people supposedly in the 'caring' business, with their emphasis apparently more on the business than the caring. I commend you for, like Diogenes, seeking an honest (caring) physician/therapist. I truly hope and will pray that quest is ultimately successful. You deserve to find physical and emotional respite.
Jim
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Oh Jim, your eloquent pat on the back lightens my heart. I had to write what I wrote because what happened at Georgetown was very serious. He called me in the late morning and appologized profusely and said he lost my trust and he thought we had a good working relationship. I just listened and then he said could I come in and he could give me another session today and I said I took lots of pills and was in no condition to drive down there and had to cancel two appointments. Then I said well good bye, but he wanted to keep talking. There really was nothing to say. Then around 3 o'clock, the head of PT called me and said how awful Michael was feeling and they wanted to make it up to me....that I had a good working relationship with him. I said after that things change and I have to move on. I found a Myofacial Release Therapy place just down the road (that even give free sessions to PTSD soldiers from the War). Sounds good to me. I told her that you have to be the President of the United States to get quality treatment there. I then asked, Would you leave Obama face down on the table for over 2 hours and close up and go home. SILENCE Your silence is an answer. What if that last person in the center of the PT gym hadn't stayed late after work? I would have been locked in overnight. What if that person on the table was a 97 year old helpless person who couldn't get the reach to the curtain to call for help. I told Maureen the nurse practioner this morning and she agreed that there's no excuse for this. I told her how humiliated I felt driving home from there. She said I shouldn't feel that way because it wasn't me that was in the wrong. She gave me two Lidocaine shots in the neck and shoulder and is arranging for me to see a neurologist to give me Botox in my cervical area for what she calls cervical dysphagia and on the same day she'll give me more Lidocaine in the suboccipital area.
Tomorrow I meet my new MRT person: Phil and so I am moving on. I am also going to call the DC dept of health again since they haven't returned my call. I'll just print out my letter and send it to them.
More tomorrow...
Hugs,
Mei Mei
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Sorry you had to endure all the pain and suffering.
I do not blame you for not going back....
several places i have gone the treatment is really superior in the beginning then you get passed on to a person who knos nothing of your history or condition.
One appointment comes to mind...When they sent in a woman that just switched occupations from a cancer treatment Dr. to a spine specialist.
HUGS Mei Mei.
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Mei Mei ..sorry to hear the news. There is no excuse for treatment like this! I hope your next PT will be great. For everyone interested in MRT in NY, Jason has found an MRT therapist at Cornell but he is not happy with her. The sessions are very short and it doesn't help with the pain. We need to find a someone better, please do share if you find or know someone good in NY.
Anna
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I went with Jason yesterday to his therapy session and the massage patrt is 5min!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously, no wonder it wasn't helping. We need to find proper massage therapist who takes insurance.
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That's awful about the amount of time they give you. It unconsicnable. There is no excuse for this. They just take money.
I wish I could find someone for you. Have you called Michael Barnes? Right now I am going to someone that doesn't take insurance. The first visit was $180 and thereafter $160. I still haven't been reimbursed. I don't know how long I can keep this up. If you don't go to a teaching hospital, you are going to have to file for yourself. It's just ****
Mei Mei
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Haven't called Michael yet, will try to find someone else but we may have to go to someone who doesn't take insurance as well. It's messed up.
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Yikes, Mei mei! We sure get 'em don't we? I think you and I are "health care cursed." Wait till you hear my latest horror story, which I will post in the Community section. I have to wait a day or 2 cuz my hands don't work very well and its hard to type--more later...
Hugs, Capt Deb
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Oh, Deb...I'm so sorry. I already understand and I haven't heard the story yet!
Hugs to you
Mei Mei
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I am now going to someone that doesn't take insurance and file by myself. It took two weeks to get the check for reimbursement. Not so bad.
Keep looking for a dedicated person that gives you the full hour.
Hugs,
Mei Mei