MEDICAL/DENTAL RESOURCES
Hi please keep in mind UNFINISHED work in progress heres some leads to follow up on FYI!!!
1) MEDICAL
YOU CAN SEE A SPORTS DOCTOR FOR FREE AND HE DOES THE SAME REHAB/HELPS HEAL AND RESTORE FUNCTION FOR INJURIES AS A PHYSIOTHERAPIST WOULD!! Just ASK for a REFERRAL from a General DOCTOR! I got MRI's and X-rays and ultrasound on my joints and muscles, diagnoses, referral to get assessed by a surgeon, and had surgery for wrist, AND got referrals for braces I needed to heal! How do ya like that?!! And I have exercises I am doing to help strengthen and restore function and reduce pain for my body.
The difference is a physiotherapist does all the fancy bodywork, electrodes, ultrasound treatments...wont do much if the root cause isnt dealt with and the source of the pain isnt fixed and the muscles are not strengthened.
For your MSP visits, most worthwhile are :
1) physiotherapist - to assess and diagnose problems (get a second opinion and note consistencies) and suggestions for treatment.
2) Massage therapists - to deal with pain, scar tissue, chronic conditions, self-are and rehab as well - when things are bad.
A great day-to-day method and alternative is of course if you are fortunate enough to have someone you can trust get them to massage you theres lotsa books/techniques out there you can learn and just practice what feels good, or a bunch of tennis balls tied in a sock and roll on them, or a tennis ball pressed up against a wall - I like sitting in bed and leaning back and rolling it around. I also use a big softball and lay on it and press into the mattress so control the pressure and shift my body weight. Also I got a cool massager thing thats a shape of a sphere with a handle- it really works!
And I don't gotta pay the tennis balls $40/for a half hour treatment like some "specialist" claims - don't believe the hyped up bullcrap and scare tactics -
especially with chiropractors - they dont care about your health as much as your money! Don't get ripped off by these scam artist cons. Most of these so-called "specialized treatments" by these "highly trained experts" is UNNECESSARY and just designed to get your money! Can do the same thing at home (ever heard of the placebo effect??!).
3) The next point, ya, AVOID chiropractors unless it really makes a difference? Does it? - doesn't solve the original problem - WHY is your spine popping outta whack? Usually weak muscles - gotta strengthen them to support spine! Chiropractic readjustments won't do that! Just quick fix. That is the case with most rehab. MANY problems are due to Poor posture, weak muscles, and not stretching/working out enough.
4) Island Hand Clinic - save your visits they are good if you have injuries from hand to shoulder. Look in phonebook. Provide braces FREE if overed under MSP (automatically if on Social Assistance). YES there IS a user fee.
5) Island Orthotics - covered by MSP. Braces and orthotic insoles FREE if covered by MSP/on Social Assistance - is a delay to make sure cost is approved - if not, appeal it-very good chance of winning (my MLA advised me of this). Beats a volleyball knee pad like I saw one guy wearing! I can walk proper thanks to my braces. I got almost $1000 worth covered to help me function and work to make a living.
6) Acupuncture - I find works great. Another option. Swift St Clinic on Warf st. next to Street Link phone for times 385-1466 extension 3 usually if you show up early you can take the spot of a no show - lots of those!
7) Personal Trainers at Recreation Centers - use the LIFE (Leisure Is For Everyone) pass for low income people (available at recreation centers or find an address you can use-as long as it is ok to do) and talk to the weight room instructors or take a class or program in the pool etc - draw on people's knowledge and expertise-ask lots of questions and take lots of notes!
SUGGESTIONS FOR TREATMENTS:
***I find talking to many different people gives me many different ideas and suggestions I never thought of before and new information and more beneficial and effective treatment - some people know what they are talking about and are better informed than others! Find out exactly the medical terminology of the condition you have and go look it up and find out as much info as you can - knowledge is power! - your health is ultimately YOUR responsibility-dont be a moron and lazy and blaming like me and just expect/rely on your doctor to have all the magic answers and cures, meanwhile I'm just getting worse! Go educate and find out YOURSELF! Alot of info is written to be easy to understand. Check the library!
***Make sure the doctor or medical professional fits your personality and needs all of us have so many hang-ups and different past experiences and projecting problems on one another conflict may begin to affect your care. Be aware.
***Pretty much all rehab you can do on your own once you know what you are doing
PREVENTION/MAINTAINING GAINS:
Easy as 1-2-3 - 4
1) EAT HEALTHY and enough quality food (as opposed to quantity) More on that later-see grocery list
2) Lift weights
3) Do something to breathe hard and get your heart rate up
4) Do, rest (eat/sleep), repeat!
Because MOST problems, weakness, pain, unless really severe, or due to old age (can't rehab something that's worn away make something outta nothing but can still salvage), are due to:
1) poor posture
2) weak or unbalanced muscles-some more developed than others so body gets "lopsided" (especially weak abdominals are worst - "core")
3) not stretching enough,
4) not moving enough or not resting enough or doing too much repetitive movements stressing certain body parts in particular
4) poor eating patterns - how do you expect the car to run farther and better on crappier and less gas?!
more later - feedback? suggestions? TELL ME PLEASE!!
And I have a lot of medical training and am good at massage. Too bad I'm not good at rehab-gotta do it for it to work!!
