Just out of interest, I wondered how long it took people to get physio on the NHS? Immediately I came out of hospital, I had 4 visits at home from the occupational therapist and one from a physio who asked me to do certain things like stand on one leg and push against his hands etc., but other than that, I've been asking for, and had to wait 6 months for, NHS physio. My first appointment is next week.
It would seem in my local area that getting actual 'hands on' treatment is near on impossible. The physio department at my local health centre has closed down. In fact the actual health centre is due to close shortly. I left hospital after my stroke with a book of exercises which I do everyday but I'm still suffering from stiffness and muscle spasms.
I didn't actually get any physio in hospital. I was told I would have to be able to walk up and down a flight of stairs before I could go home which I managed to do but no actual physio as such. 6 months post stroke, I'm now back at the gym twice a week which is helping with stamina but I keep reading that the best thing for muscle spasms is massage and stretching done by a physio. I had a 'telephone' assessment 3 months ago and the outcome was that I would benefit from physio but after that nothing until I went to my GP and pestered him to contact them to see what was happening.
How does everyone elses' local health authority measure up re physio?
I too in hospital was asked to walk up and down stairs, it seemed like it was a tick list and once done you were ok to go home. The physio in the comunity was a list of exercises and then 10 week of 1 hour a week in a health centre gym with a circuit of the same excersie. once done you have to sort yourself out even though you still have problems they told you to keep on the excersise. I have a assessment at the local leisure centre tomorrow and will see what thats like if not good may go private.
Hi Karen - I get the feeling that physio as we used to know it has gone out of the window now. My husband has tennis elbow. He was referred for physio after an injection and was given a sheet of exercises - once again, no touching! My sister-in-law tore a ligament in her knee, was referred for physio, guess what? Another sheet of exercises, no touching. If the physio I'm due to see next week gives me yet another sheet of exercises, I'll be fuming after waiting 6 months. It almost feels like any treatment which involves staff touching you is considered either inappropriate, not politically correct or scared that they are going to be sued! Hope your assessment goes well!
I had my stroke in June 2017, and lost the use of my right arm and hand, and the right leg was very weak. I spent 3 days in Yeovil District Hospital "High Dependancy Unit". Due to a shortage of beds, after passing the stair test (though I live in a bungalow) I was allowed home.
Shortly after I was contacted by the Mendip Early Discharge Team, and for the next 12 weeks I had home visits of an hour a day, 5 or 6 days a week.
When the 12 weeks were up, I was then able to attend a clinic in Yeovil District Hospital once a week, in which an hour was spent using various gym equipment, followed by half an hours group talk. The "Aspire" clinic was supervised by specialist stroke nurses, physios, and both hospital and Stroke Association volunteers..... the volunteers all being stroke survivors themselves.
When the 12 weeks of the Aspire clinic came to an end, I still had (and still have) issues with shoulder pain and weakness of the arm, so I was reffered to the physiotherapy department at the hospital, and am seeing a physio at about 3 week intervals at present.
Having read a few posts where after stroke care is hit and miss, depending on location, all I can say is that I feel very lucky, and am extremely grateful for the care I've been provided with.
Hello, I think its a lottery. I had fantastic care and support for my nearly 2 month hospital stay. After the initial 10 days on the acute stroke ward I was transferred to a rehab ward and the physio was daily. Also ongoing speech therapy, occupational therapy and assessments and psychological support. After release, I had weekly home visits from physio and occupational therapy and then a community neuro rehab support worker who helped with various claim forms and advised of the benefits that may be available and in fact drove me approx 40 miles return journey for my PIP interview (and accompanied me in the interview). Im nearly 2 years post stroke, the physio ended about 6 months ago, the speech therapy ended just before Christmas and the Occ therapist is still on going although reduced to occasional appts, I still see the psychologist 2 weekly. I have no idea how i would have coped without the fantastic support in this area and feel it should be provided for everybody. I wish you well with your appt next week.
My assessment was ok at the local leisure centre but i have to pay for it and got the inpression they have not much dealings with stroke. Guess i am on my own now.
It is, but it should be available to all, we pay the same NI rates so you deserve the same as me. Glad the assessment went ok and the help is promising and helps you improve.
Wow, what an eye-opener! MikeH and HuntsPete, you seem to have fantastic after-stroke care in your areas. As you say, I do think it is a postcode lottery as to what care facilities there are which is rubbish really because we've all had strokes and have all paid into the system throughout our lives. It should be a standard level of care throughout the whole NHS. Karen, I went for 2 private physio sessions whilst I've been waiting for the NHS appointment to come through which cost £35 for 45 mins per session. First one was just an assessment as to what my capabilities were and the second was massage. The massage did help when I had it but it's definitely something that needs to be done weekly I think as the stiffness crept back in quite quickly when I stopped going. £35 a time is a lot to pay when we should be getting it for free on the NHS.
Physio began when I was in rehab for six weeks. Mostly every week day. Six weeks home support from Community Stroke Team ...daily for a month, then Monday to Friday for last two weeks. Then referred back to rehab hospital for weekly physio. That lasted about eight months. Cannot fault the support. I also have an FES machine and got a three month, six month and one year follow up on my walking ability. Cannot fault my support. I live in Worcestershire.
Just a quick update...I went for my first physio this morning at my local hospital. After doing all the usual assessment tests, I was told that there was nothing really that normal physio could do as there aren't any problems with my muscles. The problem is with my brain/nerves telling my leg what to do and how to do it properly. She mentioned that I don't seem to be walking in the right manner which is probably causing the muscle spasms when I relax. She's referred me to neuro physio which specialises in stroke/Parkinsons patients. So a little bit further on but still a bit disappointed that I wasn't referred to the Neuro department to start with particularly as they knew all my stroke history. Onwards and upwards!
