I have been referred to both and occ therapist and physio for the first time on Thursday. (Strange cos I only asked to see the OT for some wrist splints.) I know we are all different but does anyone have any advice on any questions I should ask/stuff I should ask for? I would be interested just to know what your experiences have been as I don't know what to expect.

Thanks

Julie

Hi Julie,

Excellent advice from Mari and useful for me too as I will be off see the physio tomorrow. Good luck with your appointment on Thursday, and hope all goes well.

Love,

Barbara
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Thanks all - I hope your appointment goes well Barbara. I know it will be more complex for you due to your back problems.

I don't know what my appointment will be like Mari. As usual with hospital appointments - my joints have been behaving quite well the last few weeks (prob due to depo in early December). My wrists, hands and feet hurt all the time though - the hips, knees, neck and shoulders only join in intermittently! I'm glad you mention that they suggest exercise you can do yourself as I didn't want to embark on any formal course of therapy - I'd like to be left on my own to get on with it :)

Julie

all best Juile for you appointments
Ive seen both OT and Phsyio at diferent times over years.
Phsyiotherapy yep deals with u as whole.

can give u sheets to do at home and then they see u couple times tos ee how u doing any improvment.

Ot now ive seen 2 different types
1)
1 at hospital just dealing with upper body.
I had treatment for the limited dexterity for this i ahd sheets to follow at home also gave me wrist hand splints,went through all possible daily activties and suggested alternate ideas to reduce strain on joints.

2)
I also saw a Ot home based through social services shes one who saw where im living what i need to make caring for my self easier,re disabled adaptions in home.
bath stool,shower,bed rail etc.


go threw your daily routine and tell her what u find hard and she will most likely first of all go over any treatment u on how u are feeling right now terms of joints.
tips for flares etc.
both of above types OT do this for you.
Theres a also a info bit on nras main site about what role of Ot is and what to expect from them.
lv melly

Went last week and both appointments V enlightening. I thought I was going to be a bit boring for them as luckily I'm not having too many problems at the moment apart from my wrists and feet so don't really have any major mobility probs at the moment.

Physio has given me some daily joint check exercises - he was also concerned that I haven't had any X-rays done for over 2 years so don't know whether he'll mention this to rheumy. He thought my feet were interesting as my toes appear to be trying to escape in different directions and apparently the arches and the meta tarsals are starting to drop. I also have morton's neuroma in my feet and he said he was going to see about getting some sort of bar in my shoes to lift the bones (don't know whether he will refer me to podiatrist? Stupidly didn't ask . Wants me to go back and look at getting some muscle strengthening exercises.

Occ Therapist was lovely. She said the I was very lucky that the wrist splints I had bought myself hadn't caused carpal tunnel on top of the RA. So those of you who warned me that I should see the OT were absolutely right. She gave me some proper wrist splints and made me a resting splint. She's going to make me another one when I go back. She has recommended loads of gadgets I should use because, apart from the wrist problems, the joints in my fingers have become hypermobile and she gave me loads of advice on how to try to avoid permanent deformity. I couldn't believe how much info she gave me and it's certainly made me think about how I do things. Am going back to physio and OT on 5 Feb.

I think the advice I got from the OT should be given to people earlier after diagnosis. I only got my appointment because I asked. I only had the confidence to ask because of the advice you have given me on this forum - so many many thanks for always being there with advice and support.

Julie xx

Pleased you had a good appointment, Julie. I saw the OT within two weeks of diagnosis, which was really good.

Kathleen x

Glad it went so well Julie.
And great that you get them both on the same day...fewer trips to hospital!

Doreen xx

Great to hear it went well for you julie,

Your OT seems more on the ball than the one I went to pehaps some have more experience of RA than others. The OT I have is nice enough but I feel he hasnt got a clue, its all a lottery who you get. However to be fair he has given me various exercises to build and strengthen. Interested to knowl what joint check exercisdes your OT recommends.

Glad you had such a positive outcome. I think you're right when you say we should be able to see the therapists soon after diagnosis, this is when we need them the most. I've been seeing a physio for months now, don't feel I'm getting anywhere though.

Lyn

Hi Julie,

Pleased to hear that your appointment went well, it's really nice when you find a gem that knows what they are doing!

Love,

Barbara
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