So, the physical therapist at Spectra http://spectraphysicaltherapy.com/ was surprised when we asked for additional sessions a couple of weeks ago, and were granted two more from my insurance, United Health Care http://www.uhc.com/live/uhc_com/Assets/Documents/landing.html. So, that gave me an additional pool session, and a final "wrap up" session today. As with the last PT series, I had gained remarkable strength and range of motion in my right leg. But unlike last time, I had also gained amazing pain relief. My therapist and I attribute this to the therapy that I was doing in the pool. It was amazing how much it helped me. I could not believe it: It was like the difference between night and day in what I could do.
It may be a combination of PT, and a slower than expected response to the epidural sterocortisone injection I receive in late May. And, an ongoing response to the Celebrex that I take daily. But, I believe it was the pool therapy that helped the most.
Well, sure enough, the insurance company has contacted me and said I need to try another, less expensive medication for pain relief. Of the three they suggested, ibuprophen, meloxicam, and naproxen, I have tried ibuprophen and naproxen over the counter, with no success. While I am not opposed to trying meloxicam, I am a firm believer in "if it's not broke, don't fix it." So, I will negotiate with my provider regarding how best to respond to the insurance.
Additionally, in the same vein of "if it's not broke, don't fix it," I have decided that if water therapy was working at PT, then I can continue doing some of the same on my own. I have explored the possibility of joining the Lifestyle Center at Covenant Hospital http://www.covenanthealth.org/Our-Services/LifeStyle-Centre.aspx. I did a tour, and picked up the application material. I discussed my plan with Robert at Spectra, and he agreed it was a good plan, and suggested I set a goal of two times a week: manageable, and he acknowledged that too much of a goal is self defeating. He was so much in agreement with the plan, that rather letting me rely on my memory of the exercises I did in the pool, he gave me a copy of the regimen I had been following! Wow! What an affirmation for me that this is the right thing to do. Thank you, Robert!
I still need to contact my doctor and get the appropriate documentation from her. I am not usually a procrastinator, but I wanted to discuss this plan with my PT before enacting it. As it turns out, that was not a bad plan, because now I can address the insurance/medication issue and the medical documentation needed for the Lifestyle Center at the same time.
This is one of those situations in life in which I believe things happen for a reason, and in this case, we can see the reason. I am excited about going forward in my life with these options available to help me with my health.
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