I had a frank discussion with my neurologist about my physical well being. Over the last three years, my right side has progressively gotten weaker and weaker. Because of the neuro-pathic pain (a present from my stroke) that we just haven't been able to get a handle on, I have gotten less and less active. It can now be a struggle to do my daily activities due the pain and weakness I am experiencing.
It's a vicious cycle that I haven't figured out how to break. I try to work out and go for walks. In fact I walk my daughters to school on average about three times a week. The walk is one mile round trip. Granted, after half a mile, I am already ready to call it quits, but I try and fail and try again. Thus prompted the discussion with my doctor. Something has to change. I am on lifelong medication, some of which has made me gain weight, and I need to get more active to lose the weight to keep a healthy heart and reduce the risk of another stroke.
We decided on a round of physical and occupational therapy to help my body get back to where it needs to be. I had my first appointment last Thursday. It was my evaluation day. After that, the insurance company gets to decide whether or not to continue paying for the therapy. The evaluation went well. I have lost a lot of strength in my right side as well as range of motion. Cindy, my therapist, was great. She was knowledgeable and patient. She answered all of my questions. I honestly couldn't have asked for better.We didn't get to the occupational therapy, something I will have to address at my next appointment, but I was sent home with plenty of exercises to do everyday to help build my core strength and my balance back up.
All that's left is waiting to be sure there are no hiccups with the insurance company. I spoke to them on the phone to confirm my benefits and they gave no indication that there would be any refusal for treatment. The only reason it is even on my mind is because I was asked to fill out more paperwork to send off to them. I had physical, occupational and speech therapy right after my initial stroke in August of 2010. I was 29 years old at the time. I recovered remarkably well, considering. I am also worried because my occupation is "homemaker". It wasn't a job that was important enough to fill out the JOB section of the insurance company's questionnaire. Never mind the fact that the reason I have no job is stroke related.
It's the after effects of living with a stroke that seem to have done me in. The neuro-pathic pain, the seizures, memory loss and problems with retention have led me to quit school and my job. But I can't quit the most important job I have, that of raising my three kids. They are counting on me and I can't let them down. So even though it really hurts, you'll have to excuse me. I need to go do my exercises now.
E-mail your members of Congress and ask them to stop therapy caps for Medicare patients who have had a stroke.Without therapy, vital skills could be lost.
