Physical Therapy

[MzLee88]

Has anyone started Physical Therapy since being diagnosed? If so, do you feel like it's helpful? I would love to get back in the gym one day, but sadly when my heart palpitations kick in, it triggers others symptoms. Anyone have a solution on how I can make my transition back to the gym easier?

[ChaosCats]

Yep I’ve done physical therapy! My FND doctor wrote a prescription for it. If you can, try to find a place where the PTs (physical therapists) have heard of FND and know how to work with it. I thought it was helpful for working my muscle strength back up (speaking of I should probably go do those exercises because I’ve been forgetting to do them lately oops) Don’t push yourself too far when it comes to the gym. I like doing tai chi, yoga, and swimming (plus various water classes). My best suggestion really is just starting with things that hopefully won’t give you palpitations and slowly build from there. Also deep breathing to calm the nervous system and heart down. Oh yeah and TAKE BREAKS (there’s times in a yoga class for example when my symptoms get hard to ignore so I just sit down and work on calming down). I wish you luck!

[MzLee88 in reply to ChaosCats]

I love this advice. Thank you so much. My biggest problem is understanding just because I can, doesn't mean I always should. I love swimming but have been avoiding it out of fear. So glad to know that there are other options than heavy lifting at the gym. I had physical therapy today and it was a little intense. I do feel like it has helped some. Now the resting begins. Thanks again and best wishes to you as well.

[ChaosCats in reply to MzLee88]

I also love swimming! It’s pretty much one of the only ways my brain will “shut off”/ be quiet. I don’t know what your symptoms are like but I also like it because there’s no worry about losing my balance if my muscles act up, falling, etc. If you’re worried about swimming maybe start with just doing slow backstrokes to see how you feel. One of the water classes I go to does involve weightlifting for part of it so maybe something like that could also be helpful!

[1952blonde]

I am in England and waited nearly 6 years for my neurophysiotherapist appointment but it has been so helpful.

[Jaws12]

Physical therapy didn't resolve anything, but it certainly helped me to adapt. Definitely recommend telling your PT what you are aiming for so they can work with you to come up with a plan. Obviously fully functional would be great, but set some milestones so you can see your progress (and how close you can get, if not all the way there).

Hoping the best for you, and looking forward to seeing a positive update from you in the future!!!

[Shimmyaway]

A recent post from ( I think) Panther500, (not in the UK)which I should have saved , outlined a programme for increasing exercise tolerance for someone with FND heart issues. It involved her in doing daily work on her ex bike (at home)..but it was all monitored by her neuro PT. The key factors were, daily regularity of the ex, and the level of the heart rate during that time. The aim was to stabilise the heart rate...she was told that missing 1/2 days may mean going back to day1!! Sadly finding someone to tailor make a regime for you may not be the easiest in the Uk .. but maybe a private neuro physio for a session or two w'd suffice. ?

[Shimmyaway]

I have found what Panther500 (from USA) had to say ...

I wear 20-30mmHg compression socks while awake.,3-5 g sodium everyday, 80-90 ounces of fluids mostly water and liquid IV, I also use a stationary bike for 10 min a day with the goal of my heart rate staying between 100-110. They said to exercise while sitting down at least for now. I do a warm up on the bike for 5 min just so I can get heart rate up to 100 fairly quickly when I start my 10 min. Then I do stretches after mainly leg ones. As my body can stabilize my heart rate and I have no other symptoms after I can start to increase the time I bike for. Until things improve they don't want me to do any other exercise. I am not to miss more than a day or two or I will have to start all over again. Things have improved but I am still experiencing symptoms after exercise. The heart rate is more stable than it use to be. This is to calm everything down and to teach my body to regulate things better.

Hope that helps.

[Lady4]

I have requested neuro PT to help with weakness and also to put together a routine for my son to follow, he needs additional proprioception.

I really don't know much about your symptoms but as you mentioned you loved swimming, would hydrotherapy help?

I enquired but never got round to registering because of the nature of FND and balancing work/life/school/symptoms. Maybe the warmer water would calm your heart (again just a suggestion to explore).

[Panther5000 in reply to Lady4]

I definitely need help with proprioception to before I go skiing again so it doesn't end in disaster. I have the feeling of weakness but not the actual muscle weakness. Does anyone else relate?

[Jellofabulous]

definitely check out Neuro PT. I worked with Re+active pt and wellness. They have some great videos on rehabbing FND.

[MzLee88 in reply to Jellofabulous]

I've being seeing Neuro PT a lot. I will definitely check it out. It's so hard to find good help in the United States for my condition. Most of the knowledge I have gained has been from groups and me and my hubby researching this disorder.

[Van604]

I was in a rehab facility for a month, after having been in hospital for a month, because I was so weak and floppy. I went in to rehab in a wheelchair and came out on a walker, which was a great result. That was 7 years ago and I can now walk a few blocks without the walker, wearing a leg brace. The regime was different types of exercise, several times a day, with long recovery periods in between, except weekends. So some stationary bike, some arm bike, pool exercises, free weights and weight machines, but very minimal at first and building very slowly. The thing with FND is that it turns the regular rules on their head - exercise used to make me feel energized, now the slightest bit too much and I'm exhausted. I've learned to be very, very careful to pace myself and not overdo it, which really goes against the grain! I just started qigong and the instructor cautions us not to push through pain, because it freaks out the brain and then it won't trust you. I realize that's where I was going wrong before, because I had a lot of pain after back surgery and tried to power through it, with disastrous results! Now I listen to my body and I haven't collapsed for over 5 years.

[MzLee88]

Thank you all so much for the great advice. I will implement them all for sure. So sorry for my late response. I've started my Trauma session in therapy to help control my ptsd and it has been no joke at all. Mentally or physically.