Occupational therapy

[Pinkypie2018]

Hi everyone, I was just wondering if people find their occupational therapy appointments useful. I have my first one tomorrow and not sure what to expect.

[Nuttyshirlz]

Hiya hun when I had mine she was lovely she just asked me loads of questions and then then sorted me with different aids etc that would make life easier and had nice man came to house to fit my things and now I only go once a year to see her.

[Pinkypie2018 in reply to Nuttyshirlz]

I have a questionnaire to fill out so I would imagine the questions would be similar to that, it's great to know they provide and fit the aids also, thanks.

[FRreedman]

I found mine really useful. My OT got me a chair lift, as I couldn't walk up and down stairs without severe pain in my legs, plus it took about 20 minutes for me to walk up them, this means that I can use my whole house again and not just the downstairs. She also, got me a wet room, paid for by the local council, (We had to pay about 25% of the cost), as I hadn't had a bath or shower for nearly two years. (I had to have strip washes, as I couldn't get into or out of the bath, and the shower was over the bath.) She got me an extra large toilet, so I can get on and off it without bending down too much, and subsequently, falling on the floor. They are there to try to make living your life easier and more acceptable.

[Pinkypie2018 in reply to FRreedman]

Thanks for replying, it's good that people are finding them helpful, and I hope your finding life a bit easier now, take care.

[Evaflo10s]

Mine was great . Sorted out stairlift and wet room for me plus all the other bits and pieces that make life easier . Even sent me YouTube recommendations for relaxing music videos and apps for mindfulness etc .

Well worth the time and emotion spent working out what you can and can’t do and how it could be helped .

[Pinkypie2018 in reply to Evaflo10s]

Yes my rheumatologist told me I would benefit greatly by seeing them but I just wasn't overly convinced.

[Evaflo10s]

I wasn’t either but I’m a convert ;),

Also very useful to have problems down on official paper if you should need it for any sort of ESA/PIP claim .

[colindgreen]

Hi,

Yes just had mine. She recommended equipment that I could select from and trial for 2 weeks. She also recommended to my manager that my home working was to be maximised. I was already home working 30 to 45%.

So a positive experience for me.

[CagneysMum]

Mine was a godsend when I was first diagnosed and suffering so much with my hands and wrists. She arranged hot wax treatment which was fantastic. Also helped later on with providing a walking stick and perching stool for the kitchen to take some of the strain off my legs when I was preparing food. She also provided me with a very helpful letter I used with my PIP claim.

[Penguin]

Mine was incredibly useful - a long time ago, but very useful. I had two sets - one was to assess needs for equipment - not many in my case, but at the time I needed a walking stick and she made sure I had one with a comfy hand grip and got it the right length etc. The second one was a series of appointments to wax bath my hands - until I finally thought why am I travelling 40 miles a time to have this done when I could buy a wax bath for £20? (So I did.)

Both were lovely ladies and very helpful and thorough.

[Canderson]

mine just offered advice on items that would make life easier e.g. a tilting kettle. Was not offered any other assistance. I had to cash in a small pension to make my bathroom accessible.

[Plumcrumble in reply to Canderson]

Same here, but that was quite a few years ago, but anything I've needed since I look online, maybe things have changed now

[Hidden]

Mine was worse than useless. She said she could get me a stool for the bath & nothing else as their funds were virtually all gone. She got me to walk across the room & told me my balance was very poor. She was told that I was waiting for both a shoulder & a knee replacement & that I can’t reach out my arms or move well. She then suggested that I get a bike. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing as I haven’t been on a bike for 50 years or more & cant balance on my feet let alone on a bike. We live on a very busy main road. I asked where on earth she thought I could cycle & she suggested the local park which has signs all around saying No Cycling. Then she looked at my prescription list & told me I was on too many & that I should only take 4 types a day. She told me to choose which 4 to take & stop the rest despite the fact that a lot of them can’t be stopped suddenly & have been prescribed by consultants. We have had to buy our own stair lift & bath lift. Reading about all the help you other people have had makes me realise just how much it all depends on where you live as to what you can get.

[PinkLamb in reply to Hidden]

Hi holly-willow

I have only seen the OT about 3 times in the past 10 plus years of having RD.... she has only ever issued me with new splints as mine were worn out with work oh and some like compression gloves for gardening... Which I haven't worn for gardening as I can't garden anymore even in the summer months...

She has only ever been more interested in me completing the patient satisfaction survey and giving me yet another leaflet about 'the principles of joint protection' ... I never realised the huge difference there is in the support you receive, or don't receive in some cases, as to where you live... It's either ALL or NOTHING..... discraceful really....

[oldtimer]

I value the OT probably more than anyone in the team as she has done so much to help me manage my disabilities and lead a normal life. Although last time I saw her she did say that perhaps I should lower my expectations a little!

[Pinkypie2018]

Thanks everyone for your kind responses. The lady I saw today only dealt with my hands, so was given compression gloves, a wrist support and ideas on help to open jars etc which I have to purchase myself and some putty to help with weak grip. I have another appointment in January to see if hand exercises are helping.

[Paisley58]

My O.T was a god send and she was a wealth of knowledge. Sorted me out with equipment and suggestions on things I could buy to ease the pain in my joints like an electric underblanket.

However she left and did not see another O.T for the next 6yrs. I was contacted by Adult Social Services in the summer asking if I needed to see one, which I said I did as things have changed since I last saw an O.T. It was a lovely woman who came, made some suggestions and said I needed some more equipment. Haven't seen or heard from her or anyone else since, have called on numerous occassions, left messages and no response.