Having been recently diagnosed with OT (did you see my introductory email) I am, like all of you, casting around for ways to deal with it. One correspondent mentioned a cane with a fold-down seat; tried that, doesn't work for me, still too unstable.
Anyone got any ideas on treatment/approach without the use of drugs? Any 'life-style' ideas? Anyone tried visualisation, or other 'self-healing' methods? I find visualisation works if you know what you're looking at; are we to assume that there's some faulty 'wiring' in the brain? If so, where? The cortex?
I'm determined not to give in to this thing, even though I'm in my 13th year of having the condition; I personally would prefer to see an email list, such as Maelstrom and Listserv offer; anyone else like this idea? Or perhaps you don't know what I'm talking about!
Love to all
RichardS
Life style with OT
Moderator: gloria
Hi Richard.
Welcome to the OT Forum.
I too am determined not to give in to OT even though I've had it for more than 30 years! During these years I've tried many many healing methods, have been to physical therapists, cranial sacral therapists, chiropractors, hypnotherapists and many many more. None of them have "cured" the condition which is still very much there but I do believe that all have helped a little, maybe intrinsically, maybe in giving me hope and confidence, the feeling that I'm doing something to help myself. I think what has helped most is the ability to finally tell people that I'm not able to stand, that I need a place to sit or lean. In the past I would feel trapped and panicky if anyone stopped to talk with me and I would desperately search for an excuse to get away --like that I left someting boiling on the stove and I was worried that the house might burn down. I do take neurontin, but only as needed, maybe once or twice a week. I take 300 mg and find that even that little makes me a bit steadier for a few hours.
I'm a psychotherapist and I do hypnotherapy. People vary in their response to hypnosis (My own responsiveness is fairly low) but I imagine that for those who are more responsive, hypnosis would be well worth trying.
I too am interested in hearing about "life style" ideas others have come up with.
Best to all
Harriet
Welcome to the OT Forum.
I too am determined not to give in to OT even though I've had it for more than 30 years! During these years I've tried many many healing methods, have been to physical therapists, cranial sacral therapists, chiropractors, hypnotherapists and many many more. None of them have "cured" the condition which is still very much there but I do believe that all have helped a little, maybe intrinsically, maybe in giving me hope and confidence, the feeling that I'm doing something to help myself. I think what has helped most is the ability to finally tell people that I'm not able to stand, that I need a place to sit or lean. In the past I would feel trapped and panicky if anyone stopped to talk with me and I would desperately search for an excuse to get away --like that I left someting boiling on the stove and I was worried that the house might burn down. I do take neurontin, but only as needed, maybe once or twice a week. I take 300 mg and find that even that little makes me a bit steadier for a few hours.
I'm a psychotherapist and I do hypnotherapy. People vary in their response to hypnosis (My own responsiveness is fairly low) but I imagine that for those who are more responsive, hypnosis would be well worth trying.
I too am interested in hearing about "life style" ideas others have come up with.
Best to all
Harriet
Life style with OT
Many thanks Harriet. As a psycotherapist, how do you regard visualisation? Is it perhaps an extension of hypnosis?
Looking forward to further input on this topic
best
Richard
Looking forward to further input on this topic
best
Richard
Harriet wrote:Hi Richard.
Welcome to the OT Forum.
I too am determined not to give in to OT even though I've had it for more than 30 years! During these years I've tried many many healing methods, have been to physical therapists, cranial sacral therapists, chiropractors, hypnotherapists and many many more. None of them have "cured" the condition which is still very much there but I do believe that all have helped a little, maybe intrinsically, maybe in giving me hope and confidence, the feeling that I'm doing something to help myself. I think what has helped most is the ability to finally tell people that I'm not able to stand, that I need a place to sit or lean. In the past I would feel trapped and panicky if anyone stopped to talk with me and I would desperately search for an excuse to get away --like that I left someting boiling on the stove and I was worried that the house might burn down. I do take neurontin, but only as needed, maybe once or twice a week. I take 300 mg and find that even that little makes me a bit steadier for a few hours.
I'm a psychotherapist and I do hypnotherapy. People vary in their response to hypnosis (My own responsiveness is fairly low) but I imagine that for those who are more responsive, hypnosis would be well worth trying.
I too am interested in hearing about "life style" ideas others have come up with.
Best to all
Harriet
Hi Richard,
Visualization is related to the mind/body approach and can be part of a lot of different, but related methods including hypnosis, relaxation, meditation, a lot of "energy" techniques, etc. In order to use visualization, you don't have to know the cause of the illness or to be accurate or realistic about what is going on. The use of the imagination can be a powerful element in some healing approaches.
I'd be interested in hearing if anyone has tried "mind/body" approaches and with what success.
Harriet
Visualization is related to the mind/body approach and can be part of a lot of different, but related methods including hypnosis, relaxation, meditation, a lot of "energy" techniques, etc. In order to use visualization, you don't have to know the cause of the illness or to be accurate or realistic about what is going on. The use of the imagination can be a powerful element in some healing approaches.
I'd be interested in hearing if anyone has tried "mind/body" approaches and with what success.
Harriet
Visualization
I find - or have found - that to use this technique efficiently I have to be able to 'direct' my thoughts/mind pictures/whatever to the source of the problem. It follows that I have to be able to 'see' where the problem lies. Hence my question about where OT is rooted, if, of course, anyone has any idea where it comes from. There have been suggestions of the cortex; has anyone got any further thoughts on this?
I'm sure the technique can work. It HAS already worked for me with a number of other, more usual, ailments, and because I could SEE where the problem was, I have had a great deal of success. Now you can see where I'm coming from - yes?
Best
Richard
I'm sure the technique can work. It HAS already worked for me with a number of other, more usual, ailments, and because I could SEE where the problem was, I have had a great deal of success. Now you can see where I'm coming from - yes?
Best
Richard
Harriet wrote:Hi Richard,
Visualization is related to the mind/body approach and can be part of a lot of different, but related methods including hypnosis, relaxation, meditation, a lot of "energy" techniques, etc. In order to use visualization, you don't have to know the cause of the illness or to be accurate or realistic about what is going on. The use of the imagination can be a powerful element in some healing approaches.
I'd be interested in hearing if anyone has tried "mind/body" approaches and with what success.
Harriet
-
stella
my feelings about ot at this time
Hi Richard and all ot people,
I feel my condition is geting worse.
I was able to shop a little with pushing a cart. Now even the walker dosent work. My leggs seem to be heavier than ever.
I am still on gabapentin and for a while it seemed to help a bit, but now it dosent make a difference . All my friends are very considerate of my problem. IF it keeps going this way i see myself confined to a wheelchair
before too long.
I see my neurogolist every 3 months but nothing he can do.
I still do most of my housework and gardening but sitting on stools.
Even to water my flowers i must sit.
I am starting to get discouraged.
Is anyone else seeing any difference in their condition.
would like to hear from others.
Candyse
I feel my condition is geting worse.
I was able to shop a little with pushing a cart. Now even the walker dosent work. My leggs seem to be heavier than ever.
I am still on gabapentin and for a while it seemed to help a bit, but now it dosent make a difference . All my friends are very considerate of my problem. IF it keeps going this way i see myself confined to a wheelchair
before too long.
I see my neurogolist every 3 months but nothing he can do.
I still do most of my housework and gardening but sitting on stools.
Even to water my flowers i must sit.
I am starting to get discouraged.
Is anyone else seeing any difference in their condition.
would like to hear from others.
Candyse
To all of our OT Friends: The comments that Harriet and Richard have been discussing are very positive and present approaches that might help ease the stress points for some of our OT friends. We all have different life styles and mindsets but all of us need to change our life approaches because OT is life changing. This is not an easy mission but a positive attitude is the only way to go. In the meantime we must keep on hoping the medical and research communities will do more studies and find better ways to assist us.
Your OT Partner, Gloria
Your OT Partner, Gloria
'Re-wiring'.
Harriet - et al.Harriet wrote:Hi Richard,
Visualization is related to the mind/body approach and can be part of a lot of different, but related methods including hypnosis, relaxation, meditation, a lot of "energy" techniques, etc. In order to use visualization, you don't have to know the cause of the illness or to be accurate or realistic about what is going on. The use of the imagination can be a powerful element in some healing approaches.
I'd be interested in hearing if anyone has tried "mind/body" approaches and with what success.
Harriet
I'm getting some interesting results. I am focussing on the brain, telling it to 'cope' with the situation, and am already finding I am able to stand upright, and still, without a support for much longer periods of time. Being a pianist/organist, I'm determined not to let this thing get the better of me, and equally, I am reluctant to use any drugs because of the possible side effects. I'm aware there may be 'side effects' produced as a result of the 'therapy' I'm using, in that my psyche objects to the fact that I'm calling the shots! Whatever, there's a great deal to say here, and I'd much appreciate input from as many of you as possible.
That said, I'd like to add this: This is an excellent forum, but not quick enough for me. I run three email chat lists already, and the email exchange is almost real time. I already have the matrix set up to run such an email list: if anyone is interested in joining me please email me to that effect on: richardsenior@btinternet.com
best to everyone
Richard