Myofacial Release Therapy cured my headaches

[Mei Mei]

    Had a problem with Michael today:

I went to Myofacial Release therapy this afternoon for a 3:30 appointment in the PT Department with Michael Utrecht.  He was finished at 4:30 and then put some needles in my scalp and neck muscles to break up a spasm.   I heard an announcement to several therapists that their 4:30 appointments were waiting.  He told just as he did last week he would be back in 20 mins, but this time 30 mins.   I waited and wait and then my back which has been out for two days was hurting even more.   I finally got off the gurney and asked if my had forgotten me.   They said maybe he went to the bathroom.   They couldn't find him so one man who I do not know said he would take out the needles.  I asked the time and he said it was 6:30 so I'd been flat on my stomache for 2 full hours or more.   I had to go to the bathroom and was hungry but more important is that my father's aide leaves at 3 and it was now past 6:30.   I told the man who took out the needles that it felt very stiff and my back was hurting.  He said to go home and drink a lot of water.   I got home and got my father's feeding tube going for his 4th feeding of the day.  Now I will give him another feeding and then water.  My back is worse than before for lying on my stomache for over two hours.  I put a hot pad on it and some ice on the spots where the needles were.
There is no excuse for what happened today.    Please cancel my appointments with him.   I don't want to go there again.   I will find another therapist.   I have to take care of myself.
Sincerely,
Seroun M. Wang
cc:  Maureen Moriarity


Am so tired of all of this demanding for someone to care....

[Jim Scott]

Mei Mei ~

I'm sorry to learn of the outrageously insensitive treatment you received at your therapists facility.  You're right: no excuse for that kind of abuse of a paying patient with pain issues.  Your note to his office was pretty much what I might have written in your situation; factual, civil but clearly indicating your anger born of frustration. In my never-to-be-humble opinion, you did the right thing.  I hope you feel better by now and can find a more caring practitioner.  I sympathize with your disappointment in Michael and other people supposedly in the 'caring' business, with their emphasis apparently more on the business than the caring.  I commend you for, like Diogenes, seeking an honest (caring) physician/therapist.  I truly hope and will pray that quest is ultimately successful.  You deserve to find physical and emotional respite.

Jim

[Mei Mei]

Oh Jim, your eloquent pat on the back lightens my heart.  I had to write what I wrote because what happened at Georgetown was very serious.   He called me in the late morning and appologized profusely and said he lost my trust and he thought we had a good working relationship.   I just listened and then he said could I come in and he could give me another session today and I said I took lots of pills and was in no condition to drive down there and had to cancel two appointments.   Then I said well good bye, but he wanted to keep talking.   There really was nothing to say.   Then around 3 o'clock, the head of PT called me and said how awful Michael was feeling and they wanted to make it up to me....that I had a good working relationship with him.   I said after that things change and I have to move on.   I found a Myofacial Release Therapy place just down the road (that even give free sessions to PTSD soldiers from the War).   Sounds good to me.   I told her that you have to be the President of the United States to get quality treatment there.  I then asked, Would you leave Obama face down on the table for over 2 hours and close up and go home. SILENCE   Your silence is an answer.   What if that last person in the center of the PT gym hadn't stayed late after work?   I would have been locked in overnight.  What if that person on the table was a 97 year old helpless person who couldn't get the reach to the curtain to call for help.   I told Maureen the nurse practioner this morning and she agreed that there's no excuse for this.  I told her how humiliated I felt driving home from there.   She said I shouldn't feel that way because it wasn't me that was in the wrong.  She gave me two Lidocaine shots in the neck and shoulder and is arranging for me to see a neurologist to give me Botox in my cervical area for what she calls cervical dysphagia and on the same day she'll give me more Lidocaine in the suboccipital area.

Tomorrow I meet my new MRT person:  Phil and so I am moving on.   I am also going to call the DC dept of health again since they haven't returned my call.   I'll just print out my letter and send it to them.

More tomorrow...
Hugs,
Mei Mei

[cin605]

Sorry you had to endure all the pain and suffering.
I do not blame you for not going back....
several places i have gone the treatment is really superior in the beginning then you get passed on to a person who knos nothing of your history or condition.
One appointment comes to mind...When they sent in a woman that just switched occupations from a cancer treatment Dr. to a spine specialist.
HUGS Mei Mei.

[akaltz]

Mei Mei ..sorry to hear the news. There is no excuse for treatment like this! I hope your next PT will be great. For everyone interested in MRT in NY, Jason has found an MRT therapist at Cornell but he is not happy with her. The sessions are very short and it doesn't help with the pain. We need to find a someone better, please do share if you find or know someone good in NY.
Anna

[akaltz]

I went with Jason yesterday to his therapy session and the massage patrt is 5min!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously, no wonder it wasn't helping. We need to find proper massage therapist who takes insurance.

[Mei Mei]

That's awful about the amount of time they give you.  It unconsicnable.   There is no excuse for this.   They just take money.

I wish I could find someone for you.   Have you called Michael Barnes?  Right now I am going to someone that doesn't take insurance.   The first visit was $180 and thereafter $160.   I still haven't been reimbursed.   I don't know how long I can keep this up.   If you don't go to a teaching hospital, you are going to have to file for yourself.   It's just  ****

Mei Mei

[akaltz]

Haven't called Michael yet, will try to find someone else but we may have to go to someone who doesn't take insurance  as well. It's messed up.

[Captain Deb]

Yikes, Mei mei!  We sure get 'em don't we?  I think you and I are "health care cursed."  Wait till you hear my latest horror story, which I will post in the Community section.  I have to wait a day or 2 cuz my hands don't work very well and its hard to type--more later...

Hugs, Capt Deb

[Mei Mei]

Oh, Deb...I'm so sorry.   I already understand and I haven't heard the story yet!
Hugs to you
Mei Mei

[Mei Mei]

I am now going to someone that doesn't take insurance and file by myself.   It took two weeks to get the check for reimbursement.  Not so bad.
Keep looking for a dedicated person that gives you the full hour.

Hugs,
Mei Mei