Physios for ME

[NelliePledge]

I am really interested to see what comes of this, we need appropriate support to make the best of what capacity we’ve got and manage pain. I have been abandoned because I am not able to get to appointments but my osteopath does help me and help me target specific issues.

Yes I have a type of physical therapy called Bowen which is very gentle and I find it helpful. No objection to physical therapy whatsoever as long as it isn’t something that makes me worse.

ETA although of course as I have mild/ moderate ME I can tolerate a lot more than many with ME

 

[Amw66]

Hello - this is us We're just kicking things off and the twitter account is the first thing to go live. We do have other ways of communicating planned but happy to chat on here in the meantime.

We come from a range of different clinical backgrounds and will be sharing more information on us all soon but just to reassure you we are most definitely biomedical!! At our first meeting yesterday we agreed that we do not think ME is a functional disorder or psychosomatic and this is a core principle for any other physios wanting to be part of the group.

We have lots of plans and are trying to get things up and running as soon as we can - we only started speaking to each other about 4 weeks ago! We will try and keep you posted as we go!

Thank you

 

[PhysiosforME]

Welcome @PhysiosforME, this sounds like a very exciting venture.

Thank you

 

[DokaGirl]

No problem, @NelliePledge.

Cheers!

 

[DokaGirl]

Welcome @PhysiosforME.

 

[hellytheelephant]

Good to see you on here @PhysiosforME!

 

[ahimsa]

Welcome @PhysiosforME

Can anyone tell me whether a physio (physiotherapist) is the same thing as a physical therapist? Or is there some sort of training / licensing difference?

This Wikipedia article seems to say they are the same but I wanted to make sure that was correct.

I see the term physio online a lot but I have never heard that term in person. I'm in the USA. Thanks!

 

[ProudActivist]

Welcome @PhysiosforME

Can anyone tell me whether a physio (physiotherapist) is the same thing as a physical therapist? Or is there some sort of training / licensing difference?

This Wikipedia article seems to say they are the same but I wanted to make sure that was correct.

I see the term physio online a lot but I have never heard that term in person. I'm in the USA. Thanks!

It’s just a difference in terminology, as far as I am aware it’s the same thing.

 

[Daisymay]

Hello - this is us We're just kicking things off and the twitter account is the first thing to go live. We do have other ways of communicating planned but happy to chat on here in the meantime.

Welcome and thank you Physios for ME. I've sent you private message.

 

[dangermouse]

A warm welcome @PhysiosforME

Wow, I’m so looking forward to watching your progress on your very worthwhile venture - thank you.

I will send an email about my experiences.

 

[PhysiosforME]

A warm welcome @PhysiosforME

Wow, I’m so looking forward to watching your progress on your very worthwhile venture - thank you.

I will send an email about my experiences.

Thank you - we have had so much support, it is really much appreciated and reinforces why we decided to do this.

 

[PhysiosforME]

It’s just a difference in terminology, as far as I am aware it’s the same thing.

Physiotherapist is the UK term and physical therapist the American term I believe.
All four of us in Physios for ME are Chartered Physiotherapists in the UK

 

[Amw66]

Is this England and Wales only or UK wide?

 

[MEMarge]

I think one of them is from N Ireland, I suspect Scottish physios would be welcome too.

 

[Amw66]

I think one of them is from N Ireland, I suspect Scottish physios would be welcome too.

Joan McParlland had queried re twitter and was told it was not pertaining to NI, hence query.

 

[Andy]

Thank you - we have had so much support, it is really much appreciated and reinforces why we decided to do this.

But, but, I thought we were just lazy layabouts who weren't prepared to put in the effort to get better?!?!?!?

(To be clear, not aiming that at @PhysiosforME , but at the general perception.)

 

[PhysiosforME]

Joan McParlland had queried re twitter and was told it was not pertaining to NI, hence query.

Hi there - we are keen to spread the word and work with any physios who are keen to look at what physiotherapy can offer for ME (with a biomedical approach obviously!)

The four of us are in England but more than happy to link up with physios elsewhere in the UK. I think the response to the NI query was that we don't have any contacts over there so please do point people our way.

We're also happy to link up with colleagues in other countries as well - they may well have lots they can bring to the discussions to help inform our work

 

[PhysiosforME]

But, but, I thought we were just lazy layabouts who weren't prepared to put in the effort to get better?!?!?!?

(To be clear, not aiming that at @PhysiosforME , but at the general perception.)

 

[JemPD]

@PhysiosforME absolutely brilliant that you're doing this & a very warm welcome to S4ME.

I hope in time you might be able to put together some info for other interested physios to look at? - not necessarily treatment guidelines or anything if you didnt feel comfortable with that, but just general principles & dispelling some myths about ME & red flagging what isnt a good idea for this population as opposed to other regularly dealt with illness populations.

I'd love to get some physio for my hip but i'm too scared of the ignorance that will come along with it.... I know it's a problem caused by lack of mobility - but i just cant bear the thought of what will ensue when they tell me i need to walk more & i tell them i'd bl**dy love to but i cant!

 

[PhysiosforME]

@PhysiosforME absolutely brilliant that you're doing this & a very warm welcome to S4ME.

I hope in time you might be able to put together some info for other interested physios to look at? - not necessarily treatment guidelines or anything if you didnt feel comfortable with that, but just general principles & dispelling some myths about ME & red flagging what isnt a good idea for this population as opposed to other regularly dealt with illness populations.

I'd love to get some physio for my hip but i'm too scared of the ignorance that will come along with it.... I know it's a problem caused by lack of mobility - but i just cant bear the thought of what will ensue when they tell me i need to walk more & i tell them i'd bl**dy love to but i cant!

@JemPD we definitely have education on our list of things to do for both students and qualified physios - I like the idea of some information along the lines you mention so will share this with the others

Interestingly some of the replies we have had do involve positive experiences of physio, particularly for a musculoskeltal problem such as the one you describe.
It is this understandable mistrust of/negativity towards our profession that speaks volumes to how this patient group has been treated, and is one reason we have formed as a group. Hopefully we will be able to make a change in this.