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Internet Medicine
May. 8th, 2021 02:03 pmAfter all the everything, this morning I wound up encountering a YouBoob Suggestion to watch a video from a physical therapist's channel. Looking over the person's collection, I eventually found an hour-long one that had a flow chart/decision tree for attempting to pinpoint, "What the heck is wrong with my legs and lower back?"
In general I'm skeptical of internet medicine (it's cancer every time!!). But this particular channel, the logic and reasoning behind the explanations, and providing the bigger picture makes me more inclined to trust what I'm viewing. (plus it lines up with things my Pediatric PT mother has been heard to say now and again, and a video on the business's website outlines a holistic philosophy and knowledge-based, empowering approach, so yeah)
Somehow getting this kind of information from a video also works a lot better than reading websites, which is interesting to observe.
In any case, after an hour of watching and a couple of very simple diagnostic tests, I have to say it looks much more like what I'm up against is sciatica rather than piriformis syndrome.
This would also quickly explain why my initial efforts to try and do things were unsuccessful: if it's nerve inflammation or blockage rather than muscle spasm, the course of treatment is very different.
So after reaching that conclusion, I watched another hourlong video from the same physical therapist that outlined a framework for treatment for sciatica.
Given how much progress I made on making a primary care appointment on Thursday morning, well, with a treatment plan that includes a daily self-assessment technique, why not give it a try for at least 24 hours?
So we shall see. If this doesn't work out I'm inclined to explore telehealth options that might give me access to a broader pool of providers relative to what's in the region here. I don't know what insurance options look like for that realm, but one piece at a time, right?
In general I'm skeptical of internet medicine (it's cancer every time!!). But this particular channel, the logic and reasoning behind the explanations, and providing the bigger picture makes me more inclined to trust what I'm viewing. (plus it lines up with things my Pediatric PT mother has been heard to say now and again, and a video on the business's website outlines a holistic philosophy and knowledge-based, empowering approach, so yeah)
Somehow getting this kind of information from a video also works a lot better than reading websites, which is interesting to observe.
In any case, after an hour of watching and a couple of very simple diagnostic tests, I have to say it looks much more like what I'm up against is sciatica rather than piriformis syndrome.
This would also quickly explain why my initial efforts to try and do things were unsuccessful: if it's nerve inflammation or blockage rather than muscle spasm, the course of treatment is very different.
So after reaching that conclusion, I watched another hourlong video from the same physical therapist that outlined a framework for treatment for sciatica.
Given how much progress I made on making a primary care appointment on Thursday morning, well, with a treatment plan that includes a daily self-assessment technique, why not give it a try for at least 24 hours?
So we shall see. If this doesn't work out I'm inclined to explore telehealth options that might give me access to a broader pool of providers relative to what's in the region here. I don't know what insurance options look like for that realm, but one piece at a time, right?
