I've found all the posts on PT and the stims units very interesting.  First
off, I am ignorant about exactly what the stims is.  I'm guessing it's like
what the chiropracters use to fatigue the muscles before an adjustment.  A
repetious pulse or current to beat the spasms into submission :D  - Maybe one
of the PT's or OT's can explain why this has the opposite effect on me.

I've been assigned the title spastic/di-tri plegic. I'm still ambulatory, but
my function level has been on a down-hill dive the past few years.  (Probably
the old aging process exaccerbated by the cp)  Anyway, the few times I do get
adjusted, I beg off on the stims and ask for moist heat instead.  Those
pulses get my muscles twitching and spasming into a frezy.  It's painful and
I feel counter-productive.  The same thing happens when I try to stretch.
All the old routines from therapy (standing on a phone book, leaning forward
to stretch the achellies (sp?) tendon, leaning against the wall trying to
stretch out the old hamstrings.  Within five minutes of stretching, my legs
begin to spasm so badly, I can't even stand up on my own.  Even after sitting
down they just keep on jumping.  If I really stress my legs (like the time I
decided how great it would be if a wall-papered the bedroom before my hubby
came home from work- and stood on the bottom rung of a ladder for 15 mintues)
not only do my legs spasms for the rest of the day, I even have trouble
getting around for a few days after that.  I'm taking 60 MG of Baclofen
already and Ativan at night, and STILL my body is very prone to spasm if
stretched or stressed.

Over the past few years I've tried to go in for a tune-up with PT.  My back,
neck and arms tend to feeze up horribly.  I have great respect for PT's (who
know what they are doing), the problem is I can never find anybody who has
worked with an adult cp patient.  I suffer through with those who treat me
like an injured athlete.  I end up feeling like I've wasted time and money
and get no results.  I know PT works for some, but in recent years my faith
in it has waned.  I've been rationalizing my lack of organized PT by telling
myself just doing stuff around the house is excercise enough.  I wasn't too
certain if this was true or I was only trying to make myself feel better.

Then Kyle writes, "I'm the "laundry man" as I wash, fold, iron (rarely) and
put away all the clothes.  Yeah, I know it's not weight-bearing, but
manipulating the left hand kind of puts it through its paces (can't easily
fold clothes one-handed)."

AH HA.  This seems to be my own take on household chores.  When I put dishes
away, I stretch out to reach up to higher shelves.  When I put clothes away,
I stretch down to open the lower drawers.  Washing the floors, dusting,
scrubbing the tub, none of it is weight bearing, but I feel these motions do
"put my body through the paces."

Elizabeth Thiers seemed to advocate the counter-scrubbing.  Does this mean
there is some validity to the method behind Kyles and my "Hazel" work-outs?
OH.  Also Ms. Thiers said, "Once you warm up the hand (and arm and shoulder)
you can also do some weight bearing exercises on both upper extremities (your
arm, shoulder and hand)."  How can I "warm-up" without stretching myself into
a spasming mess?  Thanks; Denise.