I should know better
OK, here I go again. Doing what I should never do, but plunging in head first where brave people dare to tread.
WordPress Five
WordPress, the back end of websites built throughout the world, has been updated to WordPress 5.0. There are warnings all over the web that the new editor known as Gutenberg is broken with the new Divi theme update, Elementor, and Brizzy. Mr. Disabled, Fearless and Clueless has once again jumped into the shark tank.
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It is all about the new theme
Not knowing what I was doing, and being unable to stop myself from seeing the new WordPress default theme 2019, I updated to WordPress 5.0. This is the first new post I have done with the new Block editor Gutenberg, and I am still using WordPress theme 2016. I am crossing my fingers and hoping this works. (Talk about a wing and a prayer.)
A long time coming
I have not received any Ocupational Therapy (OT) or Physical Therapy (PT) for two years. This happened when I could no longer reliably stand. I probably could have stood earlier in the day, but as my Multiple Sclerosis fatigue kicks in, I am less and less able to reliably stand later in the day.
Leave me in bed
It became much easier to just leave me in bed and do diaper changes. Occasionally, I would come out of bed and sit in my lift chair for three hours.
New doctor
My new doctor (general practitioner) has put in for OT for me. In the past, my old doctor would do the same, but nothing would come of it. Please consult with your doctor before attempting OT. Your condition may vary.
Rhode Island, here he comes
My old doctor has moved to Rhode Island, I do not live in Rhode Island, and a new doctor was assigned. I am part of Housecalls, which means that the doctor comes to my house because I am bedridden. I am a paraplegic. Housecalls is a very good program and it is worth checking to see if a hospital near you offers a similar program.
I say yes to OT
Anyway, one day, to my surprise I get a phone call that some people are going to try to set up OT for me. I say yes, and then I get another phone call that they were successful and then I get another call from An Ocupaional Therapist that she is coming to see me.
Again, I say yes to OT
Again, I say yes, and she shows up with a much younger man who she calls “a shadow”. The shadow makes a list of all my medications, while she goes through my ID. She needs ID like my drivers license. She also needs my new Medicare card, and my Medicare supplement card.
Hand strength
She and the shadow check my arm and hand strength. I have to squeeze their hands. They determine that my upper body strength is good, which it is. My lower body strength is lousy. But OT usually deals with the upper body strength.
More PT, less OT
Realistically, I need PT more than I need OT. PT deals with the whole body, and in my case, that means mostly lower body, which is my weakest part.
Medicare to the rescue, maybe
This is where Medicare issues come into play. Medicare will apparently pay as long as you progress. However, with an illness like Multiple Sclerosis, the likelihood of progressing is minimal. It is more of an issue of maintaining your current condition.
Some progress
You may progress somewhat, but then you reach a point where you plateau, and you are really trying to just maintain your situation. Medicare apparently does not like this. They want you to keep progressing and that is what they will pay for.
Jimmo
In the Jimmo case, Medicare came to a settlement where they would pay for such maintenance in cases involving illnesses like Multiple Sclerosis. (On January 24, 2013, the U. S. District Court for the District of Vermont approved a settlement agreement in the case of Jimmo v. Sebelius, Case 5:11-cv-00017-cr, filed Jan. 18, 2011).
Easier said than done
It is apparently hard to get approval for such a maintenance program, which is why some switch from OT to PT and back again, otherwise Medicare will not pay. This is where I would like to say that I am not a lawyer and this is not legal advice. However, this would not be entirely true. In fact, I am a lawyer.
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Your condition may differ
However, your condition may differ and I would suggest that you consult a lawyer for your particular condition and the stage of development of your condition. Anyway, after I finish with OT, I plan on checking to see if I can get PT.
Caller ID
Two days later, I get a call from a different phone. Yes, I have Caller ID. Apparently, the OT is not going to come to my house for this visit. Instead, the shadow is coming.
Shadow is coming
The shadow arrives and we talk about the electronic equipment that I have in bed with me, like my laptop and iPad. Meanwhile, I am doing stretching exercises with a big rubber ribbon. Then he gives me a weight which I do lifting exercises with one hand then the next.
I’m a righty
Both my hands are strong, but I am a righty, and my right hand is a little stronger than my left hand. This means that I can keep going with my right hand, but I need to rest occasionally when I use my left hand. We also talked about Amazon and Amazon Prime, which gives me free two day shipping, music, books, magazines, and videos.
The other OT
Shortly, thereafter, he left the house. However, before he left, he mentioned that most of my remaining sessions would be with the OT and that she would be calling in the future.
Questions and Comments
I hope that helps you with your treatment or someone you know, and if you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. Thank you.