Wednesday is a drag. Each and every week the same thing appears on the calendar on Wednesday. Never fails unless I cancel that smudge on the calendar and draw a big “X” through it. What has destroyed my Wednesdays? Two words—physical therapy.
Physical therapy is part healing, but it can be painful. For example, last Wednesday I came away in pain and arrived home to pack my leg and ankle in ice. On Thursday, the pain had mellowed but soreness crept in overnight and made it difficult to walk. The goal of all we’re doing to this right leg and ankle is to help me walk more normally again. By the time I rid myself of the pain and soreness, guess what it’s time for again?
And the vicious cycle begins again!
Maybe you know this, but not all PTs are equally attuned to client condition and needs. In my experience with a dozen or so, few have done more than make assumptions after five minutes of assessment before selecting a treatment “recipe”. Not surprisingly, few have been helpful. Most recently an occupational therapist caused me the sort of pain you describe with aggressively vigorous scar tissue massage on a newly reconnected ring finger nerve. She became highly defensive when I requested she be more gentle on my next (and last, I decided) visit. She refused to touch my hand at all that day. She made a note on my chart that I’d refused treatment, watched me do the exercises I’d already done at home, and sent me on my way. My hand surgeon confirmed that if I had more than minor discomfort for one or two days after treatment, something was wrong, and it was well that I had backed off. I’m not convinced after several months that she did not do some permanent damage. You might want to check with your surgeon to be sure this degree of PT induced pain and suffering is indeed justified and helpful.
Your comments are reminiscent of a PT experience several years ago. I went in for something to do with my right knee. The young woman assigned to my treatment placed me on a table with a large machine at the end of it. She then proceeded to place my right foot in a band and instructed me to pull down and then let go. What she didn’t say was that I should let go “slowly.” When I let go, the band and my leg went flying toward the ceiling. I heard something pop and saw her head swivel around at the sound. A check-in with my surgeon revealed a meniscal tear that hadn’t been there when he referred me for PT. Yes, some of them are dangerous in my book!
I’m fortunate with the one I have that we have good camaraderie, and today when I arrived, I told her I had questions about last week’s homework. She explained the source of my pain and soreness, and changed the instructions for one of the two exercises she gave me last week. All in all, I’ve been so near immobile for so long, the atrophy in my muscles creates problem every time we start working on something new. Not my fault; not the PT’s fault. But it is a drag!
P.S. I do hope for the best for you!
Thanks, Sharon! So do I!
Thoughts and prayers…
Thank you so much! Those prayers help.
My calendar features two Pilates days, Tuesday and Thursday, my form of PT. The training is rigorous and I’ve made friends at the gym, but I wonder how long I can keep up. I do modifications (easier forms) of the postures during the drill, and since I’ve made friends at the gym, I want to keep at it as long as I can. Lower back pain and a weak wrist (carpal tunnel syndome?) are two reasons I have to work on toning and flexibility. By the way, I wear a wrist brace to lessen stress in that area: Why court trouble – ha!
Those weights look familiar. Keep at it, Sherrey. A gentle version, that is! I’ll do the same.
Marian, you are wise to keep up your Pilates. Almost 3.5 years of minimal mobility, I ended up with quite a lot of atrophy in major muscles. I’ve got a long way to go to restore those. And you’re right: Why court trouble? Gentle as we go, Marian!
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