Hi All,
I just started PT on my left foot last night. It's only been 3 weeks since my surgery and infection. The Dr. hooked my foot up to some electrical things and kept asking me if I could feel it. She kept raising it higher and higher.I said what am I suppose to feel? I did not feel a thing so she unhooked me and I layed there with ice on my foot for a half an hour. Which I could have done at home for 10 bucks. Is that normal to not feel anything? I had the same(I think) thing done on my right leg last month and I felt that. I'm just worried that maybe I have some damage to my foot or leg from that darn infection :confused:
Thanx, Sue

Sounds like you getting some electrical stimulation, it stimulates your muscles to contract and is suppose to help with swelling. Didn't you post that you were having issues with that and asked about compression stockings? I don't know why you didn't feel it. I hope you don't have any serious damage. Best wishes - eko

Sounds like you getting some electrical stimulation, it stimulates your muscles to contract and is suppose to help with swelling. Didn't you post that you were having issues with that and asked about compression stockings? I don't know why you didn't feel it. I hope you don't have any serious damage. Best wishes - eko
Hi EKO, Yup I posted about swelling, I started wearing the hose and started the PT. I don't understand why I did not feel it either. Thanx, Sue

It can sometimes depend on the placement of the electrodes. Did the PT move them around at all? I know that when I do it they can turn the machine up a lot or hardly at all, depending on where they put the electrodes. There was another patient in there yesterday who couldn't feel it at all, then they moved the electrodes and it worked fine. Just something to check on.

Susie,

I had some PT last summer after my plantar fascial release was completely screwed up. I had electric stimulation like you did; in my case I think it was to help bring down swelling/adhesions and help a little with desensitization because I had severe nerve damage. I had more modalites than exercise (which was normal in my case), and would have ultrasound, some foot massage, and then e-stim with the ice packs. From what I understand, if the PT does something "hot" (like ultrasound--it was breaking up the adhesions), you need to follow with something cold to bring the swelling down-- i.e. e-stim with ice or cold whirlpool, etc.

I too was confused about what I was supposed to feel. If I recall, you're supposed to feel gentle pulses, but not pain. One day, I wondered what it would be like if the machine was too high, so I kept telling them to go higher. Have you had an EMG? Too high feels like that--really sharp, shooting pains. I'm wondering if your PT stopped you at a certain level when you said you couldn't feel anything, because my nerve damage was severe, and even *I* felt something. I'd ask the PT to explain it more at the next visit, and what your response meant. In my personal opinion, having dealt with nerve damage, I think you'd know by now if you had nerve damage with the surgery/infection.

Let us know what happens!

--Karyn

Thank you so much for the info and replies! I go back tomorrow(SAT)for PT I will be sure to ask plenty of questions.I know when I had stimulation on my right foot/leg I felt it. Yes she did move the disks around and used different sizes also. I have a Doctor appointment today at 6 and we will see what he has to say.
Thanx, Sue