Hey All!

I'm going to be starting physical therapy next week, and wanted to know if anyone has some good advice or warnings regarding your PT experience. I am almost 3-months post-TLIF, and have been walking a lot. I'm assuming (and hoping) that we're going to concentrate on my core.

Thanks!

David


:)
The seven-year old girl told her mom, "A boy in my class asked me to play doctor."
"Oh, dear," the mother nervously sighed. "What happened, honey?"
"Nothing... he made me wait 45 minutes and then double-billed the insurance company."

Hi David. Expect to be sore and maybe even get a bit flared from time to time thorugh it. Just communicate everything to your PT. They normally start you off with typical things and then change things as needed to you. If you do an exercise and it hurts, they can find other ways of getting that muscle to move that aren't quite so difficult as they original exercise planned.

Once you get into it more, you will love going. It was my turning point to feeling better. I shuffled in there on my first visit and couldn't stand up straight either. It wasn't too long in there and I was walking with a normal gate and standing tall for my little short self! hehehe.

Good luck

Hi David! I am in physical therapy, into my 6th week I think. They started out slow with stationary bike, arm exercises, squats against the wall with a ball, a machine called the shuttle where you lay on it and push with your feet. Now, they have added the treadmill, arm bike and a few other exercises for me. I started out at another clinic and transferred to this one. There is a world of difference. This one stretches me, massages me, then uses ice and electrical stim after I am done doing my exercises. This makes the world of difference for me.

I was having really bad sciatic pain and through their stretching and massage of the piriformis muscle, they helped it go away completely. The other clinic was only watching me stretch and only offered massage once when i came in , in horrible pain.

My advice would be to make sure you have chosen a great PT clinic. I was lucky to have been to this one prior to surgery so knew they were good. The one the doc sent me to, I didnt like, so if you have a clinic you know you like, you should ask the doc to send you there.

Also a major factor for me was the mileage. With the price of gas you want a clinic near by since you will prob be going there 3x a week for a long time.

Take Care!
Jen

Ihavetwins is absolutely right. Make sure your doctor has chosen his/her top notch PT to send you to. My doc has a PT group that is a spinoff of their facility, but he refused to send me there. He said they were great for other stuff, but not for my spine fusion. He sent me to a lady that was the BEST.. I mean the cream of the crop! She and her side kick are rated in the top 500 in the US, and given how many there are.. that's a big deal in that world. But the biggest bonus of all, was this woman is an authority for rehab for spine fusion patients. I got so lucky to have gotten this group. I work 1.5 from her, and I was commuting to her for my PT and while it cost me gas and time.. worth every bit of it. Find the best!! It truly does make a difference.

Also be sure to communicate with them if some particular exercise is causing you pain so that they can make the necessary adjustments in your care.

If you can, find a therapist who has done a fellowship. Mine had done a fellowship and also had extra training in orthopedics. I got her because Justoneofus had talked about her therapist being specialized in rehab, so I asked my doctor to send me to one like that. He immediately knew who he wanted me to go to, someone who's probably very similar to Justone's. The extra experience and knowledge makes a huge difference for people like us. Let the people with a twisted ankle go to the others! :)

Emily

Ha-ha-ha! I love this joke, David; so funny!

My surgeon told me that he may send or may not send me to PT 3 month after surgery (have way to go). First time after surgery my surgeon sent me to PT 3 weeks after! Who knows who is right or wrong here?
The only thing i have to tell you: trust your body. My S-I-L 6 month ago had her shoulder operated on after a bad fall. They had to repair 3 different muscles and ligaments. He surgeon sents her to PT a month later since she was doing pretty good.
2 weeks later she was in agony, but her PT told her that before she gets better she will have to go through a tough time. He was so right about it: he pushed her so much that one of the stitched muscles disattached again.
She is having another surgery on 01/16.
Her surgeon is furious about it.
The only thing I learned from it: you are your own advocate. Some of the PT really good and know their stuff, no doubt about it, but nobody knows your body better than you do.
Take it easy and get better soon. I am so happy to hear that you are doing better.
So you feel your surgery was a success so far? Keep your chin up!!:)

Hi justoneofus,

How do you find out who is rated in the top 500? Does it go above 500?

Thanks for all of your great comments!

Fortunately I live less than a mile away from the medical center, so I can pop down there whenever I need to.

They say the squeaky wheel gets the grease, and, since this whole thing has happened, I've become very good at "squeaking!" I've utilized the PT dept. at my hospital before, and they're very good, but my plan is a little stingy with the amount of times I can go. Knowing how much individual initiative I have (i.e. none) I think I should set myself up with a gym or place to go during and after my hospital PT, rather than rely on my non-existent 'get-up-and-go.'

I know a good masseuse and a great acupuncturist. I wonder if it would ultimately be cheaper though to just go to a center and get it all done there.

Thank God I haven't had any recurrence of the sciatic pain! I know what you say about the piriformis though. OUCH! I know I'll need a bit of massage there!

Thanks again everybody!

-David



:)
What's the difference between a general practitioner and a specialist?
One treats what you have, the other thinks you have what he treats.