starting physical therapy..... - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

ember919 · 04-21-2006, 04:22 PM

i'm kind of picking up from another thread here, one i was too lazy to keep mining through.

i'm starting PT next week, a little under three weeks post-procedure. i don't know what the standard protocol is, but i assume i'll be starting with just basic ROM stuff, maybe some isometric strengthening, too.

judging from a few of the posts i've read over the past month or so, i believe some people here might be of the opinion that this is a bad idea. that too much movement, too soon, will impede fusion.

remember, my surgeon is a no-collar guy. i have a soft collar, and was wearing it more earlier on, but now i only wear it maybe 20% - 30% of the day, mostly if i'm doing something i worry will aggravate the muscles, or if my neck/shoulders/back are just feeling tired.

i was pretty out of shape before surgery. my neck and shoulder muscles were very weak, and the "right wing" was almost atrophied because i'd been unconsciously protecting it for so long. i'd been using the neck and a bad knee as an excuse not to exercise for quite some time.

right now, i can move my head a little up and little down and a little side-to-side. as far as moving ear-to-shoulder, i can hardly do that at all. i've been trying to keep the shoulders and upper back stretched out as much as i can (right now, the focus of the worst of my pain). i've done some super, super mild isometric neck stuff and i've been walking a little bit on the treadmill most days. i'd love to do a yoga tape, get really stretched and loose, but i'm figuring that's gonna be a no-no for a while.

i'm really just trying to see what other people think. am i crazy? is my surgeon crazy?

i said before that i was going to do what felt right after surgery, and so far i don't feel as though i've done anything to push too hard. i've "honored my restrictions", so to speak, and i sure as heck haven't gone around deliberately doing anything to cause myself pain. i am still taking pain meds and muscle relaxers every day.

so, jump in! offer your insight, your opinion, your point of view, your sage advise. all appreciated.

BobM · 04-21-2006, 05:25 PM

If your surgeon writes the script for the PT, and you go to a knowledgable therapist who knows about you condition, I think you will be fine. I've found that it's helpful if the surgeon recommends a PT that he knows & works with routinely. My PT & surgeon would get together every week or two and discuss a number of patients - I think the integrated treatment was very effective.

After my first ACDF I went for about 3 months 'protecting' my neck, and not moving very much, and was pretty stiff and sore. The PT started out with very simple and easy exercises, and within 10 days I was feeling a lot better. I only went to PT 3 or 4 times, the exercises were the kind that could be done at home, so the PT was more like a training session to make sure I knew how to do them.

If your surgeon recommends the PT, I would go for it if it were my decision. He's (or she) not interested in seeing you have problems, would not likely recommend something that would hinder your recovery. If the PT asks you to do anything you don't feel comfortable with, you don't have to do it until you feel ready. But you may find you're ready to start doing some easy exercises to improve strength and get things working again.

Bob

ember919 · 04-21-2006, 07:33 PM

i'm lucky in that i've been going to the same PT place for several years, a few times for the neck stuff and a few times for knee problems. i'm comfortable with them, trust them -- and they already know i'm a big wimp.

having been in PT a few times, i am pretty well set up at home with bands, cords, light weights, etc., and am familiar with a lot of the exercises. (my bad for not doing them!) i admit, though, that i'll be curious to see how this particular situation is approached.

i think i was just surprised that the surgeon had me starting so soon. it's not that i don't feel up to it, just having a hard time getting past, "but it's only been two weeks!" i worry about messing things up - screws popping out or discs slipping out of place, my head falling off.....

hopefully just getting started will get me past that mental hurdle.

thanks for the support.