Physical Therapy

@caver1 (1762)
United States
January 18, 2010 2:18pm CST
Have you had to have physical therapy for some reason? I had surgery last year and have not regained all the range of motion in my right arm. My doctor has refered me to a physical therapist, the first appointment was today. So I've been sent home with exercises (should be doing those instead of being on mylot). Some she wants me to do every hour during the day. This may be hard for me to do because I get busy and am very forgetful. What has been your experience with physical therapy?
2 people like this
6 responses
@goldeneagle (6745)
• United States
29 Jan 10
I had to do therapy after a knee surgery when I was in the fourth grade. I took it for a couple of months, and although it was really painful at times, it did help me get back on my feet faster, and it also showed me how much I could take. LOL
@caver1 (1762)
• United States
1 Feb 10
Your example shows just how important it is to have the physical therapy and do all the exercises even when it is not comfortalbe. Thanks, I'll try to keep at it.
@caver1 (1762)
• United States
2 Feb 10
In some ways I think I am tough, not strong, but I can take the pain when needed.
• United States
2 Feb 10
Therapy will certainly help your healing process. I don't think your doctor would have recommended it if he didn't think it would help you. It was really hard at times, but I managed to get through it. If nothing else, it will make you tougher LOL
@cream97 (29086)
• United States
3 Aug 10
Hi, caver1. I have never had the actual physical therapist meeting. But I do go to chiropractic visits often. I get adjustments and other therapy that helps with my lower back muscles. I know that my mother-in-law had physical therapy at her home some years ago. She said she did not like it, because it was a man that was doing her physical therapy. She just did not feel so good. I thought that she needed it because of her muscle problems..
@caver1 (1762)
• United States
16 May 11
My physical therapy has helped. My therapist says I have functional range of motion now, so she has released me from my PT visits. I still have to do the exercises at home or it will start stiffening up again. Hope your mother-in-law is doing better now.
@ElicBxn (63643)
• United States
18 Jan 10
You mean you are supposed to do them at home too??? I've done a LOT of PT. Why? Well, because the medication route most people get to take is off for me because of the corn starch in the pills... I don't like exercises at the best of times and being sent to DO them and then they want me to do more of them at HOME? Do them as you remember - sure, you could set a phone (well, my phone I can set every hour or set a timer or something) and set reminders. Or you can do them when you feel like them, or you can forget them like I did - but they don't do you much good if you don't do them... Got a joke I came up with: Where did the Spanish Inquisition go after they weren't doing it anymore in Spain? They became Physical Therapists...
@caver1 (1762)
• United States
20 Jan 10
Yes!! They expect me to do exercises at home also. Ok, it really is not so bad. The home ones are easy and I was told No Sharp Pain!, so I don't have to push it. I'm really trying to remember to do these so I get better instead of worse. The PT thinks my shoulder is freezing up. If it gets worse I may not be able to work and if I can't work...well you know how that goes. Took me a second read to get the Spanish Inquistion joke
1 person likes this
@carpenter5 (6782)
• United States
16 Feb 10
I did have physical therapy after I had back surgery in 2006. I was on the rehab floor of the hospital for two weeks after my surgery and had physical therapy twice a day. Then when I went home they came to the house every day for three weeks, then three times a week for a month, and then twice a week for two weeks, and then once a week for 3 months. You have to understand that I could not walk before my surgery my back had gotten so bad. I had great therapists, so had a good experience.
@caver1 (1762)
• United States
29 Mar 10
Glad you had a good experience. I'm doing my exercises at home and just going in every 4 weeks so they can check my progress. I've heard this frozen shoulder thing can take a long time to heal. Like a year or two. I hope the therapy helps me get better faster than that.
@jezzmay (1845)
• United States
18 Jan 10
I had to take it, because of back problems. I only had to do them at the office were I went. I had them for a year, but I still came out 30 percent disabled in my spine. Try to do your exercises they are important for receiving strength back in were ever you had surgery. Have a great day.
@caver1 (1762)
• United States
18 Jan 10
Sorry to hear you still have some disability. I took a break from the computer and went though the exercises. Also I go back tomorrow and Thursday of this week. Thanks for your encouragment.
@Torunn (8607)
• Norway
18 Jan 10
I got a lot of exercises after I had back surgery, and they really helped. As I'm a rider, I have quite good control over the muscles there and the exercises were quite easy, but I still did them for half a year. I try to remember to do them every now and then now too, as I don't want the problems to come back.
@caver1 (1762)
• United States
20 Jan 10
I understand about not wanting the problems to come back. The PT thinks my shoulder is freezing. So I guess these exercises plus the stretches she doing in the office will thaw it out.