A Note about our PTs

[AlaskanTKR]

After catching up on all that has been happening while I have been moping around - the one common theme I have noticed is that many of use face our struggles in the company of our PTs. I read so many wonderful posts about how so many of us are working toward and hitting marvelous goals - due in part to the people we visit 2 or 3 times a week.

I would just like to thank these wonderful people who I can count on to make me giggle or smile - even after they have just bent my very stubborn knee to a place it really didn't want to go. I don't know how to express my thanks to the people who - no matter what - greet me with a smile and a warm and welcoming hello - even though we know that we are going to "bend" that day. How do we say thank you to these folks who push us to our true limits in the hope that we can get our lives (and knees) back to the place we need them to be to be happy in life. Seriously - what do I say when my PT bends me to the point of tears and feels as terrible as I do - or maybe even worse - and you can see it in their eyes. ANd then one of the other pTs (who works with me as well) walks quietly up behind you and slips a tissue into your hands knowing darn well that you need it to wipe the tears away but you are to embarrassed to ask for one. Or the PT who makes a point of telling you what a great job you are doing while your eyes are closed and your teeth are clenched as you work through a set of exercises. And don't forget the receptionist who pitches in and rallies when you get that silly stationary bike wheel around for the first time - even though your but is halfway off the seat - and she gets the other PTs and raves about how you made it around 3times. And again the receptionist who wanders quietly by to tell you that you did great - that you will get the ROM - it may take time - but you will get it - after she hears asks the PT how it went after he measured.

Needless to say - The PTs I see are absolutely awesome - Its a small office - but I couldn't ask for a more caring group to work with -

Oh - and to all of us - who are at pt with others suffering the same or similar issues - THANK YOU! A special one to the fellow teacher who was coming back from a scope who watched me in a very awkward position trying to stretch the knee deeper who told me several silly stories and tried to make me laugh as they added more resistance and deepened the bend.

PTs Rock! We couldn't do this without you!
Body in Balance up here in Alaska truly is awesome!!!

Next time you see your PT - Smile and just think of where we would be without them !

Thanks for the indulgence of letting me brag on the wonderful group I work with - If any of you know a PT - Please tell them thank you from ME!

Marianne

 

[Josephine]

Well said, Marianne! Undersung heroes indeed.

 

[Simon]

Marianne

You are so right. I checked out the 2 PT practices in the area. The main one is attached to the hospital but I just got a bad vibe from it. I also found out that you did not get the same person each time. I had problems with PT once before so I have things to watch for. The second was a small practice with only PT (no assistants) and you have the same person. This is where I went and the PT has been great. He always is asking if I am ok. I have been lucky that he can push it without me jumping off the table. Today he stopped and I asked why, he said your breathing changed and not in the way it usually does. It seems he is very tuned into nonverbal communication. Well he has done a great job. I was stuck at 104/110 for weeks. He thought that was 10/15 more than pre-surgery and that might be it and maybe we should go to 2x a week. I saw the OS a week later and he told me to tell him to get more aggressive. So we went back to 3x a week and now at 112/117 and the right is down to -5 the left is at 0. So we are going on and just know it will be slow. The PT said that given the 30 year history and the 9 previous surgeries the knees, muscles and ligaments have been through alot. I am exercising as much as I can, I even bought a good exercise bike to see if that helps. I am going to work more on stretching as I have the tightest muscles. I tried a muscle relaxant and that did nothing.

Well glad you also have a great PT person, it really is the key.

Simon

 

[Gretchendz]

I totally agree Simon.

I think it is important having the same PT team each visit--they get to know you and your knee.

After a few visits, when my PTA was doing the deep massage he suddenly asked "is it hurting?" I said "A bit but how did you know?" He said "Because when I press too hard on your right leg, your left leg pops up."

He said everyone shows it differently and they learn to watch your face, your breathing, or-in my case-waiting for my other leg to start squirming.

 

[carolinagirl]

I have been so very lucky to have such a great pt. His specialty is
knees. For the first time, I had someone different as Jimmy was
out at one of the hospital's foundation functions.
This girl did a good job also. The atmosphere at the clinic is so easygoing and friendly. It is a division of the hospital where I work. I first met my therapist at the Joint Camp I had to attend the week before surgery.
I have enjoyed going to therapy, even though there have been lots of sweat and even some tears! I noticed today doing my heel slides that my knee just doesn't seem to be bending as much as before. I hope that going down to 2x's per week has caused it. I try to stay as active as possible. I ride my stationary bike at home as much as I can. My darn heel is preventing me from just getting out and taking some walks. I went shopping with my daughter this evening, no problem with me knee, but that stupid foot was giving me a fit. Still no word from the specialist I am to be referred to.
I think I am gonna ask Jimmy to measure my knee Monday just to see if I have lost my numbers. Last time I was measured it was 120.
But I really don't feel like it is at that now. Guess I will have to wait and see.

 

[Linda2]

My PT is at a small rehab facility as well. I have been going there on and off--mostly on--for a variety of problems over the last two years. I always see the same therapist, or one assistant (who is great) and sometimes the massage therapist. These people have become like friends. They know how I respond, and are very attuned. Good PT and a good surgeon make all the difference. Of course, you have to put in the work as well.

 

[Josephine]

I totally agree Simon.

I think it is important having the same PT team each visit--they get to know you and your knee.

After a few visits, when my PTA was doing the deep massage he suddenly asked "is it hurting?" I said "A bit but how did you know?" He said "Because when I press too hard on your right leg, your left leg pops up."

He said everyone shows it differently and they learn to watch your face, your breathing, or-in my case-waiting for my other leg to start squirming.

That's like my chiropractor. He'll touch the centre of my back, just between the shoulder blades and say "ooh! That must be sore!" and then press on it to see - I would oblige by jumping two feet off the curch (not a bad fete when lying on one's stomach) and screeching "How did you know?"

Oh - they just know! FWIW I too can now tell where there's a muscle spasm just by looking.

 

[RickB]

YO!,

I must agree on our PTs. I am very forunate to have the same one who has been working with me over the past year. I had a partial tear in my left shoulder last year and Kim was my PT. Then I had my right knee scoped Jun 2and asked for Kim.I had a rotator cuff tear and surgery on my right shoulder Jul 28,08 and again I requested Kim. My summer of 2008 was shot so, with the support of this forum (all you great people) I figure just to get my joints taken care of and have BTKR (its been hell with my right arm not as strong as it should be) but the decision was made. Kim has been great!!!!!!! She knows me well and I really look forward to PT. She is the best!

Rick

 

[schoust]

Yes that is true! In fact Marianne My therapist told me yesterday that we are going to pick up the pace and I was not sure what he meant and he turned around and said to me I will be here every day except the weekend. when I asked him if this is something that they normally did he said I am here to get you better and that is what I am going to do! Wow to think I just met this person a few weeks ago. He definitely cares and with out him I might be starting to give up........

 

[Rowdy66]

You guys make me so envious. But I do know what you mean, were it not for the PT I had after my knee scopes I would never have known what exercises I needed to do after my BTKR. Unfortunately the PT I saw after the BTKR was not that wonderful person but a heavy set woman who was involved with her own melodrama and while she was generous in sharing her own problems with me and countless of the other PT's who came by during each of our three sessions she wasn't much interested in mine. The first time I saw her she managed to peel the steri-strips off my scar by scooting my legs (dragging) over a plastic covered table surface and laughing afterwards while I sat there aghast and wondering if I was going to get an infection. The second time I saw her she managed to hurt my back and put me almost totally out of commission for the next week. The third and last time I saw her I managed to luck out and see her supervisor who told me that I had done so well I really didn't need more PT but they would go ahead and schedule a few more sessions anyway since insurance was going to pick up the tab. I was only out of commission from her for three days or was it four? I should have just gone to the PT I had after the scopes but I was supposed to be admitted to the facility for a week and when it was decided I could go directly home from hospital I just went with the flow. Bad me!!! But still thank God for the PT I saw after the scopes, like I said without them I would never have been able to get where I am today. One of the surprising things about a really good PT I found was that they have the ability to make you want to do the impossible and laugh while you do it. I am so glad you all had wonderful experiences, God knows there are a lot of really good PT's who really care out there I just didn't get one after my surgery and BOY!!!!! it did feel good to let that out after all these months it was still kind of eating at me. LOL. Rowdy

 

[RickB]

Rowdy,

I am sorry that you had to go thru that with your PT in the hospital. I wasn't really crazy about the different ones I had. Now that I am taking out patient PT with a young lady who is at the top of her field and had for over a year, I feel Blessed.

Rick

 

[AlaskanTKR]

I think we should have a PTs Day - I mean they have a teachers day - abosses day - nurses day, etc.... Yesterday was the "Can I opt out" of this - day at pT. Unfortunately the answer was no. Sounds like the smaller practices seem to yeild a much friendlier environment. I am so glad that mine is small. We have a receptionist (who is involved in each of us and who pitch hits if necessary - bringing heat, setting up machines, getting ice, etc), two full pts who are AWESOME and cover for eachother and then the one - I guess she is like an assistant - she does everything but the bending. They are the best. We all work in the same area and the cheerleading that takes place is awesome. After we bent yesterday Deana (the assistant) pretty much hung out with me just being sooooooooo positive. She just really is great. My first impression was - she is gonna kill me - back in the beginning whe we really focused on strength - that's her thing. But... I kept up with her and it really was so beneficial. I have solid strength - just no bend past 90. But man am I strong through that 90.

Anyway - seriously - is there a Physical Therapists day on any strange Hallmark calendar?????

Kudos to all those awesome PTs and their Assistants!
Marianne

 

[Gretchendz]

, God knows there are a lot of really good PT's who really care out there I just didn't get one after my surgery and BOY!!!!! it did feel good to let that out after all these months it was still kind of eating at me. LOL. Rowdy

Hey Rowdy..we're here to let everyone vent

I guess PTs are like OSs and every other profession...you're going to have many great ones and few clinkers....and when you encounter a clinker...move on