Gave my letter to the PT bully!

[HyperZen]

I left my letter for the manager of my PT clinc today. She actually called me later in the day and apologized and we talked for quite a while about my perceptions of her behavior. She said it really made her think all day about how she approaches things. She, of course, defended some of her actions but was very respectful of my feelings and very responsive to my feedback. I was surprised! That said, I have only two more visits that are covered by my insurance, so I am shopping for a new therapist. I feel like I still need the accountability and feedback from therapy, but I don't want to stay with that clinic...especially if it is going to start coming out of my pocket now!

Just wanted everyone to know that it does pay to stand up for yourself! No more bullying PTs!!

 

[loggon]

Proud of you. She was probably afraid of what you could do to her. She was soooo out of line.

Have you thought of water therapy? It is usually cheaper. Also, fitness gyms are cheaper in the long run. They have a trainer there that will always give you tips, plus you know the type of exercise you have been doing and you should have the same equipment available to you in the gym as you do in therapy center.

 

[Texas]

Im so glad you put her in her place.she needed to think about it and treat people right......im proud of you as well.....)

 

[brs0660]

I too am proud of you. I am also proud of the manager for admitting that she could have handled thing better.

 

[Jamie]

Way to go, Jill. People need feedback in order to do a better job. When you provide that in a professional and meaningful way, it benefits everyone.

But I think you are wise to seek another facility. The suggestion about a gym could be a good one since you'll be paying for it. You would just need to do some homework to find a trainer that had experience with recovery. Mine is excellent!! And less expensive. Her private sessions are $85 instead of the $125 for a therapist. But you do need to search for just the right trainer.

 

[Josephine]

Jill, let me tell you a story ....

Some years ago when I was in management, they sent me on a middle management course. You'd expect people on such a course to be 'well behaved' wouldn't you?! It was about 70% women and multidisciplinary so nurses and office staff, etc. One of the office guys was recently out of the army where he had been a sergeant so naturally he seemed to have an answer for everything. Well, came a day we were put into groups of six to discuss communication and he really hogged the show! Don't know about the others but I kept taking a breath to speak and this chap would just roll on and on, hardly taking a breath. I mean, ironic or what!

Eventually the tutor managed to say something about the rest of us being quiet and I replied how 'some of us' would have liked to say something but felt intimidated by the loquaciousness of one person! This chap scoffed and said if 'people' couldn't speak up then they had nothing worth saying! That did it! I told him exactly what I felt even though my heart was pounding (I was extremely shy at the time!). I told him that just because some people were polite enough not to interrupt didn't mean they had nothing worthwhile to say and it was rude of him to dismiss them (me!) like that. I fully expected some disciplinary action for being so 'rude' but nothing came of it. One or two of the group muttered something in support and the group was closed.

The next day, I notice this chap was extremely quiet and mentioned to the tutor I hoped I hadn't upset him. The tutor laughed and told me that this man had been to him first thing that morning for advice; seemed he had lain awake all night worrying about what I'd said and wanted the tutor's honest opinion of if it was true! And he got it. I never met the ex-army chap again but I knew someone who worked with him and they asked me what had happened to him on the course as he was a changed man when he got back!

You just never know what your words will accomplish!

 

[HyperZen]

Thanks everyone for the support! Jo, what a great story!!! Good for you. It not only impacted him for the rest of his life, but it sure gave you a boost too!

I am a communications professional, have been working in corporate communications for 20+ years, and I am always stunned by the number of people who have such poor communications and human relations skills...especially in the field of medicine, where one would presume that the patient's understanding of what is happening to his/her body would be paramount to recovery! I knew I had to speak up this time for certain. And I do believe it will have the effect of making her stop and think before she acts the next time. If I have helped to make another patient's experience better, then what I went through had a purpose.

I'm now even more motivated to talk to someone with my OS' office about a follow-up program and better communication for patients during recovery! In terms of what we are going through, I think more information and communication is better.

 

[Josephine]

:thmb: :thmb:

 

[tom67]

Hey Jill, I hope your feelin' good!! Have a great weekend!!

 

[HyperZen]

Thanks, Tom. I have decided my boyfriend is better at PT than the professionals. (Don't take that the wrong way. LOL.) He just helped me stretch and was very kind and gentle, and I feel like I got so much more range with less drama with his help. We don't have one of those fancy plastic measuring devices, but I am giving us credit for getting me good ROM today. ;-)

 

[tom67]

My Girlfriend helped me a lot too, I'm gonna find out where you can GET, one
of those fancy measuring devices!!! It might be a plus to have one!!

Good Job Jill!!!

 

[Josephine]

On Ebay, Tom. Is where I got mine. Cheap as chips!

Look broken link removed: https://cgi.ebay.com/8-Inch-Transparent-Plastic-Goniometer-Physical-Therapy_W0QQitemZ200407048874QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item2ea930e2aa

 

[Jamie]

EBay is where I got mine too....it was handy to have as I went on in recovery. It's how I knew I kept gaining ROM all during the first year.

 

[tom67]

THATS THA ONE!!!!! My PT said I could get one at a medical supply Co.
but VERY EXPENSIVE!! You are right girls!! E-Bay's tha way!!!!

WOW!!! That Is Cheap!! I spend more at Mickey D's, (mabye thats why my
flexion will probably get stuck at 110%):D

 

[Josephine]

You're funny, Tom!

 

[mtngal67]

How do you properly measure yourself with one of these? I know my PT gal kind of moves around a bit before she's satisfied with where she's lining things up at for a measurment.
Gale
RTKR 10/5/09

 

[Josephine]

The fulcrum - or pin in the centre - should line up with a spot just behind the knee cap but you need to be able to imagine the knee in cross-section to do it!

In this image, for example, the instrument is incorrect as it's far too low in the joint.

The red line shows the line of the femur, the green one the line of the tibia and the turquoise cross is where the screw on the instrument should be placed.

Make sure you 'aim' the upper arm along the femur which, nearer the hip, is more towards the back of the thigh than the front since there's a considerable quantity of muscle in front which can be misleading. The lower arm should end on the ankle bone which is the bottom of the fibula but the same place as the inner ankle bone is and that's the bottom of the tibia.