Remarkable Physical Therapy

[dw6928]

Today was "strength testing day". At my PT facility they have a computerized
machine that tests the surgically repaired leg vs. the "normal" leg. He asked me what percentage of strength I thought I had regained in the 9 weeks since surgery. I guessed 80%. The results of the test: my surgically repaired leg is
109% the strength of my "normal" knee. Testimony that PT (no matter how horrible and painful it is at times) clearly works.

 

[gatiger]

That is great dw. Can't beat that, better than before.

 

[Pattipoo]

I'm jealous.........

 

[dw6928]

If you could see the tears all over the PT's bench from the pain he inflicted on me to get to this point, you might not be jealous. My reason for the post was primarily to inspire those who are on the fence about PT>Please don't misunderstand me however: I still have substantial swelling and stiffness, sleep erratically at best and am still in a fair amount of discomfort at times. What I was delighted about was the tangible evidence right before my eyes that PT works. I guess the end does justify the means (sometimes).

 

[gatiger]

Yeah yeah yeah..........you wuz braggin......Thats OK tho, you deserve it.

 

[dw6928]

actually I was patting the physical therapy process on the back, I was just along for the ride.

 

[Pattipoo]

No, Wayne, you felt like you WERE the ride!
You've put a lot of hard work into it...PAT yourself and the PT on the back.

 

[Doug]

No, No, No, they guided you and you did the work!!! You had the option at any point to quit but you didn't. You didn't quit so be proud.
I'm darned proud of you bro...

 

[dw6928]

Patti and Doug: thank you for your kind words and encouragement. Just wish I wasn't so sore from our "final" therapy exercises. He really made a point! There are still marks from his hands on my knee.

 

[gatiger]

I say again dw, you SHOULD be proud. That is quite an achievement, we know it wasn't easy.
I have marks in other places that I can't get out..........just sayin.

 

[NuNeez519]

Hey DW, a quick question, what exactly did your PT session consist of? What excercises, modalities( ice, TENS, heat, sretching etc.) did they use for your sessions?

 

[beachcomber]

Congrats to YOU DW!

That was hard work, endurance, and a lot of "grit" on your part. When the PTs are finished "working with" us--- we are the ones who have to go home and deal with the consequences of the therapy. The PT can be pleased and proud of "assisting" us to achieve goals but we KRs are the ones who both benefit from and "pay" for the process---- and sometimes it takes me several days to recover from a PT session.

Keep moving forward so you can enjoy the life we all went through this for!

 

[dw6928]

Hey DW, a quick question, what exactly did your PT session consist of? What excercises, modalities( ice, TENS, heat, sretching etc.) did they use for your sessions?

PT session started w/ Lifecycle, progressed to flexion/extension "manipulation (painful beyond tears), stretching, weight work (leg press, leg curl, hamstring curl, etc), wobble board, step work and the coup de grace: neuromuscular stimulation (the exact opposite of TENS). The electrodes are attached in several places to your quads and the machine cycles 10 seconds of jolting and 50 seconds rest. In 10 minutes it achieves 1+ hour of weight work on the quads.My computerized strength testing proved this to be wildly successful. And finally, the Game Ready ice/compression machine. And then I wobbled out to my car!

 

[Nursepair]

Congratulations DW, keep up the good work. Sue

 

[Pattipoo]

I think Wayne got a labotamy....BLESS HIS HEART, he just hasn't figured that one out yet! poor thing....

 

[dw6928]

Labotamy? Never heard the word before... Do you mean lobotomy?

 

[gatiger]

She aint right dw, don't worry about it.

 

[dw6928]

Lobotomy would be a bit on cruel and unusual side.

 

[Pattipoo]

oh....(sniff sniff)....I see! Pick on the poor little country girl that has to WALK to work - uphill bof ways!!....ain't had no larnin'....taking drugs....can't think straight.....can't spell because she had to quit school and raise 17 little brothers!!!!....I see!....sit up thar in yore nice comfy NY penthouse..looking down on the world and down on country cripples!!!

DADGUM.....now look whatca made me go and do.....cried so hard I done snubbed up a snot bubble....

SEE....see whatca did.........getcha guns D and G!!....we goin' KONTREE on somebody!!!


I'm tired now.....

;^)

 

[gatiger]

Whew, I really thought it was gonna be worse than that.