Who/When sets up PT?

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beachbum

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Dh asked me about PT after the surgery, and I didn't know how to answer, so I am coming to the experts! Who set up your pt sessions/ and when did they do that? When did you start, and what was your schedule like?
I know, lots of questions.... but thanks for any help you can give
(less than 1 month now... nerves getting worse... hope I'm doing the right thing)
 
My DR.s office set up mine. I went to a rehab facility for 7 days had PT twice a day for 7 days then went home. I then started an out patient rehab 3 times per week one hour each visit. All was arranged by the DR.s office the only question was where I wanted to do the out patient PT which I chose a location close to home.
 
I had home health come to my house for 1 1/2 weeks then I went to out-patient PT. My Dr. gave me a list of who does out-patient PT in town and since Joseph from the hospital did mine while I was in the hospital, I chose to go to him for out-patient PT. Your Dr. will be able to help you with all this or the social worker at the hospital can set you up with information. Good Luck!!!!
 
Did you have this set up before the surgery, or did you do it while in the hospital after the surgery???
 
Hi I really want to be a beachbum.

Ok I had a hip replacement. Pt came to me in the hospital. After I have set it up with my dr. office to a pt office of my choice.

I'm sure you have made the right decision.
Where is your beach?
judy
 
My beach, right now, is in my mind ... and in my past. I grew up in Nassau and on the west coast of Florida (Indian Rocks Beach), so I have salt water in my veins. I get to a beach as often as possible - I need a salt water fix at least 3 times a year! Luckily I have converted my TN born and bred husband! We just got back from a cruise with 4 port/beach days, plus an extra couple of beach days before. Getting ready to go with a good friend next week for a few days (my last trip before the surgery... I think it's a medical necessity!
One day.. I will be back close to the beach.
I know I've made the right decision, this knee has had a negative effect on my life long enough. I just want it to be over and done with.... I know that's normal.
 
Hello I didnt set anything up while I was in the hosp lady that would go around and set up the appts and the after care and what i would need/walker etc........ i guess came in and set the whole thing up i didnt do anything............Me to !!!! on the beachbum.....Good Luck and please let us know how you are doing...........)ps glad you got to take your cruise.......when is your surgery? I really wish you the best.........)
 
My DR.s office set up mine. I went to a rehab facility for 7 days had PT twice a day for 7 days then went home. I then started an out patient rehab 3 times per week one hour each visit. All was arranged by the DR.s office the only question was where I wanted to do the out patient PT which I chose a location close to home.
This is how it was for me as well (except I had ten days in the hospital's rehab floor and went home). And it was also the same way for me- I chose the clinic closer to my house instead of driving all the way back to the hospital (which I could have done, but its 18 miles away as opposed to five miles to the clinic). They set it all up and the PT clinic actually called me on my mobile phone while I was still in the hospital's rehab unit to make my first outpatient PT appointment.
 
As you can see from the posts, there are many ways to do (or not do therapy....not everyone gets official PT after knee surgery). To some extent it depends on your doctor, the hospital, how you do after the surgery....etc.

But if therapy is in your doctor's plan, he will order it. It can be extended if needed. You may have the option to choose home health (they come to your house), outpatient (you have someone drive you there) or in-patient therapy (you spend several days to a week or so at a rehab facility.

Talk to your surgeon or to his nurse before your surgery and see how they handle it. You will want to make sure you know how rehab is covered by your insurance also....it can get quite expensive otherwise.
 
My experience was this both times.

While setting up my surgery in the OS office, they give you brochures of home therapists. I had done research and chose the one recommended by friends.

During your pre-op appointment, you will meet your inhouse PT. They will immediately show up while in recovery and get you set up on the CPM and travel with you to your room to get the leg moving. You should be on 2 hours, off at least 2 hours. They will arrive after breakfast the next morning and say okay it's time to get up! :shk: Up you go and walk as far as you can tolerate. They will offer you to sit up in a recliner or put you back to bed. You will be expected to do heel slides, quad presses and straightening of the leg. I choose to sit in the recliner the second time around and eat lunch there. I was then put back to bed on the CPM for 2 hours and allowed to rest until after dinner. Then back on CPM. This process repeats itself.

The second day the OT will come in with handy gadgets to help you be self sufficient at home. The grabber is a good one, because sometimes you just can't reach what you want and it's handy to help with dressing the first week. They will also send in a patient care nurse who will arrange for anything you need at home like bedside commode, walker, CPM, etc. They will also verify that your insurance covers these items so there are no surprises. The PT will expect you to walk the hall the second day. Don't go too far as you have to make it back again.

Once home the PT and Nurse will show up the following day. The guy with the CPM will usually meet you at the house and get you set-up when you arrive home. The amount of PT depends on your progress. The doctor will decide based on where you are. You will have a follow-up visit to the OS within a month. The home nurse will initially come twice a week to check your blood levels to adjust your blood thinner and take vital signs. They will also remove your staples 12-14 days after surgery and apply steri-strips. Make sure they use plenty of that iodine glue substance so the strips don't fall off too soon. I wouldn't recommend doing pt the same day you have the staples removed. Let your leg rest and resume the next day. I also will only do pt every other day so I can rest and recoop in between. This has worked best for me this second time around.

Your OS will set-up your outpatient PT. They may try to pressure you in to using their facility if they have an inhouse one. But ultimately it's up to you. I preferred the one with a pool. I switched PT after my MUA and loved it. Improved greatly by using the pool in recovery.

Sorry for the long post....hope it helps.
 
Hi --I think most everyone answered the PT questions already. For myself--the hospital "joint coordinator" and social worker-in conjunction with the OS--worked out details for PT. I had 4 weeks of Coumadin (blood thinner therapy) which is a routine OS order---so I had home health visits to check up on me/do blood draws x2/week and home PT(boy was she tough)--every day for two weeks--2x/week for two weeks. Now I am checking out two outpatient PT places---this is my responsibility to do--but the OS office will give me the order so insurance will cover it. Right now I am doing so well--full ROM--that I may do my own daily exercise---haven't decided. Also my use the YMCA around here for some water therapy.
 
Hi, I am having surgery mid-October. I was instructed to find a place I want to go to beginning one week after surgery. I have called them and given them my insurance info, and my OS's office has faxed them a copy of my orders.

I believe before that it will just be done in the hospital. I don't have anyone coming to my home at any time.

Good Luck!
 
Kimberlyann....that is the perfect plan. Where are you having physical therapy. I used the Texas Sports Medicine Center in Tomball and it is excellent. With any facility you select just make sure that the physical therapists have either a master's degree or phd degree and have extensive experience in knee replacement re-hab.

Can give you the names of my physical therapists is you so desire.


Steve
 
It is interesting to me to see how many different options there are for knee surgery patients!!!

I went around to different pt faclities in my immediate area and picked out the one that I wanted to use. I saw the pt prior to surgery to discuss my situation and he made appts for me for three days after surgery.

When I got to the pre op, they all agreed that my doc's patients all leave the hospital on the second day after surgery and that they all get up the first day. He is a knee specialist who does MIS and all the nurses love to get his patients since they are so easy!!

So, in my case, I had pt in the hospita once on the day of surgery and once on the second day; I left the hospital on that day and then had pt on the third day at the facility. After that I had pt three times a week for 12 weeks.
 
My physical therapy was set up for me at the time I set up my surgery date. I chose to use the same PT I used for my RTKR, but if I didn't have a preference, they would have just assigned me to a PT.

My CPM machine was delivered to my home and set up a few days before surgery, as well.

I had some PT while in the hospital, but interestingly, not nearly as much as I had with my RTKR. I was released from the hospital on 09/14/09, and did home PT doing leg lifts, heel slides, quad presses, and ankle pumps all week, and my PT today could tell that I have been working hard. The exercises I did at home were all from memory of a year ago, I wasn't given much in the way of instruction this time from the in-house PTs at the hospital.

Hope that helps some!
 
Dh asked me about PT after the surgery, and I didn't know how to answer, so I am coming to the experts! Who set up your pt sessions/ and when did they do that? When did you start, and what was your schedule like?
I know, lots of questions.... but thanks for any help you can give
(less than 1 month now... nerves getting worse... hope I'm doing the right thing)

I did it while in the hospital and the PT came to home and then I did what I was suppose to daily, myself. I had both knees done this past June 4th. My doctor believes in the knee healing for 3 months before starting to go outside the home to workout. He calls it Physical Fitness. It has worked out wonderful for me. I am blessed to have had this Surgeon to take care of me because two of my neighbors had surgery near my time and have had only one knee done and they are struggling. I think every Surgeon is different in their decision but mine was voted Best in the state of Pa in 2007. I sincerely wish you the best and I will be thinking of you!
Jayne
 
Talk to your OS to see what they normally prescribe post op for PT. My OS typically wants at home PT and nurse visits for 3 weeks and then 4 weeks of out patient PT 3 times a week. You should also check with your insurance company to make sure they will pay for whatever the OS orders. I had to scramble a bit after my knee this year for the At Home care because the provider I had used last year for my hips was no longer considered 'In-Network' and the provider that my OS recommended was 'Out of Network' as well. The social worker in the hospital helped me find another provider that still had a contract with my insurance company. They came out the day after I came home. I found you can take your scrip for out patient PT any place you want, but just make sure they are considered 'In-Network' by your insurance. I picked a place that my family has used for other rehab sessions and which is close to home. I made the reservations for the first couple sessions even before I had the Dr's scrip. They recommended doing that at the class I took at the hospital before the surgery because sometimes it can take a while to get an appointment at some places.
Doug
 
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