PT update
I have now completed four full weeks of physical therapy; this is my fifth week. The therapist rates your success based on your stated goals. My goals were to be able to stand for half an hour without pain, and walk for an hour without increasing pain. (That's a minimal goal. I would ideally like to be able to give an hour-long massage once a week, and to be able to hike 5 miles.)
When I started therapy I could stand for about 10 minutes without pain and walk for 45 minutes or so.
After the first week and a half I could only stand for about 2 minutes without pain (if that), and walk for about 15 or 20 minutes (as measured by grocery shopping).
Now, after four weeks, I can again stand for about 15 minutes before my pain increases, but I still get increasing pain after 20 or 25 minutes of grocery shopping.
My plan of care includes daily exercises plus two hour-long visits a week. Each time I go to my in-office visit I find the exercises a little bit easier to complete, my pain-free range of motion a little bit greater, my post-visit recovery time shorter. As far as my symptoms, though, I am only seeing maybe 10 or 20 percent improvement, not the 75 percent improvement that the therapist would like to see. She tells me that, since my symptoms aren't improving, she can't legally continue to treat me without another prescription from my doctor. She even suggested it might be time to get an MRI to rule out any problems the X-Ray didn't pick up.
My appointment with the orthopaedist is this afternoon. I am very curious to see what he has to say, and if he'll want me to get an MRI. To be honest, the twice-weekly PT appointments are getting old, especially if I'm not seeing results. It would be easier if I were more sure I was improving.
When I started therapy I could stand for about 10 minutes without pain and walk for 45 minutes or so.
After the first week and a half I could only stand for about 2 minutes without pain (if that), and walk for about 15 or 20 minutes (as measured by grocery shopping).
Now, after four weeks, I can again stand for about 15 minutes before my pain increases, but I still get increasing pain after 20 or 25 minutes of grocery shopping.
My plan of care includes daily exercises plus two hour-long visits a week. Each time I go to my in-office visit I find the exercises a little bit easier to complete, my pain-free range of motion a little bit greater, my post-visit recovery time shorter. As far as my symptoms, though, I am only seeing maybe 10 or 20 percent improvement, not the 75 percent improvement that the therapist would like to see. She tells me that, since my symptoms aren't improving, she can't legally continue to treat me without another prescription from my doctor. She even suggested it might be time to get an MRI to rule out any problems the X-Ray didn't pick up.
My appointment with the orthopaedist is this afternoon. I am very curious to see what he has to say, and if he'll want me to get an MRI. To be honest, the twice-weekly PT appointments are getting old, especially if I'm not seeing results. It would be easier if I were more sure I was improving.