Question about PT

[skibumsmith]

I've been going to physical therapy for about 3 months now. I started going to The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital in Murray, Utah for my knee rehab in early May. This was my first real injury so I went into this whole process pretty naive to the way things work and just assumed that the treatment I was getting was as good as it gets. I walked down the hall and saw all the signed posters from professional athletes and thought I was getting top notch care but I'm starting to question whether all orthopedic centers are equal.
1. Did you guys use an ultrasound machine?
2. How up-to-date on the latest research was your therapist?
3. Did you feel like the the treatment you got was specific to you or was your therapy identical to other people regardless of age and goals (did you have the same routine as the middle aged fat ass that's never skied in his life)?
4. How closely did your therapist work with your surgeon? Did they communicate often?

Thanks for your answers. I'm getting frustrated with my progress and would really appreciate any advice from anybody who has been through this before. I'm about to say fuck TOSH and start going to the University Orthopedic Center.

[Shredhead]

I surprised your insurance is still paying for PT. If your not happy with your treatment, find someone else.

Eventually you'll come to the realization that it's all up to YOU!

I'm icing my knee right now, waiting until it 's light out, then I'm riding a 50 miler. Then I hit the pool for 20 laps and some ROM work.

Get after it!

[skibumsmith]

I am covered for 75 visits. I realize at this point that my recovery rate reflects how much time I put into it but I think that some of the stuff I was doing earlier on for ROM was totally ineffective. I would just bang on my knee forever thinking that if I was in pain then it must be a good stretch and I was getting nowhere.

[JTrue]

I'm sure there are some great PTs at TOSH, however I didn't have a great experience either. I felt like it wasn't a very personal experience. As Shredhead said above a lot of it is what you are willing to put into it. But the PT needs to listen to the patient, if something isn't working for you voice it. If you have any ideas or questions make sure you ask. I've found that giving feedback to a receptive PT and having them take a slightly different approach can really help. Educating yourself about your condition is pretty powerful as well.

Right now I am going to a PT that's not in my network, and is more expensive. I got a good recommendation from a friend and figured I'd go for a couple sessions. So far they are the real deal and have helped a lot, even though I still have a ways to go. Good luck, keep working at it and you'll be back and stronger then in the past.

[detrusor]

There is a guy named John Feig in SLC that is as good as it gets. Look him up. The ortho guys at the U swear by him. Has been damn good w the wife's rehab.

[JTrue]

^^^Agreed, I'm not seeing John, but I am seeing one of the PTs that works for him. Can't say enough good things about what they have going on.

[neufox47]

I've been going to physical therapy for about 3 months now. I started going to The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital in Murray, Utah for my knee rehab in early May. This was my first real injury so I went into this whole process pretty naive to the way things work and just assumed that the treatment I was getting was as good as it gets. I walked down the hall and saw all the signed posters from professional athletes and thought I was getting top notch care but I'm starting to question whether all orthopedic centers are equal.
1. Did you guys use an ultrasound machine?
2. How up-to-date on the latest research was your therapist?
3. Did you feel like the the treatment you got was specific to you or was your therapy identical to other people regardless of age and goals (did you have the same routine as the middle aged fat ass that's never skied in his life)?
4. How closely did your therapist work with your surgeon? Did they communicate often?

Thanks for your answers. I'm getting frustrated with my progress and would really appreciate any advice from anybody who has been through this before. I'm about to say fuck TOSH and start going to the University Orthopedic Center.

All PT's are not equal. If they aren't up to date on the latest research, leave. That is a fundamental part of their job. If they are using extensive ultra sound and e-stim, they are probably lazy and just trying to bill.

[old goat]

A general comment (not speicifc to knee rehab or anything else) RE: up to date on the latest research--that means up to date on the research in professional refereed journals, not the latest internet fad.

[spicy cha cha]

I am covered for 75 visits.

that's alot of PT. I have no idea what other insurers allow, but my plan differentiates between outpatient (20/year) and inpatient (65/year).

[rmnpsplitter]

My thoughts from watching the wife recover from ACL reconstruction and meniscus repair is that all PT's are definitely not created equal. However, different people respond to different treatments in different ways. What works for one person definitely isn't going to be exactly the same for the other. For example, the elec stim has done wonders for Mrs. Splitter. Sounds like neufox isn't so fond of it. The ultrasound not so much for her and they haven't done it since. The point is she voiced her opinions/concerns of what was working and they catered her PT sessions around that and have done a wide mix of stretches and exercises focusing what she wants to be doing (backpacking and skiing). We are now at the point (14 weeks post-op) where they said most patients at her stage go on their way with minimal PT. She has lots of sessions left to use up before the year ends (total of 36/yr) and so they are going to have her continue to come more to work with her like a personal trainer would. Her new program will be mainly focused on getting her back into prime skiing condition. Which I'm stoked about. If you don't let them know what is and isn't working for you and voice your concerns about progress you will probably just end up going through the motions and wont get the full benefit of going to PT.

[jellero]

my pt seems to be passing the time. she just makes me hurt all week so i have passed on further "treatment". after two months i am not sure what is suppose to be happening. the "pelvic floor" thing is getting old while i am hurting. j

[neufox47]

A general comment (not speicifc to knee rehab or anything else) RE: up to date on the latest research--that means up to date on the research in professional refereed journals, not the latest internet fad.

Agreed. My ex gf (DPT - was a student when we were dating) was constantly complaining how her old coworkers were prescribing therapy that was 2 decades old and unaware of clinically tested methods that were more effective. So when I hear that a PT isn't up to date I accept that this is probably true. If someone said that about their surgeon, I would be less likely to believe them. Although she used to complain to no end about surgeons who told their patients they didn't need PT, then they ended up seeing the patient 3 months later.

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[jellero]

my pt put me on an inversion table five months after a thr. that is when the recovery ended and the pain came back. three months later the pain is relentless. i spoke with my surgeon and he said i should never, ever again be pulling on that leg much less hanging from it but not much service after the sale. so now what? i am also finding that the hip pain, all the pain could be from my back. watch out what you jump into. now i am being sent to a spine surgeon... getting in deeper and deeper. j

[Shredhead]

Sorry to hear that Jellero. Try yoga and swimming. They seem to work the best for me.

[jellero]

thanks... the spine surgeon told me i have damage in my lumbar region. really? that's what i told them when i made the appointment. he said surgery would be "extensive" but didn't suggest surgery so that was a waste of a day. what seems totally counter intuitive is that cutting and hauling firewood helps a lot. loading a truck with rounds, then unloading and the pain just goes away. several days ago walking was almost impossible but after making myself go up and cut wood i can jump off the back of my truck with no pain at all.
sitting around causes pain. works for me. i bought a season pass at monarch so will be trying. years ago when my back hurt i would do a bump run and the pain would be gone... ?? how can a PT possibly treat someone if they don't know what is wrong with them? this i do not get and that is why it made my condition worse i would say. j

[Jethro]

I am 6 weeks out of Rotator cuff surgery. I like the PT guy, and he definitly puts the hurt of me gaining back range of motion for about 1/2 hour. Then he has me do the same exercises I do at home followed by E-stim. I feel like I am on the PT assembly line getting the same treatment as everyone else or doing what I do at home in the office. If I could inflict as much pain stretching as he does, then I would do everything at home. One can get all the exercises online

[Shredhead]

If I could inflict as much pain stretching as he does, then I would do everything at home. One can get all the exercises online

I hear you. It's pretty hard to push by yourself sometimes.
There are a ton of personal trainers in town, have you tried any of them?

[neufox47]

I am 6 weeks out of Rotator cuff surgery. I like the PT guy, and he definitly puts the hurt of me gaining back range of motion for about 1/2 hour. Then he has me do the same exercises I do at home followed by E-stim. I feel like I am on the PT assembly line getting the same treatment as everyone else or doing what I do at home in the office. If I could inflict as much pain stretching as he does, then I would do everything at home. One can get all the exercises online

Fucking E-Stim. I am so biased against that shit, I feel like its just a way to keep you occupied and feeling like you are getting "treatment" without labor. There is a PT who works out at the facility I workout at who sees a lot of college and professional athletes out of season or w/ out contract and he almost never uses E-Stim.

[I've seen black diamonds!]

I've never had surgery, but between skiing and coaching wrestling in my late 30's, my body gets pretty out of whack a couple times a year. A great PT is invaluable to me (and getting more important every year). I am not wealthy (teacher salary) but I pay out of pocket for someone I know is great, who works with athletes, rather than settle for someone covered by my insurance. I get more out of one visit with her, than from 10 visits with a couple jokers I've been referred to by docs, because part of a visit is a structured plan to help me improve on my own. For non-traumatic injuries I skip the doctor and go straight to Deb.

[skideeppow]

I surprised your insurance is still paying for PT. If your not happy with your treatment, find someone else.

Eventually you'll come to the realization that it's all up to YOU!

I'm icing my knee right now, waiting until it 's light out, then I'm riding a 50 miler. Then I hit the pool for 20 laps and some ROM work.

Get after it!

Hey, have you seen this movement about RICE is not ideal, by icing you are essentially stopping the body from healing itself? I am manic about RICE, almost bought a game ready unit. The theory is really interesting, that the body is sending fluid to the area to help it heal itself. In theory it makes sense, but i am still a firm believer in ice.
See you this weekend?