I hate my physical therapist.

[wendyzski]

He's treating this like he has unlimited time to correct everythign that is wrong with my posture, which he doesn't. As soon as I'm able to work with out restrictions, the insurance co will stop sending me, and I can't afford the copay to continue on my own.

Telling me that I'm going to end up crippled with sciatica doesn't help either, as this is a therapy vs food kind of choice.

I limped out of there in tears, didn't even get my charge slip from the clerk, and was STILL half an hour late to work.

I also have the lovely task of explaining to HR that these restrictions mean I am going to be unable to do the things I need to get done before the office moves next Friday. I'm not allowed to lift any heavy boxes (and when I asked why that wasn't spelled out in my restrictions, he said it was covered under the "no squatting or kneeling")

I really don't need this right now.

Comments

[alliesutherland.livejournal.com]

(((hugs))) It's so frustrating.

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

stealthbunny suggested that maybe I ask to be switched to a female PT, since I can't figure out WHAT he wants me to do with this one exercise - when I'm in the right position I feel the stretch/pull in the wrong place, and vise versa. It is impossible for a woman with my ass to "lie on your side with your lower back flat against the wall and your knees together". Umm - no, you get one or the other.

[capi.livejournal.com]

~prayers, ramped up~

[gretchen2149.livejournal.com]

{{{{soft hugs}}}} and lots more prayers!

[fuzzyscribble.livejournal.com]

I've been having issues with sciatica on and off for the last three years. My best friend is now the "instant cold pak." I started buying them in cases. Sciatica acts up...sit on a cold pak until the nerve calms down.

And I plunked down money for a lumbar support that actually works. (Search "Angel Sales PosturePro Lumbar Support" on amazon.com) I had a few cushions...but they just didn't do it for me like this springy thing does. It keeps me sitting on my SITTING BONES and not on my sciatic nerve.

But it's a frustrating kind of pain. :-( I get mild relief from Flexeril...and it's not too expensive.

Your PT is acting like a twink. You will not be crippled with sciatica. Even if it's from a herniated disc (mine is) it WILL resolve with stretching, core strengthening and some sort of NSAID. But like cockroaches...half the battle is making sure it doesn't come back.

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

Basically, a box of file boxes fell on me last week and I racked my knee. The actual injury isn't as bad now, but it's setting off nerves that control the TI Band down and around the side of my leg. Also, when I was little I was constantly harassed by parents and docs to keep my feet turned out. Except that apparently now this is wrong because I only do it from the knees down.

So he wants me to do strengthening exercises on my butt and hip area, except I can't figure out WHAT he wants me to do - when I'm in the right position I feel the stretch/pull in the wrong place, and vise versa. It is impossible for a woman with my ass to "lie on your side with your lower back flat against the wall and your knees together". Umm - no, you get one or the other. Someone else suggested asking for a female PT to see if she can help me sort out what I'm sposed to be doing, because I'm not getting it.

When I told the guy that the moment he said anything remotely resembling "preexisting weakness" that the work comp company was going to cut off any coverage and I can't afford the $60-90 a week that my regular insurance co-pay would be for sessions. Telling me that if I don't continue this I'm going to end up crippled is NOT constructive, especially when I'm supposed to be making sure my muscles are relaxed.

[fuzzyscribble.livejournal.com]

You're feeling it in the "wrong places" because you probably have some nerve entrapment. (Pardon me if I'm being pedantic...I mean well...)

Our nerves are supposed to "slip through" our tissues kind of like the wire inside a bicycle's brake cable does. I can do the classic "sit on floor with feet out and reach for toes" hamstring stretch...but all I feel is pulling and tension in my CALVES. Because my nerves are irritated in my calves...the surrounding muscles are swollen...and my nerves are squished in there. I go to stretch...and they bark at me. I have to do some pretty weirdo contortions to get the correct muscle groups to stretch. Yay neuralgia!

Your PT really does sound like a twink. Any good therapist knows how to work with "bountiful" women. Mine does. Cause I have back! And to threaten someone with the idea that they might never get better...is just something you don't need!

I hate to say it...but it would be cheaper to buy a Pilates "magic ring" and a good book on Pilates for "back and posture." Nearly 90% of the exercises my insurance is paying my PT to do with me...are in a Pilates book I checked out of the library.

I go to Achieve Orthopeic Rehab Institute. The Park Ridge office is the closest to you...unless you work in the Loop. They have an office somewhere in the Gold Coast area. But they're better than the chain places like Athletic Co....and will understand you have a limited number of visits and send you home with exercises to do...and use your appointment time more constructively. I spend a lot of time squishing my magic ring between my thighs...legs...ankles. I almost wish it was somewhat musical. Maybe someone can develop the accordian/pilates ring?

[wendyzski.livejournal.com]

Oddly enough, I have GREAT posture in many ways. I sit properly, stand properly, but just don't WALK correctly.

And I definitely have nerve entrapment in the knee that is irritating the iliotibial band. I have heat, self-massage and stretches to do for that, and it is helping to some extent. The particular thing I'm having issues with is supposed to strengthen things in the hip/butt area to take some of the strain off the IT band. But when my body is in the right position, I feel the pull in the opposite leg!

My work comp sends me to Concentra, and I've been going to the Chicago/Milwaukee location as the easiest to reach with my schedule (I work at Michigan and Wacker). I just called and they don't have a female PT on staff at that location. I shall think some more and decide what to do after talking with HR tomorrow and/or my case nurse.