hey, Doc! How important is Physical Therapy?

Dantilla · 09-29-2010, 07:45 AM

A simple question for the medical doctors, physical trainers, and the much-brighter-than-average normal Pelican brain trust:

After spending a month in captivity, my forearm is now free. My middle and ring fingers are still buddy-taped, and the range of motion is still pretty limited.

The doctor offered/suggested I see a physical therapist for a bit, but wasn't really insistant. Kind of an "If you've got time" attitude.

Seems to me that now that the cast is off, I will naturally gain motion. Is there any real benefit to physical therapy for something simple like this?

After shattering my femur several years ago, I'm convinced I would still not be walking properly today without the PT I had for nearly a year. This seems pretty trivial.

What sayest thou?

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

If you can afford it I'd go to PT. They will help regain strength and range of motion.

jjwood · jjwood's Garage

I had both knees replaced and had limited motion before the surgeries. I had PT after surgeries and that got me up and moving. In my case it took much more than just PT though. I've been working with a trainer for almost a year and I'm just now starting to feel "normal". I'm sure with an arm as in your case, PT will probably get the job done, but I wouldn't discount further strengthening / workout -- probably for your entire body, especially if the injury has caused you to adopt a sit on the sofa approach to life.

Dantilla · 09-29-2010, 08:14 AM

I asked the Doc about swimming- He thought that would be fine. I've definately lacked good exercise lately, as my favorites are biking (How I got buggered up) and swimming.

My biggest concern is that when swimming laps, occasionally I will bump hands with a swimmer in the opposite side of the lane, swimming in the opposite direction. Normally no biggy, but somebody crunching into my hand doesn't sound very nice right now.

porsche4life · porsche4life's Garage

For the hand I'd think a good PT could get you more range than just swimming....

sc_rufctr · 09-29-2010, 08:23 AM

If it was me I would go. No injury like yours is trivial.

I injured my shoulder more than 20 years ago and I didn't go to PT because I was young (=stupid) and "too busy".

I feel it every night when it's cold and I can't sleep on my right side.
Maybe PT wouldn't have changed my situation now but I can't help but regret not doing it at the time.

Taz's Master · 09-29-2010, 08:27 AM

Physical Therapists have big dark holes in their souls they try to fill with other people's pain.

In reality I am very greatful for my therapist and the efforts she made in helping me regain strength and range of motion in my hand. But it wasn't easy. I was told very little improvement after the first 6mo to year. If you don't get the range of motion you want, will you regret not having PT?

vash · vash's Garage

depends on what the physical therapist looks like. hahah.

just kidding. i would go. my PT guy (and he was dreamy!) got me fully mobile in short order. he would work me in his gym like a tyrant. i actually lost alot of weight when i was with him.

Rikao4 · 09-29-2010, 08:55 AM

my totally useless & but dominant left arm at the time..
was saved from surgery & possible more harm..
by listening to my PT...
GO!

Rika

id10t · 09-29-2010, 09:28 AM

Do it for one session, get a list and demo of all the exercises/stretches/etc you can do or need to do.

Also, since it is a hand issue, you may want to check into an OT (occupational therapist) instead of a PT.

Superman · 09-29-2010, 09:37 AM

PT might make sense for a fit, athletic, mobile sort of man. For an old fart like you.....what's the use?

flatbutt · 09-29-2010, 09:55 AM

Do it....right away....unless you are very disciplined and have a good working knowledge of overcoming muscular atrophy. PT/OT has saved my arse more than once.

Tobra · Tobra's Garage

It is very important, call them right now, do what they tell you.

s_morrison57 · 09-29-2010, 01:21 PM

Never had any luck with them, in fact had PT cause more pain & lenghten the healing time, won't see a PT now for any money, I see the chiro when I have troubles and he fixes me up no problem.
To me a PT is an outta work high school gym teacher and just goes to show you that a little bit of knowledge can be dangerous in the wrong hands. They help some people but not me and as a Canuck this kinda health care is almost free so its not a question of money.

rattlsnak · rattlsnak's Garage

i just finished up PT for the last 4 months. ABSOLUTELY was crucial to my recovery. Of course, it is what you put into it. There are several people in there going through the motions and not really helping themselves, and then there are the people who pain themselves and get results. PT said, to do what you in 4 months, the average person takes 8 months. I treated it like a weightlifting session back in my younger days and went all out. Too much pain is bad, but briniging it right to the limit is perfect.

RWebb · RWebb's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by s_morrison57

Never had any luck with them, in fact had PT cause more pain & lenghten the healing time, won't see a PT now for any money, I see the chiro when I have troubles and he fixes me up no problem.
To me a PT is an outta work high school gym teacher and just goes to show you that a little bit of knowledge can be dangerous in the wrong hands. They help some people but not me and as a Canuck this kinda health care is almost free so its not a question of money.

I don't know when or where you had your visits, but for the last 20 years at least, admission to a PT program has been very difficult, the admit rate is sometimes lower than for med. school (altho the applicant popn's obviously differ).

around here, an OT often has a Master's degree or more.

I always think the optimal situation has an MD in sports medicine directing you to PTs, OTs, chiropractors, and others. Best, would be a rel. young but experienced MD who rock climbs etc. and is open to the notion of alternative therapies, yet still conservative w.r.t. outlook.

Dantilla · 09-29-2010, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superman

PT might make sense for a fit, athletic, mobile sort of man. For an old fart like you.....what's the use?

Okay, Sillyman-

I've heard a few comments like "You're not twenty anymore!", "Fell off your bike? You're getting older!"

To me, it seems as breaking a bone when coming off a bike while tearing through the forest at warp speeds is not a sign of getting old- When you quit riding the bike is when you're getting old!

Dantilla · 09-29-2010, 03:09 PM

UNCLE!

UNCLE!

UNCLE!

Okay, OKAY! I get the message!

I now have an appointment, at least for an initial consultation. They can't get me in for a while, but having an appointment is step one.

I guess in my ideal world, they will show me the proper exercises I can do on my own at home.

Thanks for the input.

Superman · 09-29-2010, 03:43 PM

Well okay, I guess you're fairly spry. For a geezer.

Superman · 09-29-2010, 03:48 PM

While I'm at it, I gotta tell a story. Backpacking friend in his forties planned to take his daughter's BF on a backpacking trip. The young whippersnapper mercilessly teased the prospective father-in-law about age, fitness, etc. Thought that because of his age, he was better prepared than the old man. Huge mistake. FIL is an avid backpacker. He chose a trip that was substantially vertical, with each leg of the trail ending at a flat spot with a lake. FIL would kick the pace up a bit just prior to each lake, so that the daughter's BF would be winded, and so FIL could snap his pictures. The result is a series of pictures of a rosy-cheeked, out-of-breath punk trying to keep up with the man he had teased.