Y’all will be happy that I had my first PT session today. They are being a bit assholish, the boss gave me shit that I hadn’t shaved like she had ordered me to Friday. When we got back the therapist told my nurse that I must want to stay because I refused to try to stand, even though I had told him I needed to pee and didn’t want to do it in my light gray pants, and he said that I hadn’t worked as hard as I could, though this was the most physical effort on my part in years. And they’re talking about two sessions a day, six days a week.
Maybe (definitely) I need the tough love. I want to get out and exercise is good for the brain, too. I’ll push myself as hard as they want, but I’ll tell them that their part of the deal includes them not falling back into their own bad habits.
They are there to push you. The assholeness comes from thinking they have to be bullies to push you. I’d rather they encouraged. But do try doing as they say. If you build up enough strength, you can wring their necks and escape on your own.
They are pushier than they were. When I came here Medicaid approved me for two weeks of PT, but I couldn’t convince them that I had a broken foot and some serious foot infections and wasn’t allowed to put any weight on them. Therefore I couldn’t do the PT exercises, so it would be best to delay PT until those things were cleared up. No dice, so I burnt off those days and was fucked until today, when the clock was reset.
I think I they are used to dead asses making excuses and dogging it, and expect me to be that way. Fuck them.
ETA: The beard went away after dinner.
I went through 4 stages of PT recovering from my stroke.
In the first hospital they had me walking (very badly) hanging on to a rail. That was maybe 2 sessions.
B) In the 2nd hospital I was in an “Intense Rehab” program, 3 weeks of 1.5 hours of PT 6 days a week.
iii - In home care 45 minutes for 6 weeks of PT 3 times a week.
4th: 5 months of 45 minutes twice a week
I did NOT get any drill sergeant PTs or OTs. There was once in stage B when my PT had a student exercising me. He had me reaching and bending while standing to take cones out of his hand (my right leg and arm stopped working during my stroke and I was working on getting them back). At one point I said to him “You’re just fucking with me now, right?” and the PT exploded in laughter. Not sure if it was at what I said or his expression.
My general attitude was “This is the first time I had a stroke and you have the experience.” Oh, and when they’d ask for 10 reps I’d do 11.
Oh, if there’s an easier way and a more difficult way, guess how you’re supposed to do it.
There was a very amusing incident with an OT I could tell you about if you’re curious.
My wife and I just finished PT together. She wrecked her wrist and I had a knee replacement. Yes, the PT folks pushed us, but we paid for each session so we deserved it. Glad we’re done now, because it’s an hour round-trip and beside fuel for the vehicle we also usually fed ourselves so it was never cheap.
I had a stroke last year, and I had three weeks of physical therapy after I left the hospital.
At the hospital the first few days of PT were me trying to use a walker
Got to the actual physical therapy place and they said–screw the walker. You’re a good candidate for a cane.
And now I use a cane–but only when doing things like grocery shopping and stuff. Around home and at work–no cane needed.
Right foot/leg is still a bit weak and it sounds like Herman Munster walking, but I get around.
Luckily the stroke was mild compared to what others have been through.
Oh–after three weeks at the PT place, no outpatient was required or needed, though I still do the exercises they had me doing.
The worse part of the stroke after effects is that I get really angry fast. My temper is hair-trigger, and a lot of that is frustration with myself as my right hand is still weak so far as fine motor skills (dropping things, mistyping, etc.)
Hurray!
My arm was tingling, and my excellent doctor diagnosed it as a bad disk in my neck (confirmed by an X-ray.) He sent me to PT, and after a couple of months it was all better without any surgery. Has not recurred in over 5 years, so stay at it.
My first knee replacement - The therapist was so tough on me that I would actually have a bit of an anxiety attack before she showed up. When each session was over and she walked out the door it felt like Christmas.
The PT sessions were extremely painful. Made me scream a few times. The PT asked me if I wanted her to ease up. I told her no.
The only time I ever waived her off was once when the pain took me to that place were I was going to throw an involuntary punch.
Two years later I had a second knee replacement and requested for her to do my sessions. I’m a big baby and hate pain but, based on the previous experience, I knew that she would get me back to mobility.
After my stroke my terrorist (and yes I did call him that to his face every time in place of the word “therapist”) was -------- well the good AND bad news was that he had known me for over a dozen years at that point and was not just a friend but a fellow rugby player. Nicknamed back in our “hooker days” “Dr. Death”. And I learned it was because his patients mostly wanted to kill him. Without a doubt the meanest, nastiest, stubborn asshole I’ve ever known; thank God for it. Most people I know today have no idea I stroked out at one point and he’s the reason for that. And any time I’m near him all his drinks and meals are free and that’s the way it is.
I had recurrent shoulder pain after my big car wreck. Do to other medical and dental needs I never really noticed it till everything else was healed. It was at least 2 years by thing. Doc said we’d try PT.
I flunked out. Restarted. Flunked out again. I never got the t-shirt or certificate. My Doc thought it was real funny.
Knowing a little about stretching and flexibility from Ballet, I PT’d myself. It’s not perfect. But it’s okay.
In second year of PT for stroke – still have no use of right arm, and hobble badly trying to walk with a cane. My PTs are wonderful, home calls once a week. I do more exercise than they advise, they fear my 81 year old body can’t tolerate it.
Prior, PT for sciatica. My doc called for steroids, had little hope for PT, but in a month I was pain-free, and ten years ever since.
I found out yesterday from my second neurosurgeon consult, that my neck business will probably require ongoing PT. Medicare is gonna LOVE that!
Neurosurgeons do not consider surgery for neck problems such as mine until the patient shows up and says, “Doc, you gotta do something for the pain or I’ll take a gun and shoot myself.”
