The Road to Recovery
I’ve had 10 weeks to start looking into what my recovery is going to look like. I think that, regardless of the injury, when you’re NWB for more than 8-weeks recovery is going to be difficult. What amazed me was the range of recovery stories. Some people were able to walk unaided after 2-weeks and some people weren’t able to lose the cane for months. I realize everybody’s body is different but it would have helped to understand what some of the barriers were for those people who took longer to recover.
My recovery story starts with another bout of bad physical therapy instructions. I was so proud of myself for taking the time to repeat the doctor’s instructions for confirmation and then even giving examples of what would be and wouldn’t be acceptable. The doctor was very clear that he wanted me to do strength building until the brace was off and then I could try walking. I thought it was absolutely absurd that he would make a decision about my care without even consulting the other doctor, but I didn’t argue because I doubted I would have the strength to walk before then anyway. However, when I submitted my prescription to the PT office, they found that the doctor had written NWB for two weeks. So I explained the conversation I had and how I was so specific in my questions. She also couldn’t understand why they would prescribe me PT when I couldn’t do anything and why my leg doctor would be concerned about my back. Luckily, she opted to continue our therapy as originally discussed rather than per the script. I was so confident that I had the orders correct that I called the office to get clarification. They still wouldn’t admit they made a mistake and continued to tell me that I couldn’t weight-bear until I got the brace off. Ridiculous since my back doctor told me he thought walking would be good for me!
So, my initial consultation was spent discussing my injury and the therapy I would receive then performing an evaluation of my current condition. I check out pretty good on most categories and exceptionally well on range of motion. The scale was the only test that really through me for a loop. I was shocked to find out I now weighted 99lbs (with shoes on)! Also, when I put only my bad leg on the scale and transferred weight, I found that I felt balanced with only 10lbs of weight on my leg and couldn’t put more than 35lbs without pain. We moved to the tail-gaiter and then did some squat-presses on the lowest level. It was amazing how week I was and how much my body creaked. She explained that we would work on exercises that encouraged bone growth and healing of the cartilage in the joint. I was discouraged by how little I could do.
My appointment today went better. I felt I was able to do more comfortably. I did tail-gaiter, squat-press with balance disks, glut-med lifts, Pilates-reformer, squat-press, then tail-gaiter again. By the end of the last squat-press, my left leg was shaking a little. I hope all of this is normal and I couldn’t imagine starting 2.5-weeks later than I already have.