First ever physio - eek!

elswhere15

Today the Doctor has referred me to a Physiotherapist I've never been before and have no idea at all what to expect... I'm thinking of two things particularly:

1. Does it hurt much?!
2. Does it work / what kind of timescale should I work on?!

Reason I'm going is a fall in May resulted in very achy knees for some time but which gradually started to improve. Unfortunately over the last few weeks it's started to get gradually worse again to the point where walking is uncomfortable and I'm avoiding stairs... there's been no Yoga since the tumble. Bizarrely - and thankfully, been comparatively OK cycling (presumably since it's not too 'load bearing') and Doc was really supportive of my need to continue cycling which is encouraging, he thinks it's ligamental and that the Physio will help return some of the lost mobility.

I'd be really grateful if any of you are able to share your experiences/advice with me, of course if you think I'm just being a big chicken that's OK too!

Silver lining... at least I get to say I have a genuine 'sporting injury'!!!

__________________
"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it."

jcjordan

[QUOTE=elswhere15]Today the Doctor has referred me to a Physiotherapist I've never been before and have no idea at all what to expect... I'm thinking of two things particularly:

1. Does it hurt much?!
2. Does it work / what kind of timescale should I work on?!

QUOTE]

Dont worry to much about going to the Pysio, its not going to hurt any more then what you would get from doing any other stretching or light weight work.

In relation to time it is important that the physio is trying to help you body get back to the way it was and it could mean having to do a series of stretches or exercises for some time. For example I had a nasty crash some time ago and it stuff up a nerve in my back and was causing a loss of strength and feeling in my had. Once the problem was found it was a simple matter of a regular stretch and the problem is fixed.

My only recommendation is to keep away from chiropractors, as I have very little faith in this area of medicine. They never seem to doing anything to fix the problem. They crunch a few bone and tell you to come back in a month. With the physio the aim is to find a solution you can do on your own and not have to come back to them all the time.

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"Pain does not last, bones heal and chicks dig scars"

DocK

My only recommendation is to keep away from chiropractors, as I have very little faith in this area of medicine. They never seem to doing anything to fix the problem. They crunch a few bone and tell you to come back in a month. With the physio the aim is to find a solution you can do on your own and not have to come back to them all the time.[/QUOTE]
Why the lack of faith? There is a ton of research on what we do, this is a typical ignorance is bliss type argument. Secondly, I have worked in clinics with orthopedists and physical therapists. PT's, are good, but see people in general more times for same/similar conditions. Lastly, as this is a biking forum, go to jeffspencer.com and see who Lance Armstrongs doctor was for his TdF wins.

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Sports Chiropractor, Decatur, Alabama.
www.trigenicsinstitute.com

elswhere15

Couldn't comment on Physio Vs Chriopractor never having been to the Chiropractor - though I do know someone who has done so successfully. I guess it's 'horses for courses' and depends on the injury perhaps.

Having been this morning to the Physio I'm pleased to report it didn't hurt too much - though since every time I confirmed something wasn't comfortable she did it again I'm glad I opted to get the bus home not the bike!

Turns out not to be ligaments but instead a shortening of the quads, particularly in one leg which is probably causing my patellas to be out of line and then a suspected torn meniscus (sp?) cartlidge on the other - I've got a stack of exercises to do, though if they don't help the cartlidge I'll be looking at surgery - apparently it's quite straight forward keyhole and two weeks off work to recover.

Good news no problems about continuing to ride my bike

__________________
"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it."

DocK

Good news no problems about continuing to ride my bike [/QUOTE]
And that is all that really matters. Good luck on your recovery. I just get a little passionate about bashing of really any health care practitoner b/c we all have our place. So much misinformation is spread by dissatisfied patients, the media, etc. that it grates on you. I could slander pharmaceutical/medical/physio practitioners with their issues, but choose not to b/c it doesn't serve any purpose.

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Sports Chiropractor, Decatur, Alabama.
www.trigenicsinstitute.com

2zanzibar

Why the lack of faith? There is a ton of research on what we do, this is a typical ignorance is bliss type argument. Secondly, I have worked in clinics with orthopedists and physical therapists. PT's, are good, but see people in general more times for same/similar conditions. Lastly, as this is a biking forum, go to jeffspencer.com and see who Lance Armstrongs doctor was for his TdF wins. [/QUOTE]

I'm confused?!? you say keep away from chiropractors and yet at the bottom of your messages is what seems to be a professional affililiation with the 'Trigenics Institute' Are you a chiro yourself?

DocK

I'm confused?!? you say keep away from chiropractors and yet at the bottom of your messages is what seems to be a professional affililiation with the 'Trigenics Institute' Are you a chiro yourself?[/QUOTE]
My initial post in this thread had the qoute from another poster "stay away from.." and my response together. Yes I am a chiro.

__________________
Sports Chiropractor, Decatur, Alabama.
www.trigenicsinstitute.com

2zanzibar

My initial post in this thread had the qoute from another poster "stay away from.." and my response together. Yes I am a chiro.[/QUOTE]


oops! sorry about that! my confusion thus lies with my eyesight not distinguishing one post from another....its all a blurrr after awhile

BTW what the methods of treatment at trigenics? I looked at the website but can't be clear, is this a more wholistic practice which collates knowledge from various disciplines ie. acupuncture, physiotherapy, traditional chiropractic etc? or is it more neural based like (I think) the carrick institute?

not that I know much about it mind, just that I've seen 2 chiro's in the past, the first was certainly the more experimental, trying out techniques learnt from the latest conference she'd been to, the second, Gonstead clinics, was more purist apparently

DocK

BTW what the methods of treatment at trigenics? I looked at the website but can't be clear, is this a more wholistic practice which collates knowledge from various disciplines ie. acupuncture, physiotherapy, traditional chiropractic etc? or is it more neural based like (I think) the carrick institute?

Trigenics is a manual based therapy that trains/retrains the nervous system to restore tight/hypertonic muscles to normal tone and to strengthen weakened muscles. You are correct, it does use methodology from various disciplines, but really, including physiotherapy and medicine, they are not mutually exclusive of each other.

I use it along with traditional chiropractic and acupuncture, as well as exercise, to restore biomechanical integrity-if muscles are tight, they are going to continually pull you out of alignment. In this regard, I do agree, to some degree, with the poster who said all they do is adjust you and send you on your way. Sometimes it works for people, sometimes not. I do prefer to be more "broad-based" in my treatment.

__________________
Sports Chiropractor, Decatur, Alabama.
www.trigenicsinstitute.com