Had my first PT appt today
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@George-K said in Had my first PT appt today:
@Horace said in Had my first PT appt today:
I can pinpoint it to what the PT did but that is never going to be accepted so I'm just going to shrug with ignorance as it ever so slowly dawns on everybody that there must be another tendon discontinuity
The surgeon MUST be made aware of this. If the PT did damage, he should stop referring patients to that organization, or that therapist's qualifications/abilities should be re-examined.
Also, does the surgeon say "Wait, and see how it goes?"
The problem with tendon injuries is that if they're not repaired, the tendon can atrophy and become useless for further repair. That's the physiology of rotator cuff arthropathy. If the rotator cuff repair is delayed, the tendons turn to mush, and won't hold a suture. I'd see him again ASAP.
This.
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@Horace said in Had my first PT appt today:
I know I could be more proactive. Heck, I could probably just request my surgeon refer me to a third opinion and maybe it'd all be covered. I guess I have a very strong tendency against being that pushy.
I'm very non-pushy too in RL and generally sit silently stewing rather than get something done, but I think with medical issues you really have to be your own advocate when something isn't right.
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@Horace said in Had my first PT appt today:
I know I could be more proactive. Heck, I could probably just request my surgeon refer me to a third opinion and maybe it'd all be covered. I guess I have a very strong tendency against being that pushy.
If I were nearby Iād be glad to go with you as your pushy bastard companion.
āI am fond of pigs. Dogs look up to us. Cats look down on us. Pigs treat us as equals.ā ~Winston S. Churchill
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I've seen one (surgeon) knocked-out in the blood bank. Can I go?
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I wish I could go with you, Horace. I'm soft-spoken, but I get things resolved, even with people who try to stonewall. There's always a way. I've worked with doctors, state legislators, and state departments (even got a significant contractual concession from our MN Dept of Employment and Economic Development, which I was told couldn't happen). Heck, I even took on Governor Ventura and got applause from the group of attendees at the Governor's mansion. Hubby always has me do our negotiating.
Really, I wish I lived close enough. People always underestimate me, until they learn. You'll get what you need, and you'll be entertained.
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Thanks Brenda. I have no doubt you would be a valuable friend in many situations. My wife too wanted to go with me. She is an assertive negotiator as well. (I think this characteristic may be more common in Chinese culture.)
But, I do have good news. I can twitch my thumb. I think the problem that started after the first PT appt was a matter of swelling somewhere along the line of the tendon sheath, around the wrist. This swelling wasn't as present immediately after the surgery but maybe increased in the following several days. There is clearly a connection there at the thumb, so while I think her pressing into the repair was ill advised, it does not appear to have broken the connection. So, I suppose my temperate reaction prevented a little embarrassment as time did in fact fix this one. The joint is still super weak, but that's normal. we'll see how much function I have eight weeks from now.
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I have pretty severe arthritis in the thumb - and wear a brace on the hand at night. I also apply Arnicare - a topical anti-inflamatory. Mind you, I'm not a wholistic anything - and the combo have really helped me. I found out that some of the lotions that massage therapists use on people also contain arnicare - helps to make the person feel even better about their massages. In any event, the brace and arnicare have made a huge difference in my mobility. I thought I was done with piano - but I'm back - can't play some of the things I used to, but I can play a lot more than I though I'd be able to based on where I was a couple of years ago.
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@kluurs said in Had my first PT appt today:
I'm super encouraged to hear that your thumb is twitching.
Me too. That is good news!!
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That's wonderful news, Horace. I'm not as patient as I should be with medical stuff, so good for you that you are. Thank you for the update, and continue to keep us posted on progress.
I'll go unpack my suitcase for now, but I'll keep it handy for a while yet.
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Sounds good, Brenda. And thanks, Rainman and TG. Every day I seem to have slightly more range of motion. I think the whole pulley mechanism needs to get unstuck from the post surgical swelling. hoping to prevent scar tissue as much as possible, so doing lots of wrist and hand massaging.
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That swelling can take a remarkably long period of time to come down - months rather than days.
When we have a hand or finger injury, it always seems that either we're bumping into things or others are helping us by bumping into it.
You're not ready for it yet, but I had a massage therapist friend work on my hand a bit which also helped range of motion.
