Physiotherapy
Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons
Training my muscles to do their job properly in supporting my back is taking some work. While I can only see minimal progress, Liz, my physiotherapist, is extremely encouraging. It was she who discerned in the first place that physiotherapy alone was not going to improve my pain, and recommended a surgeon she described as ‘a lovely, really lovely man.’
However, in common with many (most) surgeons, once his job is done, he doesn’t see the ongoing work that goes into progressive recovery. He was keen for me to be discharged without any walking aids, as he wanted me to stand up straight. The hospital physio had a discussion with him and changed his mind. I said to her, ‘I’ll be in trouble, won’t I?’ and she said, ‘No, you won’t.’
I had the impression that it’s a conversation she often has, along with other physios. It was just as well she obtained his permission, (for that’s the impression I had) as although I could stand up straight, I could only stagger one or two steps in a drunken, unbalanced fashion, without support. It seems a long time ago, now.
I was a little nervous about seeing him again for the customary post-op consultation, thinking he would expect me to be striding along like a soldier on parade, but Liz wrote to him this week, setting out my progress thus far. As she said, there’s no rule book for recovery – everyone’s different. She, and the other physios, just wish the surgeons could see at least part of their patients’ postoperative journey.
A good physiotherapist is worth her or his weight in gold!
