Physical Therapist Questions

Crippled

In the middle of therapy I hurt my foot. I thought that it was okay but it was too early to continue therapy. When I was okay the therapists gave up on me and left me alone. I was left in bed and my legs got to the point where I couldn't straighten them out and my left hand. I was at a medical facility from a hospital for therapy and I still am. How do I get back to normal?

Female | 74 years old
Complaint duration: 6-8 months
Medications: Inhalers
Conditions: Allergies

2 Answers

If your mobility has been affected, physical therapy may play a crucial role in your recovery. Your physical therapist can design exercises and interventions to help you regain strength, flexibility, and function.
I’m sorry you’ve been having a rough experience. I’d start out by reaching out to your primary care or attending physician and letting them know your concerns. It sounds like you’re still doing physical therapy (not sure if this is focusing on your knees, foot, or hand) but this is where you get the knowledge and tools to make the changes you’re looking for. Make sure to talk with your therapist about how things are going for you and where you’d like to see more improvements. An open dialogue about your progress, concerns, and goals will equip your therapist with the information they need to adjust your program to meet your goals. If you’d like a second opinion on your therapy you may want to ask your therapist about doing a co-treatment session where that therapist teams up with another therapist to go over your case and determine if your program should be adjusted. Not all places do this type of co-treatment strategy but the facility may have a similar option.
Should you need more specialized treatment for your knees or hand, you can ask your primary care physician or attend about a referral to an orthopedist (this is a doctor who specializes in conditions of joints, muscles, and ligaments). It may be a different orthopedist for the hand versus the knees. Once you speak with the orthopedist they may have additional treatment options to offer you depending on your particular case. I hope this was helpful. It always seems like it takes forever when you’re in the middle of rehab.
Wishing you the best on your road to recovery.