Help with physical therapy experience

[fitmom24]

Hi. I have been suffering with neck pain for 3 months now. I have a bulging disc at C-5 that is pushing into the spinal cord and pressing on the nerves. My Dr. sent me to see a physical therapist. I have been twice and have some concerns.

So far, he has only shown me simple neck stretches that I have already been doing for years. He does have me hold them for a longer count and perform them several times a day.

At my last visit, he sent me home with a traction device with little explaination about how to use it and no pre-approval from the insurance company. The device is supplied by a 3rd party that I had to sign a contract with. I was told that I wouldn't owe anything, even if the insurance company declined to pay for it. I can simply return it.

My two visits have been very rushed because he is seeing several clients at once. I have tried to get him to explain his plan of action but can't get him to sit still long enough to really talk. I end up doing the stretches that I can do at home and waiting around for him to tell me what to do next.

Is this normal? I imagined I would have a therapist who worked only with me while I was there. I also thought I would be given an idea of what treatment would consist of and how long we would give it a try. Please tell me about your PT experiences. I am considering changing to a different facility. I am paying a fairly high co-payment and have a limited number of visits. I don't want to waste my time or money.

Also, my pain seems to have increased. I have seen no improvement at all.

Thanks for your help.

Michelle

 

[marnold]

Gosh Michelle, my PT experience was many years ago and I am not sure if times have changed, but here goes:

I felt the PT experience was very one on one until you were being iced, heated or performing exercises. When that stuff was happening I really didn't need him nor expect him to hang out and chat with me.

The PT had plenty of time to answer my questions and gave me tons of literature (he would have probably given me websites now ).

I guess what I am telling you is that I felt cared for and I also did not feel confused at all. Have you expressed anything to him? It is probably pretty tough...

Hope this helps a little! Good luck to you!

 

[Liann]

Does not sound normal to me at all. I just went through physical therapy for my shoulder and my therapist was VERY attentive to me. He explained thoroughly what was going on with my shoulder and how each exercise he was having me do was helping strengthen the area. He took time to answer all of my questions. Honestly, if it was me, I would look into finding another therapist. I have a limited number of visits as well and I wouldn't waste my time with someone who didn't appear to have any for me.

 

[carolynjane]

I am so sorry you are in pain! My husband just finished three weeks of physical therapy for a neck and shoulder problem, so I know how much pain these injuries cause!

To address your question - the physical therapist you are seeing is NOT doing you any favors! Since your doctor sent you to him, I would call your doctor immediately and tell him you want to be sent to another physical therapist at another facility.

When my DH went for phyical therapy he worked with one therapist for almost an hour each time. She showed him some exercises to do at home, but she also did pressure point therapy and even used ultrasound to ease the muscles.

He was very skeptical about going at first (because of previous experiences with physical therapists like yours) but this one was great and really helped him.

Good luck and I hope you feel better soon!

 

[MarleysMom]

Sorry to hear about your PT, but I will say with my experience that is what happens. I had major knee surgery last year and went to 3 diff PT's and not once did I get one on one attention. With my insurance it was $25/each time and 3x's a week, I felt the $75 was just not worth the money. It really was a waste of time and money.

Not to mention the first PT I went to had me doing exercises that I should have never been doing. When I saw a different PT while she was on vacation, he was outraged with what she was doing. When she got back her response to me was "oh well, yeah I guess I forgot you had bone surgery, sorry"........I wanted to smack her, but I just walked out and called the her supervisor the next day.

I have heard really good things about PT's, I just have not had luck at all with PT's.

Hope you can find a better one and get better soon!

 

[four_boy_mom]

Michelle,

I'm a physical therapist. Please go to another clinic. Once you have a prescription for P.T. you can go where you want (but make sure the clinic you choose is in your insurance network). It is important that you let your doctor know about your experience. That kind of treatment for a neck patient is very bad.

He should have sat with you one on one reviewing posture, body mechanics and even sleeping positions to not further irritate your condition which will help your body work on healing. He should have problem solved for your daily activities to also decrease (or not further irritate) the impingement.

He should have never issued you the equipment without watching you set it up in the clinic and explaining to you why and how it works.

He should have given you a game plan to make sure you are both on the same page.

Knee patients are different. An uncomplicated knee patient can be turned over to an athletic trainer or P.T. asistant very quickly. However you should still be having alot of one on one time in the clinic.

A bulging disc (as you have already figured out) is not something that can be treated "from a distance" as your current therapist is doing. Try somewhere else.HTH

Good luck and speedy recovery!

 

[dss62467]

My therapists normally had a few clients they were seeing at the same time, but there were numerous Therapy Assitants around to help if you needed them. I think I'd find a different place if I were you.

Also, if my particular therapist was too busy with someone else, one of the others would answer my questions. I actually had 3 I worked with because they were so busy.

 

[ejostling]

I went to PT for my hips just a few months ago, although my PT was a very nice person, the PT itself seemed like a waste of time. He basically had me doing "floor work" and simple stretches like I was already doing, just more often. So I decided to do them on my own instead of finding a baby sitter and seeing him. It worked out well for me, my hips are at 80%. I would be more concerned for you with your injury. Try a second option!

Sally

 

[fitmom24]

Thanks for all of the info ladies. I will contact my Dr. this a.m. to find another facility.

As you can imagine the pain I'm feeling is absolutely no fun. I am anxious to find some relief!

Michelle