Hi all,
You may recall that I had my surgery on January 23rd, fused T9 to S1 with pelvic fixation. Tomorrow will be 11 weeks since the surgery.
I had my 2nd post-op follow-up appointment this past Thursday, 4/05. I have been cleared to drive, initially for no more than 30 to 45 minutes, and I've been cleared for outpatient physical therapy. I've also been cleared to brush my teeth while leaning over the bathroom sink (up until then, I was brushing my teeth with a portable basin while seated at the kitchen table). I've been cleared to do a small amount of twisting, and I've been cleared to lift (I think he said) 20 to 30 pounds now.
He told me that he it might be best to find a physical therapy practice that offers aquatic therapy as well. I've attempted to identify a practice in my area that both offers aquatic therapy and accepts my insurance, but so far haven't been able to find one. And thinking about it, I'm guessing that, despite the fact that aquatic therapy might be easier/helpful in some ways, in other ways it could be difficult because I am still unable to tie my own shoes, so changing to/from a bathing suit during the day could be difficult. So I'd like to get a sense of just how important the aquatic therapy aspect is. Have others been able to successfully rehabilitate without aquatic therapy?
The surgeon's goals for PT include the following:
-- Land/Aquatic Therapy
-- Conditioning
-- Paraspinal Muscle Strengthening and Endurance
-- Biomechanics Education
-- Home Exercise Program
-- Functional Restoration
-- Core Stabilization w/ abdominal strengthening
-- Pelvic Stabilization
-- LS ROM
-- LE Strengthening & ROM
-- Periscapular strengthening
-- Postural retraining
-- myofascial treatments
-- Progress to work hardening program
My own goals for PT are as follows:
-- be able to walk without the cane
-- be able to climb and descend stairs without the cane
-- be able to tie my own shoes
-- be able to put on my own footie socks on my left foot (can do it on the right, but not on the left)
-- be able to sit, stand and walk with as good a posture as I can achieve
-- be able to return to working at least part time at home (my employer will allow this)
Given the surgeon's goals, and my goals, how important do you suppose aquatic therapy is in the mix? I'm trying to decide whether or not to try harder to identify a suitable PT practice within easy driving distance that both offers aquatic therapy and accepts my insurance. I already know of 2 practices that are relatively nearby, but neither accepts my insurance. I know of 1 practice that does accept my insurance, but it is not within easy driving distance. The PT practice that had been recommended to me by the home-based physical therapist that worked with me here until March 2nd is nearby and accepts my insurance, but it does not offer aquatic therapy, at least as far as I know.
Prior to all my back issues, I had, and still have, foot issues. I pronate severely without orthotics (high arches with ankles that roll inwards). I have heel spurs, and have experienced plantar fasciitis and heel bursitis in the past. More recently, I developed Morton's neuroma, along with hammertoes on my left feet. I have metatarsalgia which makes itself known quite loudly when I'm barefoot -- such as when I'm now taking a shower standing up. But I never leave the house without a pair of good motion control shoes with my prescription orthotics in them. I've had issues using both treadmills and ellipticals in the past due to these foot problems, even wearing my good New Balance shoes. In a way, these foot issues would seem to argue for aquatic therapy in my mind. However, I've taken water aerobics in the past, and I know that my foot issues can be easily compounded when I'm in a pool barefoot. That would seem to argue against aquatic therapy in my mind.
Unless I can find a compelling reason to look harder, I'll probably call the previously recommended PT practice tomorrow and begin my rehabilitation with them, and forget about aquatic therapy.
Any comments?
-- Mary
You may recall that I had my surgery on January 23rd, fused T9 to S1 with pelvic fixation. Tomorrow will be 11 weeks since the surgery.
I had my 2nd post-op follow-up appointment this past Thursday, 4/05. I have been cleared to drive, initially for no more than 30 to 45 minutes, and I've been cleared for outpatient physical therapy. I've also been cleared to brush my teeth while leaning over the bathroom sink (up until then, I was brushing my teeth with a portable basin while seated at the kitchen table). I've been cleared to do a small amount of twisting, and I've been cleared to lift (I think he said) 20 to 30 pounds now.
He told me that he it might be best to find a physical therapy practice that offers aquatic therapy as well. I've attempted to identify a practice in my area that both offers aquatic therapy and accepts my insurance, but so far haven't been able to find one. And thinking about it, I'm guessing that, despite the fact that aquatic therapy might be easier/helpful in some ways, in other ways it could be difficult because I am still unable to tie my own shoes, so changing to/from a bathing suit during the day could be difficult. So I'd like to get a sense of just how important the aquatic therapy aspect is. Have others been able to successfully rehabilitate without aquatic therapy?
The surgeon's goals for PT include the following:
-- Land/Aquatic Therapy
-- Conditioning
-- Paraspinal Muscle Strengthening and Endurance
-- Biomechanics Education
-- Home Exercise Program
-- Functional Restoration
-- Core Stabilization w/ abdominal strengthening
-- Pelvic Stabilization
-- LS ROM
-- LE Strengthening & ROM
-- Periscapular strengthening
-- Postural retraining
-- myofascial treatments
-- Progress to work hardening program
My own goals for PT are as follows:
-- be able to walk without the cane
-- be able to climb and descend stairs without the cane
-- be able to tie my own shoes
-- be able to put on my own footie socks on my left foot (can do it on the right, but not on the left)
-- be able to sit, stand and walk with as good a posture as I can achieve
-- be able to return to working at least part time at home (my employer will allow this)
Given the surgeon's goals, and my goals, how important do you suppose aquatic therapy is in the mix? I'm trying to decide whether or not to try harder to identify a suitable PT practice within easy driving distance that both offers aquatic therapy and accepts my insurance. I already know of 2 practices that are relatively nearby, but neither accepts my insurance. I know of 1 practice that does accept my insurance, but it is not within easy driving distance. The PT practice that had been recommended to me by the home-based physical therapist that worked with me here until March 2nd is nearby and accepts my insurance, but it does not offer aquatic therapy, at least as far as I know.
Prior to all my back issues, I had, and still have, foot issues. I pronate severely without orthotics (high arches with ankles that roll inwards). I have heel spurs, and have experienced plantar fasciitis and heel bursitis in the past. More recently, I developed Morton's neuroma, along with hammertoes on my left feet. I have metatarsalgia which makes itself known quite loudly when I'm barefoot -- such as when I'm now taking a shower standing up. But I never leave the house without a pair of good motion control shoes with my prescription orthotics in them. I've had issues using both treadmills and ellipticals in the past due to these foot problems, even wearing my good New Balance shoes. In a way, these foot issues would seem to argue for aquatic therapy in my mind. However, I've taken water aerobics in the past, and I know that my foot issues can be easily compounded when I'm in a pool barefoot. That would seem to argue against aquatic therapy in my mind.
Unless I can find a compelling reason to look harder, I'll probably call the previously recommended PT practice tomorrow and begin my rehabilitation with them, and forget about aquatic therapy.
Any comments?
-- Mary
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