Anyone ever prescibed phy. therapy after surgery??

[Kristin]

Hi
I am new here and am curious if anyone ever did phy. therapy after their surgery or in the years following their surgery? I was never told to do anything after my surgery and my neck and shoulders and lower back hurt daily, usually bearable or I take a few advil. I think the doc. should have sent me to phy. therapy to strenthen other areas around my back since the rods impair mobility along most of my spine and put more stress on the other areas. When I mention this in the last few years I got a oh just go exercise response, but I need more help after 20 years to rebuild the areas that hurt.
Anyone think they could have benefited by being shown how to compensate better? Anyone actually go to a professional phy. therapist??
I look 34 but feel like my muscles and such are like a 50 year old!!

any advice
Kristin

[sweetness514]

I couldn't agree more, the SAME thing happened to me-and we're both 34 ;)

What happened was after surgery, in '97, there was a PT that came to my room in the hospital about 3 days post op. She showed me some exercises while lying down to strenghten my arms and legs. I continued doing them at home, but at some point they hurt my thigh nerves(sciatica too), and I stopped doing them, as she advised me and all the PTs and doctors always advise patients to stop doing an exercise if it hurts, and try another one. I developped my own little routine, took daily walks, and went to the pool for some light swimming as they advised me-wich was all good. After a few years my neck hurt more and more and another ortho that I saw gave me some PT exercises, that helped a lot. I have seen PT specialists only for my neck and sciatica when it hurts a lot, but all the exercises that I have asked about my abdomen and lower back hurt my upper back too much and I stopped doing them. Mind you it was all my own self that asked to be helped, and I think the ortho team that operated on me should have helped me more in that area.

I am getting revision surgery in December and after healing, I will try again to strenghten my lower back/abdo region, as it is with my neck/shoulders the two that give me the biggest problems, wich is normal according to all the doctors, orthos and therapists of any kind have told me. I still walk, or do stationary biking everyday, it helps.

[judyk]

I did PT 3 weeks after my surgery and found it to be too tiring for me. (too early, I think.) I am planning to wait a bit and start back up, especially when my brace comes off at 4 months--I am a little scared about that and think PT would benefit me. However, some physicians don't prescribe PT for their patients I have noticed. After my first surgery in 1986 PT was never even mentioned. But, frankly, so far the PT I have had could have been done at home instead of at the PT facility, and a lot of my money could have been saved. Maybe PT later in the game would be more beneficial . I was given some exercises to do at home when I was in the hospital recently and they have helped a lot.

[Gail]

Hi Kristen,

I was given a few abdominal exercises at 2 weeks post op.

At 6 months post-op I went to PT for strengthening. It was a turning point in my recovery. The PT helped me tremendously.

Kindest Regards,
Gail

[StephenS]

Hello, Im new to the forums but this topic is right up my alley.

I am 18 years old and have gone though 6 major spinal surgeries. Due to my parents worrying, I have been prescribed physical therapy multiple times. Just recently I attended physical therapy with 24 payed visits by the insurance company. My situation is probably much different then all of you because I also have a tumor in my spine which was/is pressing on some nerves causing weakness and numbness. The therapy is painfully boring for me because its really simple yet hard to do stuff like pressing on a ball and balancing. However it really seemed to help the tightness and strength in my body and I now have a gym membership at the place I was receiving the therapy. Its great because I know all the people that work their and I can ask all the questions I want. I am now trying to become a body builder in order to keep myself in peak physical condition. However its mostly so I can have muscles so my back and chest doesnt look so bad from the scoliosis. Plus if someone stares at you, you can intimidate them :) .

[Sue]

I share your experience. I've had four back surgeries and never had PT ordered by the surgeon. I have requested it on my own, but of course you have to clear it with your local 'gatekeeper' and that usually involves an office visit....