Physiotherapy: It's all in The Clinic

I began my first physiotherapy sessions this week. I was really nervous, as I didn’t really know what to expect. Well-- no secrets here; its pain!

I wanted to stay closer to my neighbourhood, so the first clinic I originally booked was a high profile athletic facility with private physio rooms and apparently staff that was extremely educated in their perspective field of Athletic Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation. Yet when I inquired about how much experience in rehabilitation they had on Severed EHL Tendons, they were not that familiar with it. It is not considered a “sports injury”.  To add insult to injury they had a monstrous flight of stairs to reach their posh star studded facility on the second floor. (Can’t imagine [for example] someone with a torn ACL, navigating that staircase??!!)  I inquired with the cutesy sounding receptionist where the elevator was for us people who were unable to take the flight of stairs. Sorry no elevator. Suggestion: scooch up the stairs on my behind. Everyone else does it.

[Insert expletive!] at this suggestion and I laughed maniacally. She got the drift, and at my request suggested another homelier clinic down the street by the library.

I placed the call with my armour on. Physiotherapy is expensive, so I don’t care what the clinic looks like. The cost will be the same. I need them to work on my foot not their décor. First question I asked; do you have an elevator? Response: who wouldn’t? Pearse you are a star.

What a terrific bunch of guys and gals, and what a great job they do. They are committed to the cause; to get everyone back on track and on with their lives. Professional and motivating.

My consult: we do a quick assessment; and yes (in case anyone is wondering) Severing the EHL Tendon is extremely rare and every Physiotherapist  would love a crack at this type of rehab on a patient. It’s a physiotherapist’s dream child.  They call each other and taunt fellow clinics; guess what we’ve got?! The jewel of physiotherapy cases; a dormant but potentially fully functional foot and a tendon that has been craftily and tightly braided back together and then wrapped with special dissolving sutures all within  the complex nerve and tendon maze of the amazing extremity called the foot.  It’s all memory recall for the nerves, tissues and muscles.

I’ve been assigned a vigorous schedule of physiotherapy 3-4 times a week in the afternoons for about a month, and then we will decrease by 1 session a week and so forth. The short term objective at this time is to at least attain a short range of motion for the ankle through massage with some possible movement in the toes.  We’re simultaneously trying to rebuild the calf muscle with electrotherapy, thus contributing to muscle stimulation. It’s like putting your finger in an electrical socket, but having the shock only affect your leg.  There is a level of intensity the therapist can control based on my tolerance.  As a concentration tool, I have my stress ball in my hand, so I don’t grind down my back molars when pain points are hit. No one said it was going to be easy.

Let the games begin!