I had physical therapy with a different therapist on Friday. As I was beginning my routine exercises, he asked an aide to start with some heat. I had no idea what the treatment would be all about since ice has always been used after the hour and half of exercises.
The aide slid a blanket that reminded me of a grey fleece blanket we have at home under my legs. It covered from my ankles to the lower part of my thighs. Immediately I felt warmth and then extreme warmth to the point of burning along my legs but especially on my calves. I asked if it was normal and the aide slipped a towel between the blanket and my skin. It was a little more bearable and reminded me of the only facial I ever had in my life a few years ago. Now that I had adjusted to the heat, I could feel my legs relaxing as if the tissues inside were melting. After 15 minutes the aide removed the blanket and I did 3 sets of 25 repetitions on a bizarre piece of equipment that has one right and one left stairs. The heel of my injured left leg was placed on the right stair while my right leg was resting on a low stool beside the equipment. The goal was to extend my left leg as much as possible without shifting my hip and moving forward. This is an exercise I was asked to do months ago when nobody knew what was wrong with my healing process. At that time I couldn't do the exercise properly, the reason being the difficult extension of my knee. Now after the 15 minutes of heat, my leg seemed supple and I had no difficulties to perform the exercise.
Then the therapist worked on my knee and leg a lot, massaging with cream, manipulating the entire leg in different positions, stretching the leg and hip. He told me that using the heat was an idea he had as he was thinking of my issue. He figured that either something was wrong with the mechanics of the knee or my muscles were tensing for whatever reason. Since the heat had relaxed my leg, he was happy to inform me that nothing was wrong with the knee itself since heat would not have helped. He went on with more physical manipulations and encouraged me with enthusiastic comments, "Good job! Good firing of the quad! Perfect!"
It's funny how simple words go a long way when the body has been miserable for months. I felt a burst of energy and hope that reminded me of who I was before. I realized I was still the same woman full of energy and hope. Eight months since the accident, seven since my first surgery have kept my left knee and leg inactive in a way that had never happened before.
Suddenly I could feel the results of the second surgery and the use of the heat.
The therapist told me that he was modifying my program with more exercises focusing on the extension of the leg than the flexion since it was my number 1 problem.
The hour went fast and I left after being iced, happy and confident. I will have the same therapist again on Tuesday since mine is away for a week of vacation. I wonder if I should ask to keep the one who has been doing a wonderful job. How can I ask properly for a change? Would have mine thought of changing my exercises or using heat to relax my muscles? I like the PT I have but it is pretty clear now that he missed something last winter.
Yesterday was a busy afternoon with a birthday party for my daughter and some errands. I was so ecstatic to walk faster and better that I finished the decoration of the upstairs bathroom that my husband repainted in the spring. While my daughter attended her party, I went to an old fashioned ice cream parlor in town where I got coffee ice cream and iced tea. I wrote for a couple of hours and walked through town, visiting three antique shops.
I felt ME!
I know I'm not fully recovered but the peeks of the mountains surrounding my home seem more than ever reachable.
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