Few things are more frustrating than dealing with a bad back. Unfortunately, I found myself in that situation a few months back after I sprained my back lifting my baby. It was absolutely debilitating, but I knew that I was going to have to live with it. I kept trying to clean my house, look after my kids, and handle my daily chores, but the pain just kept getting worse. Fortunately, a friend of mine recommended a great chiropractor that could help. He adjusted my back and things started to get better. This blog is all about the benefits of working with a professional.
If you've recently suffered a serious injury, there's a good chance your doctor will refer you to a physical therapist at some point during your treatment. Specifically, physical therapy is designed to help reduce pain, restore mobility, and even avoid future surgeries so that you can begin to reclaim your life after an incident. If you've received your referral to a physical therapist, you may be wondering what to expect from the process and what you can do to prepare.
Preparing for Your Consultation
Your doctor will pass along some essential information about your injury and treatment thus far so that your physical therapist will be up to speed at the time of your consultation. Still, it's a good idea to write down a list of questions for your physical therapist as well as any symptoms or other issues that may be relevant to your treatment. To be safe, you should also write down a list of other conditions you may have or any medications you are currently taking.
The Initial Evaluation
Your first appointment with your physical therapist will more or less be a "getting to know you" appointment; here, you and your physical therapist will discuss your injury/injuries as well as your symptoms and your recovery progress so far. At the end of this appointment, you will most likely need to be scheduled for your physical evaluation.
Your First PT Appointment
At your physical evaluation, your injury will be assessed by the physical therapist to determine the extent of your mobility issues or other problems that need to be addressed. For this appointment, it's important to wear comfortable, loose-fitting clothing that will allow the doctor access to the injured part of your body.
Setting Goals and Developing a Care Plan
Generally, at the end of the physical evaluation, your physical therapist will have a better idea of what types of care options are available moving forward. Your physical therapist should also take time to discuss your specific goals for treatment, whether they are as simple as improving mobility or something as major as avoiding the need for surgical intervention.
Your care plan should be built around your own personal goals and should be detailed enough that you understand what to expect in terms of future appointments. If you have any questions or concerns about your care plan, never hesitate to bring them up. From there, you can move forward with your treatment and have the confidence you need in the process.
Share1 July 2019
