The Torture of Physical Therapy

Physical Therapy is a necessity after replacement surgeries, like knee or hip replacements.

Physical therapy focuses on the treatment, healing, and prevention of injuries so that an individual can regain strength and mobility in a knee, for example. Increased flexibility and strengthened muscles are an important way that physical therapists help a patient to regain the use of that knee. Without these important exercises and stretches, a patient can lose mobility in a replaced joint. This is not uncommon either!

However, physical therapy can be overdone when dealing with a patient with fibromyalgia. If there are too many repetitions or the weights are too heavy, the therapy can actually exacerbate the symptoms and pain!

I have a friend that experienced this in her physical therapy after a knee replacement. She started actually having fibro flares after appointments. She would feel achy, like her body was on fire, with headaches and a feverish feeling. She kept up the physical therapy anyway, but her symptoms seemed to worsen. Finally, she thought back about causes of flares in the past. She then mentioned the symptoms that she was experiencing to her physical therapist. The exercises were then decreased in repetitions, and weights were adjusted accordingly.

One of the main points that I feel is so important here is that once again, we are our best advocates! We know our bodies and health situations better than anybody!

She said that she felt embarrassed to talk to the physical therapist about her situation.

/ She will think that I am lazy!

/ I am just making excuses!

/ I am trying to get out of the exercises!

Why do we feel that we need to apologize for a decision like that?!! That is such a shame! I know from experience that when I act ashamed, good feelings do not follow!!! But I have found myself in similar situations! Have you struggled with the same dilemma?

I have felt that way because I do not believe that others take fibromyalgia seriously!! I know that most people that suffer from fibromyalgia and other related autoimmune diseases certainly take their illness seriously! .

But it is our job to stand up for ourselves! If we think that the exercises are too intense, then we owe it to ourselves and our bodies to act assertively! It is like we are helping to make the "invisible disease" more visible!!!!!

Choosing boldness fosters self esteem !!!!!!!

From Me to U!!!

God Bless!