Ankle Arthroscopy (Strange days)

I realize that I said I wasn't going to write another post about my Arthroscopy, and I wasn't, but this is bizarre enough to warrant another entry.

To set the background for this post I want to give you an idea of what a “Physical Therapy” business looks like, and this particular office was basically a large room with fitness equipment resembling a small gym.

At any given time there would be at least 6 clients mulling about addressing their rehab needs, with around 4 therapists present. (If you go into physical therapy thinking you’re going to get a personal trainer all to yourself, you may be sadly mistaken).

My primary Physical Therapist was out on family matters last week, so I was delighted to see the original female Therapist who worked on me during my first visit.
But much to my chagrin it was immediately apparent that something was "different".

"What was the nature of your injury again, I don't remember?" she inquired...

She then proceeded to ask what exercises I had been doing, and as I gave my best explanation of things I didn’t necessarily understand, she quipped for me to jump on the stationary bike and warm up as she walked away, which I did.

Then I moved on to the "machine that simulates squats" which may also be known as the "Total Gym" but then I don't know because curiously enough I don't have $3000.00 worth of exercise equipment at my house.

It became apparent that the "stand in" Therapist had limited knowledge of how to properly work the machine, and after another Therapist assisted her with the tension springs I was again instructed to "do what I did last time" since I didn't know what tension level I was supposed to be using.

As I worked through the remainder of my exercises the Therapist grew more and more agitated with my progress. (This is not an exaggeration on my part and I will back this up later).

As she attended to an older woman who I had seen on previous visits, the Therapist began barking at me (from across the room) to stop looking at my foot as I was working on a balance board that assists with range of motion.

"Stop holding onto the bar so tight!!!  She barked again.

Then it was on to the “Bosu-ball” for some more squat exercises.

“You’re going down to far!”

“Stop holding the bar so much”!!!

“You remind me of my kids, I always have to watch what you’re doing!!!”


All of these “instructions” were yipped across the gym in such a manner that other therapist and their clients would stop what they were doing long enough to process the scene.

As I finished my sets I could hear my Therapist explaining to the female client that she didn’t need to work, and that she was only there to “maintain her skills”…

The therapy session was over and as I paid my Co-pay the older female client I mentioned earlier walked up, looked me in the eye, and said, “Wow! She was yelling at you”…I cracked a smile and indicated that it was “tough love” and bid her and the Secretary a good day.

I was done with Physical Therapy.
____________________________

The total cost of the Ankle Arthroscopy process.

-2 Consultation visits at $40.00 a visit “Co-pay” with insurance.
-No Co-Pay for the initial X-rays. (Covered by Insurance)
-$100.00 Co-pay for the MRI prior to surgery
-$300.00 Co-Pay for the actual Arthroscopic surgery
-Physical therapy twice a week for 3 weeks at $40.00 Co-pay each visit.
-$40.00 ankle brace

Total cost: $720.00

Ankle Arthroscopy (Physical Therapy overview)

Another rain soaked day has given me the opportunity to reflect on the physical therapy portion of my ankle surgery and the fact that this will probably be my last post about the subject sans an occasional update on the overall status of my recovery.

My therapist, “David” explained my situation in great detail and answered every single one of my uninformed questions.

Part and parcel to my ankle surgery is the fact that David showed me that my arch has fallen as well, which is something else I will need to focus on with strengthening the muscles to help support the area and make it stronger which has been the goal all along…(To get stronger).

My experience with physical therapy has been an excellent one, but in all honesty I see the therapist as a sort of guide who pointed me in the right direction with strengthening and range of motion exercises and now it’s up to me to continue the program at home.

The biggest hurtle with all of this, the surgery, physical therapy, and my overall health is the fact that it’s hard to be active and then sustain an injury that sidelines you. (Yes I realize there are considerably more significant surgeries than ankle arthroscopy).

The trick is to remain positive throughout an experience like this and find humor in the small idiosyncrasies that occur during recovery (like falling down in the bathroom)

Another way to stay “up” is to have goals;

I keep telling myself that I will run “50” at 50, which means that I’m going to run a 50 miler for my 50th birthday…The big 5-0 is quite a few years away, but I see it as one hell of a motivator to recover.

The (A.T.) “Appalachian Trail” will also be there waiting for me at retirement, all 2,175 miles of it.

I see that particular goal as a celebration of surviving 25 or so years on the job, which again, is quite some time in the future.

Right now in the short term the goal is to get this damn boot off my foot and get back on my bike, or go running, or for a hike…

And as this post has evolved over the course of several days, my physical therapist has given me the “go ahead” to ride the single speed on mellow terrain, which is awesome.

Steve
.................................
Aside from my personal experiences with the surgery, this is what you may expect during your own recovery and physical therapy;

-They will probably take measurements to gauge your range of motion.

-They may measure the affected area to gauge any swelling

-They will give you light range of motion exercises to move your ankle both lateral and horizontal to your body. (this will probably be done with resistance bands)

-As you progress you will begin “weight bearing” exercises like machine assisted squats and range of motion exercises like riding a stationary bike.

-*I received several arch specific exercises that included standing in a particular manner and arch lifts and calf raises as well.

Ankle Arthroscopy ( Physical Therapy Day 1)

The first day of physical therapy saw another small storm system drop a few more inches of heavy wet snow onto the area which was just enough for me to call and confirm that the therapist’s office was open.

After I received confirmation that the appointment was still on I looked at the clock and realized that I would be cutting it close with the additional hurtle of removing all of the new snow off of our car.

But then I always haven an ace when it comes to snow, and since my wife wasn’t going to work she obliged me with getting my act together so that we made it there on time.

You know how you talk to someone and a little bit of them and then a little bit of you will trickle out into the details?

This was the case of our conversation with the receptionist, a stylish lady who gave me a glimpse of her past which happened to coincide with my present, which showed me yet again just how small the world really is.

Onto my therapist, who was working as a “stand in” (if you will), for the person I will be assigned to for the remainder of my P.T. sessions.

An auburn haired and bespectacled gem that was quite the character in her own right, she simplified the process for someone like me who doesn’t always pick up on the subtle hints on how to heal.

She was wonderful as she quickly identified and entertained the fact that I am the sum total of a child yet still trapped in a man’s body and that it takes a fair amount of scolding for me to get the point of what I need to do for recovery.

In her paisley “Dansko’s” she took measurements of my ankles to show me what I needed to work on and just how much range of motion I had lost, and then before I knew it she had given me some home work for “range of motion" exercises and sent me on my way.

(Many people in this process have told me that I needed to do these things, this therapist was the first to explain to me the "why"...)

In the amount of time that it took me to gather myself and put my “Robo-boot” back on, my wife and several of the therapist had conspired to restrain me from what I would like to and developed a plan to make me focus on what I had to do to recover.

This story continues with the fact that while I have had a common surgery with a common recovery, I have met some uncommon people along the way…

Steve

The "goniometer" used to measure "range of motion" for my ankle