physiotherapy

sheenie
sheenie Member Posts: 11
edited 17. Feb 2009, 11:53 in Living with Arthritis archive
They have suggested sending me for physiotherapy for my RA in my hip, has anyone else had this, im abit scared & nervous. What should i expect?

Comments

  • lindalegs
    lindalegs Member Posts: 5,397
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Sheenie,

    On your first visit you'll be assessed and the physio will want to know your medical history. He/she will also test your hip and find out it's strength and limitations by doing simple things like when you're lying on the couch you push as hard as you can into their hand - they will also take measurements so that they can follow your progress and improvement.

    On your following visit they will have worked out a programme of exercises for you to do at hospital and at home. They will follow your progress and then after about 6 weeks you will probably be discharged but expected to carry on exercising at home. These exercises will become part of your daily routine.

    Hope this helps.

    Luv Legs :D
    Love, Legs x
    'Make a life out of what you have, not what you're missing'
  • sheenie
    sheenie Member Posts: 11
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thank you so much, its nice to have some idea whats going to happen.
    :D:D
  • greyheron
    greyheron Member Posts: 167
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    sheenie wrote:
    They have suggested sending me for physiotherapy for my RA in my hip, has anyone else had this, im abit scared & nervous. What should i expect?

    I've had physio after arthroscopies and a TKR for OA, so a bit different from you, but just to share my experience of physio.

    Very similar to what the previous post said - assessment followed by a routine of exercises and an expectation that you will do exercises at home between your appointments and after you've been discharged.

    Make sure you get in writing the exercises you are supposed to be doing at home - it all sounds very clear when you're with the physio and then you get home and think - 'What did she say I should do and how am I supposed to do it?'. The physios at 'my' hospital do computer printouts with little diagrams which are very helpful.

    I have got on well with virtually all the physios I have had dealings with and if you show them you are keen to get as much out of physio as you can, they will be very much on your side.

    Just a couple of times I haven't 'clicked' with a physio, in both instances young men who I felt were not respectful of an older non-sporty lady like myself. One-to-one physio is very 'personal' and if you find you are not getting on well with your allocated physio, try to change - but hopefully that won't happen, as I say my experience has been 99% positive.

    Also, if you are offered hydrotherapy, my advice would be to say 'yes' as I have found exercising in lovely warm water to be a great experience.

    Hope this is helpful, good luck with it.

    Wendy

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