by alistairSH 8 hours ago
On the flip side, when I had rotator cuff issues, the surgeon recommended months of physiotherapy before resorting to the knife. And it worked. And by weight training regularly with a focus on correct shoulder movement, the pain stays away.
It really seems like if you, as a patient, go looking for a quick fix, that’s what you’ll be offered. And if you educate yourself a bit and then go t for the best fix for you, you usually get they.
Physical therapy is very often under recommended in the US under the belief that insurance won’t cover it. They might. And, for anyone reading, you don’t even need a referral for the first 30 days in some states. Physical therapy is for more than just hip replacements and car accident trauma. Like regular therapy, a lot of “normal” people can benefit from it. It’s also not just stretching.
As somebody in the US who had to do 2 months of PT before I could even get an MRI of an injury, this is both surprising, and yet also not, to hear.
I broadly agree though; about a decade ago I had the standard office worker low back pain problems which cleared right up after doing squats multiple times a week. Of course a decade later I managed to blow out a disc at the gym, which I still work through as I write this today, but well worth the risk in the long run. Even with that long experience of strength training, the PT was worth it even if it didn’t fix my problem entirely. It added some variety and pointed out some details I had overlooked to improve my shoulder health.
Interesting. I’ve never not had some PT coverage. The copays kinda suck, but major surgery tends to add up as well, so…
What did you have exactly?
With calcifications, physio without the shockwave component definitely doesn't allow going back to the normal gym routine. It's just not enough.
Garden variety inflammation with some minor tearing, exacerbated by weakness/instability.
Strengthening with PT kept the joint stable enough to stop rubbing and allow the inflammation to clear.
And as long as I stick to a regular gym routine that includes rotator cuff work, it doesn’t recur (and did the few times I lapsed).
But absolutely, PT doesn’t fix everything. Bit for a lot of things, it’s worth trying - but it might also means a lifetime of altered habits to keep whatever injury/problem from recurring.