Physiotherapy... Any point?

[Tom B]

So a few weeks ago I fell down a hole while walking the pavementcrapper and damaged what I think will be the peroneal tendons. seemed a pretty decent injury eliciting upper tier swearing. Foot and ankle was swollen and bruising appeared from the side of my calf to my toes.

It has gone down a lot now and I've been walking on it again. It's still a bit sore if poked or flexed.

So I've thought about physio on it. I've never had physiotherapy in my life. I contacted a physio and they said yes physio will help (course they would) and it's £50 for the first session then £40 after.

So what's this physio stuff all about? Could I just find a YouTube video and stretch it about?

 

[fossyant]

It's worth it. Anyone worth their quals will quickly identify the issues. I would not have got back to work after breaking my spine without the physio, as once the bones had healed, the muscles were causing more issues and very painful.

I occasionally use the students at work, we get a session for £25.

Even they identify the tight muscles immediately.

You need a physio that is hands on and works the muscles, not one that sticks you on ultra sound (he was useless).

 

[PK99]

So a few weeks ago I fell down a hole while walking the pavementcrapper and damaged what I think will be the peroneal tendons. seemed a pretty decent injury eliciting upper tier swearing. Foot and ankle was swollen and bruising appeared from the side of my calf to my toes.

It has gone down a lot now and I've been walking on it again. It's still a bit sore if poked or flexed.

So I've thought about physio on it. I've never had physiotherapy in my life. I contacted a physio and they said yes physio will help (course they would) and it's £50 for the first session then £40 after.

So what's this physio stuff all about? Could I just find a YouTube video and stretch it about?

Wrong exercise + wrong Time = more damage
Right exercise + right time = More rapid recovery

Physio will diagnose and either treat or refer on to a specialist medic.

https://www.foothealthfacts.org/conditions/peroneal-tendon-injuries.

We as a family have used sports physios multiple times and have never regretted it.

 

[vickster]

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/physiotherapy/

if you happen to have private health insurance through work, it should cover physio sessions as well as any onward specialist referrals

 

[Tom B]

It's perhaps a basic question... But what do they do? What should I expect?.

 

[PaulSB]

It's perhaps a basic question... But what do they do? What should I expect?.

Yes, it's worth it. In broad terms the damaged muscle will be identified. In my case I had very tight trapezius. The physio massaged this to release tension and provided daily exercises for me to use at home.

This was five years ago. I still do the daily stretching as part of my overall stretching plan.

It works.

 

[vickster]

It's perhaps a basic question... But what do they do? What should I expect?.

See the nhs link. Many private practices will have a website with a what we treat, how we treat, what to expect page.

Take history, Examination, Diagnosis, manual therapy, could include massage, acupuncture, therapeutic ultrasound, they’ll make you do some exercises and give you a programme to follow at home.

I‘ve been having physio for the past year for a damaged ankle and knee, both before and after surgery (needed ankle ligaments repaired, too damaged for time and physio alone).
Also some offer hydrotherapy, I find rehab in water incredibly helpful as I can work far harder with less pain than on land

 

[PK99]

It's perhaps a basic question... But what do they do? What should I expect?.

In my experience:

NHS = Diagnose mainly from verbal history + send away with exercise sheets. Repeat fortnightly.
Success = cope with normal life

Private Sport Physio = hands-on diagnosis + hands-on manipulation/treatment + Therapy machines + supervised exercises + homework. Repeat as necessary maybe 2/week initially decreasing as improve.
Success = back to sport

 

[vickster]

I’ve rarely had as often as twice a week (other than after surgery for frozen shoulder), sometimes once, more often every 2 weeks, even 4 depending on post op protocol.

Must be diligent with prescribed exercises if want to make good progress

The rates you have been quoted are very reasonable

 

[Sharky]

Our local hospital, has a self-referral to their physiotherapy dept.
Only resulted in a telephone consultation and some exercises, but helped.

 

[KnittyNorah]

So I've thought about physio on it. I've never had physiotherapy in my life. I contacted a physio and they said yes physio will help (course they would) and it's £50 for the first session then £40 after.

So what's this physio stuff all about? Could I just find a YouTube video and stretch it about?

As a (long retired) health professional myself, I endorse everyone else's endorsement of a few good physio sessions. However, you need to know that it's not just the physio who 'does it' - you need to do your part in the job by following their instructions/recommendations/exercises, otherwise you are losing half of the benefit.

What you will never get from a you tube video is a hands-on diagnosis and estimation of damage, and a professionally-qualified opinion of the best way to most effectively heal and return to normal function whatever specific, individual-to-you damage has been done.
How do you actually know that a You-tube vid is giving the correct treatment for you - do you have the appropriate qualifications to decide that 'stretching it about' a bit is going to help, not harm? You don't - that is why you consult a physio. Did you attend A & E for X-rays after the event? Or your GP? Some areas have decent NHS self-referral physio clinics but many don't.

 

[Drago]

Helped my when my dop bolwed me over at high speed and hyper-extended my leg.

A physio a made a massive improvement to my sciatica, all but cured it.

So id say worth it.

 

[KnittyNorah]

I'll just add, that the sooner you seek the attention of the physio, the better the recovery is likely to be.

 

[ColinJ]

I was running down a dark country lane one winter evening and didn't spot a deep pothole. One foot planted on the edge of the hole and turned sideways by what felt like 90 degrees. By the time that I had limped home my foot, ankle, shin and calf were going scary shades of black, blue, red, purple and orange!

I can't tell you how physio helped because I didn't have any treatment. I just dosed myself up with paracetamol and tried to keep my weight off that leg as much as possible for a few months.

Result? My leg hurt for many years after that! I think it was nearly a decade before I could no longer tell which ankle I had damaged (see PS below...).

Given how painful my outcome was, my verdict is... SEE A PHYSIO!

PS Ah.. That might explain why one of my feet was hurting on the forum ride that I did last Monday. I couldn't figure out why one would hurt while the other was fine!

 

[Cathryn]

My husband and I have both worked with physios on big or small injuries (broken bones, sore hips) and they've been brilliant. They're not cheap but definitely worthwhile. You DO have to do the exercises though, you have to commit to do them or it's a total waste of money.