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This is just some of my Physical Therapy stories and info.. I met my Physical Therapist when I was 3, and she has stayed with me ever since.. I don't remember much of our encounters when I was that young, but I know I wasn't the best patient. Actually I tried everything to weasel my way out of doing anything productive at physical therapy. After all, it was painful and why would i want to do something that causes me pain.. My logic at age 3 was very good, actually my way of thinking hasn't changed much but I do see the importance of physical therapy now.. :) My physical therapist has reminded me how difficult i was as a child and how difficult I still am. *grin* I figure she's gonna earn every penny she makes.. So I spend a few minutes each time I see her trying to explain why I don't need to be there, or I try to bribe her with candy and gum to be gentle with me.. My physical therapists favorite story to tell about me is one of embarrassment to me and her. When i was 3 or 4, she was exercising me and I screamed out "Help Help" just as a doctor was walking by. He looked in, thinking of course that i was being abused or something, tho after seeing I was with my physical therapist he walked on... I'm sure she just loved me for that one.. One of my favorite things to do has always been to delay therapy by asking question after question after question. Usually my physical therapist would look over the doctors notes, talk to my mom about it, then start in on me. So after quietly listening to her talk to my mom, I started in with my questions.. I had her define every technical word, and even would request that she used these big words in a sentence so I could "fully grasp their meaning". After a few weeks of that she referred to me as the "mouthy one". And of course she learned to break things down as simple as possible when talking to my mother so I couldn't ask any questions.. She is a cunning one, I give her that much.. (tho by the age of 8 I could understand fluent "doctor techno-bable") To inspire me to re-learn how to walk, she would either offer me a cookie that lay just at the other end of the room (those of you who know me, that the way to my heart is through my stomach - sad, but tasty and true), or she would chase me around the room.. We had and still have such fun.. We have grown from enemies to best of friends over the many many many long years I have gone to her with my aches and pains.. I share my pains and she shares hers.. She is the other physical therapist I have every trusted this much.. She had tackled me to the floor, picked me up and carried me over he shoulder and body slammed me (gently) onto the exam table. It may sound rough to alot of you, but actually she is quite gentle, and if she hadn't done all that too me, I would really be in bad shape today... And just so you all don't think I'm a terrible patient I had scheduled appointments right before her lunch break and we have gone out to eat together (I usually drive, because I have the cool van). Now kids, if you want to use my anti-therapy tactics, that's fine, but always remember to be nice to your physical therapist in the long run.. :) She got me in shape and I kept her in shape.. :) |