Today was my first physical therapy session which was more like a comedy of errors that wasn’t funny. After my second surgery my physical therapy consisted of a 3 minute course of how to use crutches. However, they did not teach me how to get up and downstairs with them, I learned how from a pamphlet. I was given no exercises to do and I was non weight-bearing. A week ago I was told that I could start weight-bearing as much as tolerated and I have been doing so. Let me relate how my first physical therapy session/evaluation went.
I was first asked some basic question of when and how did I break my leg. I was then asked what exercises I was doing. I told them none since that was the case and I got a look from the therapist. I explained that I was instructed to do nothing. I was then asked about my fitness level before I broke my leg. I told them that I was running on a track which was close to my house.
I was led to a gym after the parallel bars I was told to get on an exercise bike. My first thought was that won’t work my frame sticks out too much. However, I thought these people are professionals they probably deal with this and have an altered machine. Well I should have spoken up. I get on the bike and I can’t even pedal since the frame smacks the support. So I’m told to get on the treadmill which I do. Then I’m asked if I have a treadmill at home I tell them no. Also didn’t I just tell them that I ran on a track near my house? If I had a treadmill why would I walk a mile to run a mile and then walk back home?
After walking for a bit on the treadmill I’m told to stop. The therapist told me “you have no back muscles, I can tell by the way you’re walking”. I told her “That makes sense since I haven’t walked in 5 1/2 months”. You could see the light bulb go on. Had this woman not listened to a word I said? I swear to God does no one listen or look? I’ve been ignored, belittled and treated like I have no brain. Why is it when I speak up or point out a glaring and obvious problem I’m labeled as a Bitch?
Trowel anyone? 
It’s the accent. We’re still sore about King George and all that rabble. 😉
Really, it just sounds like how most people do their jobs. Why put in effort to do a good job when you can do a mediocre job that won’t get you fired without any effort at all? They’ll get paid the same regardless of the level of care you get, after all.
Wow. When did I get this cynical?
At that point, I gently remind them how much I love the care Kaiser has given to my family and then find another therapist who is not so unobservant. Hell, she’d probably never notice if the treadmill ate you!
Treadmill eating me!! I laughed so hard! Perhaps it was the accent that got them.