Physio

[Biter]

Ok I need a bit of advice now...

On wednesday I jarred my back while trying to hold the train door open for somebody and thought it would just ache for a few hours then go away. But it got worse and now ive been told that I have done some damage to the nerves in my neck, which is causing me to have numb legs/lower back and permanent pins and needles in my hands. I have to go for physio but I have no idea what it entails and would be really grateful if somebody explained it to me. I had to go back to hospital today after my legs gave way and I couldnt get up so im kinda scared and any advice would be great!

Jen x

[Cathie]

In Cathie-speak (which is really basic) ;) physio is when they manipulate your body to fix it and make it work again (told you it was simple). it's usually some person who GENTLY moves your body (sounds like you're back so it will be like having a slightly hard massage) and gives you exercises to try and home to fix the jar and let you move more easily. it can be hard work but they start gently and they'll explain everything to you before they do anything. it shouldnt hurt but it might feel uncomfortable and they might use machines but they explain it all really well. sorry if this is a bit vague but when i had physio it was on my knee and lower back so it was a bit different. they used a machine on me to exercise the muscles in my knee by giving me small electric shocks. sounds weird but it didnt hurt and they let me control the machine myself.
Don't be scared, it will be fine and whoever does it will talk to you first rather than just jumping in! the first one you have will be an assessment so they wont do anything scary. Promise. You know where i am if you need to talk.

[Chris]

It's pretty much how cathie described it.

You didn't say whether it was upper or lower back.

I have regular physio on my lower back (tried to stop a hockey ball with it and caught both the ball and stick!!!) for that, a hard massage is the best description really.

For the upper back it is a lot more manipulative as they often try to crack your rib cage to loosen everything - this isn't as vicious as it sounds. Bascially it is just lots of twisting and stuff to realign it all.

You will find you spend a lot of time being told about how to bend, lift things and sit etc to avoid aggravating anything. Also you will find that the world and his wife will make syuggestions as to what would help - ignore them!! Only do the exercises and stuff that the physio recommends as it is very easy to do real damage other wise.

And don't be afraid to ask the phsyio questions - they are generally nice folks who will explain things for yu!

[Biter]

thanks you two, sorry i didnt explain properly, its the back of my neck and very top of my back, so somehow thats screwed with my arms and legs. Doctor did explain but I was too busy being high on codeine :D

[Cathie]

Hope you feel better soon hun :heart:

[Chris]

ah right - a nerve problem.

That is much simpler problem that bad back!

Basically all the nerves from your nbrain to yur body run down the centre of your spinal column. Sounds like you have a trapped nerve where a nerve gets squashed between two joints. The nerve can't get through the trapped bit hence the numbness adn pins and needles and so on.

What the physio will do will just manipulate and jiggle the bones a bit to free the nerve. you will have the mother of all pins and needles/cramp for a couple of seconds and then perfect health all being well!!!:D

[tukayaway]

thanks you two, sorry i didnt explain properly, its the back of my neck and very top of my back, so somehow thats screwed with my arms and legs. Doctor did explain but I was too busy being high on codeine :D

Try and get as much codeine as possible as well :D

I've just spent a fortnight on that to recover from bruised ribs. A bit like taking a sledgehammer to knock in a nail, but I'm not the one with the years of medical training.

[airhead]

My nan had physio when she had a stroke. It really does wonders, Jen!

*hugs jenna till her eyes pop out of their sockets*

erm... will physio help with that?

[Biter]

*hunts for eyes...falls over again*
...shit.

[Keep Rocking]

Hope you feel better now, Biter.

I am a physical therapist. But I have nothing more to add here as Cathie and Chris had described everything exactly :D

Alwasy ask the therapist, if you haven't understood him and also let him know, if the problems are getting better or worser. If they are getting worse, he/she will then change the method of the treatment or will reduce the intensity