Continued Recovery

The second week I was here my friend, Julie, and I were swimming when she informed me of a physical therapist who specializes in pelvic dysfunctions.  Julie’s a PT student who wants to specialize in pelvis dysfunctions.  She was incredibly helpful as apparently I’d received inaccurate information regarding recovery (not surprising at this point!)  

I was sharing my frustration in the recovery process, especially now as I’m back in Colorado and continue to be inconsistent with the ability to function normally even apart from my normal active lifestyle.  I learned several things:

1. Pelvises and injuries relating to the pelvis are not strongly taught in PT school.  This bit of news put much into perspective for me as I thought of all the PT’s I’d seen that were highly knowledgable at what they do, yet seemed at a loss with some of my specific problem areas.
2. Due to the extent of the trauma to my body (multiple breaks, the high speed I was going when I fell, and the long tumble down the mountain) the recovery process is longer and more extensive than had I fallen off a horse, for example.   
3. I need to be back in physical therapy to continue in recovery.  This was very helpful to hear from her!
4. She explained the detailed difference between a regular physical therapist, what they do and what this physical therapy with pelvis credentials does.  I’ll spare the details!  Let’s just say it’s very unique and made complete sense, especially with my background in naturopathy.                                                                                                         

I have now seen this new PT several times.  While it has been equally encouraging and discouraging at moments, it is huge to FINALLY know she isn’t guessing (for the most part; I’m learning there’s always an element of guessing with traumas of this sort) and she knows what she’s talking about.

Discouraging news: 

1. The length of recovery time ahead still.
2. Learning many of the exercises given to me months ago and many of the things I had been doing that had been okayed by medical professionals have been harmful to my recovery at times while other times simply not beneficial but not necessarily harmful.
3. Due to continued pain inconsistencies and lack of ability to sit or stand in one place too long still I have been told to wait a good 6-8 weeks to look for a full-time job and it will have to be a very specific position that will allow flexibility in sitting, standing, and walking.
4. My PT called after our first appointment to inform me, although she knew my injuries were extensive, after further looking at my records she learned they were very very severe.  She told me I’d had what’s called a disruption to the pelvic frame with a sacral fracture and my left inferior pubic ramus and my superior ramus were also fractured.  I gathered from her frequent pauses and intakes of breaths that it wasn’t a good thing!  She then made it quite clear not to do any more than she said and she took away a couple exercises. 

Encouraging news:

1. In the first meeting with my PT I learned more about the pelvis and my specific injuries than I had in 7 months.
2. If she says to do/not do something I can trust her because she’s been in this field for 33 years and knows her stuff.
3. She’s from Iowa (so OBVIOUSLY I can rely on her!)
4. She checks up on me!
5. Even though it was discouraging being told the pelvic breaks I’d had were extensive it also was encouraging.  My thought: “Good! I’m not just wimpy!”  
6. She hopes with her weekly appointments as well as twice a week massages my muscles will relax and strengthen quickly in order to begin progressing to more intense stretches like Pilates - my version of intense these days apparently!
7. I’ve been mandated by her and my massage therapist to spend lots of time in hot tubs!  (At least I’m getting something out of all this for goodness sakes!)

Before my readers say the all-too-common phrase: “What a life!  Hot tubs, massages, not working...” let me clarify these therapeutic massages are anything but enjoyable right now!  Due to the extent of the fall, the muscle spasms, and the amount of time my body has been predominantly immobile, I am one tense gal! 

Maybe, by the end of this I’ll understand why people get massages to relax but for now, I have to keep telling myself to breathe!  A long time ago my dad told me a joke about a blonde, headphones, and a beauty salon. I think of it often during PT and my massage sessions. So I thought I'd include it for a laugh (sorry to all the blondes out there....if it helps, I sometimes put blonde highlights in my hair so really this joke is about me too!)   

     The hairdresser asks her to take them off for the haircut and the blonde replies, "I can't, I'll die." The hairdresser proceeds to cut her hair and it looks awful.

    Six weeks later the same blonde comes in for another haircut. The hairdresser pleads with her, "Please take your headphones off - I can make your hair look beautiful." Once again the blonde replies, "I can't, I'll die." So she receives another awful haircut.

     Six weeks later the blonde show up at the salon and once again the hairdresser says, "Please take your headphones off - I can make your hair beautiful if you would just take off the headphones." "I can't, I'll die." The hairdresser proceeds to cut her hair. While doing so the blonde falls asleep.

     The hairdresser quickly thinks to herself - I will remove the headphones and replace them before she wakes up. I'll make her hair beautiful. Seconds after doing this the blonde falls off the chair. The hairdresser checks her and finds she isn't breathing.

     Having to know what was keeping her alive with the headphones on, she places them on her head. She hears, "Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breath out."  http://www.emmitsburg.net/humor/archives/blonds/blonds_2.htm

 Yep, that’s totally me while getting a massage!  “Breathe in....breathe out....”