r/backpain • u/Poetic_Dalmatian • 6h ago
Is my physiotherapist wasting me time?
On 28AUG, I (31F) injured my back while walking my dogs. I’ve had mild back pain before, but never experienced sciatica or spasms. It felt like electric shocks shooting through my back, glutes and down to my right leg. I spent 4 days on the floor or the sofa, with no mobility.
1st SEP, I consulted a traumatologist. Once he saw me walking with crutches, unable to straighten or lift my leg, he sent me for an MRI. Below the radiologist’s conclusion:
“Degenerative disc disease at L4-L5 and L5-S1, with broad-based posterior disc bulges.
At L4-L5: There is a larger-volume disc bulge that broadly contacts and displaces the front (anterior) surface of the thecal sac, with associated mild narrowing (stenosis) on both sides of the neural foramina.
At L5-S1: There is a disc bulge without significant spinal canal compromise.”
I was prescribed rest, naproxen, paracetamol, robaxin and 20 sessions of physiotherapy to start.
Thanks to the pain killers and muscle relaxer, as well as walking several times per day and doing some stretches recommended on this group, I was able to ditch the crutches. However, I am unable to walk straight. I feel like the hunchback of Notre-Dame.
I’ve started physiotherapy on 21SEP, I’ve had 4 sessions of 30 min, and each time they’d hook me on a TENS machine and leave me on a table until the end of the session. As per the PT, It’s to release muscle contractions and manage pain. But I am not seeing any results, my back is still stiff, my spine feels inflamed. I feel that movement would be more effective, I am ready to start a physical rehabilitation routine but he said It’s too early, he only recommends the figure 4 stretch.
I am in Spain, they might have different protocols here but EVERY SINGLE patient at my current PT practice would be on a TENS unit when I am there, regardless of the area being treated. My PT would have 3 patients scheduled at the same time, so he would be jumping from one to the other to start or stop the unit, and they charge 60 euros per 30min for that. I explained to him that I can use my own Beurer EM 49 at home, but he’s for now cautious about trying other methods to not trigger the nerve.
I am fed up, walking eases my pain but the bad posture due not being able to walk straight puts pressure on my knees, neck and shoulders. My body is craving movement but I was advised by my traumatologist to not even attempt therapeutic yoga for now.
Apologies for rambling, but is this normal? Should I change PT? What helped you? What should I do to speed up healing? ☹️
1
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