After surgery, your primary source of information on your recovery tends to be your physical therapist. They know your timelines and recovery estimates and see you a few times a week. But is that enough for you to truly know how your recovery is progressing?
Physical therapy can help many kinds of ailments, and decrease pain without the use of drugs. However, it is important that all patients take a proactive role in getting better, and to help with that here is a list of possible red flags you should watch for during your physical therapy.
Not doing enough
Physical therapy is about rebuilding damaged or atrophied muscle after an injury or surgery. That is not a straightforward or simple task. If your therapist is not challenging you, you might not be progressing as rapidly as you should towards a full recovery.
Making it worse
Feeling some pain in physical therapy is natural, but you depend on your therapist to know how far you should go. If they do not keep rigorous notes they may push you too far or provide the wrong treatment, worsening your injury.
Using the wrong treatments
Physical therapists, in most cases, have gone through extensive training programs. They have learned many ways to help strengthen your muscles after an injury and decrease pain. However, fads can happen in any industry and without proper testing and extensive research certain methods can cause more harm than good.
Be your own advocate, or get the help of one
Patients increasingly must advocate for themselves and ensure that they are heard in their treatment. They have to tell their healthcare providers what is working for them and what is not. This is no different in physical therapy and by knowing the possible warning signs you can ensure you are getting the best treatment. And if that fails you may have additional options.
