I finally had my first physical therapy appointment today! I was really excited to go and the appointment went really well. I didn't exactly get great news about my back, but I am very hopeful that my physical therapist will be able to give me positive results. I am seeing Sue McClain, who brands herself as a both a physical therapist and a mobility coach. She also coaches CrossFit, so I really feel like she is a great fit for me. She came highly recommended by a bunch of people at my gym.
So apparently, when I bend over my spine isn't curling like it's supposed to, it's just hinging at one point which is where I'm experiencing all the pain. My hips and IT bands are extremely tight too, which isn't really helping anything. I also need to further refine some of my lifting techniques.
I haven't gone to the gym in almost 3 weeks and I'm not allowed to for another week. My homework is to do 10-15 push aways every two hours. A "push away" is when you lay on your stomach, place your hands on the ground in front of your shoulders, and push your upper body up towards the ceiling. I can do more if my back hurts. If it doesn't feel good, I'll do less. I'm not allowed to bend over. No slouching. The average person bends their body forward, bringing their shoulders closer to their knees, around 4,000 times per day. Yikes. I will be listening to my body, taking notice of my pain and how it changes throughout the day.
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If I do my homework diligently, it will help Sue to determine the best treatment plan for me. It will also potentially speed up the process. First we're going to make sure my spine is actually ok by letting it heal, then we will work on mobilizing my lower back, and last we will focus on correcting some of my technical issues. I'm sure we'll be working on opening up my hips on the way too.
I'm slightly scared of how much I'm going to pay for this thanks to my high deductible health insurance plan, but I know it will be worth it. I turn 29 on Monday, I'm too young to suffer from chronic back pain. I've been dealing with this on and off for over 5 years and I'm so happy to actually work on correcting the issue!
Have you ever done PT before? What was your experience?
