Tuesday, October 27, 2009

I graduated!

For the past 6 weeks, I've been going to physical therapy. My hip and lower back were so painful I could hardly walk. So my doctor prescribed physical therapy and told me that was the first step to get better.

After my first couple of visits, I doubted that anything was going to help me, especially not physical therapy. And the worse thing is, YOU HAVE TO EXERCISE AS HOMEWORK!

Now, in this class, I'm not the best student. I rarely do my homework, and I do poorly in class. But the physical therapists I've been working with show no mercy. After the first few sessions, it was "boot camp" for me, for sure!

My weak area is the abdominal area. One can look at me and know this. And after many years of neglect (no crunches for me, No sireee!) it has been a painful, uncomfortable ride to get improvement.

But lately, I've been able to do a little bit more in the strength area. I've noticed a small improvement in my posture, and I can do more "bridges" than I ever thought I would be able to do.

Today was my graduation day. I could do my bridges and planks and hold on for 25 seconds. Doesn't sound like a lot, but it is better than when I started when I could hold it for 2 seconds.

My therapists get a charge out of my comments when they ask me to do stuff. Last week, I told the one, "You've got to be kidding!" when she asked me to do this one exercise. But this week, I can do it and hold it. They seem to get a kick out of listening to me grunt and groan and collapse when I'm done! One day they sold me a stretch band to do my glutemus maximus exercises. The receptionist asked me if I wanted a receipt. I told her "No, my tight butt will be my receipt!" They all got a charge out of that one!

Today when I left, they gave me a graduation present, a t-shirt with their name on it. MY GRADUATION PRESENT. And they all said, "We're going to miss you, you are a riot!"

Guess they'll have to deal with older, fatter, more out-of-shape and not so hilarious patients in the future. Goodbye, therapists--thanks for your help.

Oh, and my hip only hurts a little bit now, so at least I got some relief!

3 comments:

MonkeyGirl said...

Glad you are feeling better - maybe you need to show me some of those exercises. I "promise" not to bring a video camera.

NV said...

When the mother was going through physical therapy, she said PT stood for pain and torture! Glad you're done and doing better.

sewwhat? said...

I agree about the pain and torture thing! So true! I sent an accusatory comment to the other therapist yesterday, saying "That girl made me do it!" She said, "My ears are burning, someone is talking about me!" Yes, I was!