Physical Therapy

There are two words that I hate to hear my doctor to utter - "physical therapy."  I also hate when my dentist utters the words "root canal" but if I were to chose which I'd rather have, I'd have to pick root canal.  It only takes two visits and you get great drugs.  Physical therapy is usually at least six weeks of torture.  Physical therapists have to have six years of college to be certified.  They know all your muscles and bones intimately.  This is so they can press way too hard in the exact spot that hurts the most.

Now it's no secret that I am not an exercise addict.  I actually avoid it like I'm in EA (Exercise Anonymous.)  Physical Therapy has one common component no matter what your ailment - exercise.  Ugh!   They force you to get in shape, or at least in shape enough to treat you.  But the good news is, when the therapy is over you can go back to your regular regimen.  I personally plan to go back to my EA meetings, religiously.

Then there are their tools of torture.  Well, actually this part isn't too bad because you usually just have to sit there while they attach electrical shock pads to you, or ultrasound waves through you, or hands-on massage.  The word "massage" is a ruse to get you to think this will feel good.  It doesn't.  This is where they dig in their palms, knuckles, fingers, elbows, whatever body part they can figure out to use that will hurt the most.

I'm going through physical therapy right now for Plantar Fasciitis.  In case you don't know what that is, it's inflammation in the tendon that runs along the bottom of your foot and connects to your heel bone.  The pain presents in your heel.  It basically feels like someone is driving a nail into your heel with a hammer.  Guess what the best cure for it is - physical therapy.  Four weeks into it and, I hate to say it, but it's actually helping.  Now, if only root canals could cure Plantar Fasciitis.  I'd be all set.