I am very much being treated like an insolent child at this point. Apparently, doing 1/2 the exercises per set but doing them 2x/day equates to not doing any of it. The PT went and "tattled" to the MD. I get updating them, this was tattling as MD thinks maybe this program isn't the right fit. Well...when your PT wants to push me to a 10 and if I don't, I'm non-compliant, then no, it isn't the right fit.

I tried today. I tried pacing. Only doing a few at a time. I'm really struggling with it as I went from a comfortable 6 when I woke to tears and a fiery 9 at present and still didn't get all the exercises in. PT wants me to walk 5 min every hour; OT wants me to weight shift 1 min every hour but not at the same time as my 5 min walk. I am not getting enough down time that way, clearly. Tomorrow I will try again with different pacing. If it isn't good enough, then so be it.

I really hate how this physical therapist is treating you. I guess I get that the program is "the program" but there has got to be some room for adjustment to the individual. I mean...if 5 mins every hour is too much with everything else you are expected to do then why wouldn't the correct response be, "okay...how about 5 mins every other hour?" You know...work your way up?

I still remember when I did outpatient PT in the beginning they had me doing leg presses and it was a bad day and while doing them I started to get tears in the corners of my eyes but was pushing through it. The assistant working with me had me stop and called the physical therapist over who lectured me on how if I couldn't do the exercises then she couldn't continue to treat me. Seriously...this one time about 5 weeks in and it wasn't even me who stopped but the assistant who could clearly see I was in a lot of pain. That made me so angry...and crappy at the same time. Ugh! It sounds like your physical therapist is even worse.

Now...the at home therapist was very clear with me that we were working on a progression. Started with seated, non weight bearing exercises and worked up to standing at the counter, then walking along the counter, then standing without holding on, etc. BUT...when I had a bad day I wasn't supposed to do the walking exercises but revert to the seated non weight bearing exercises until the flare up passed. I still do that to this day on bad days to keep moving but not push too hard.

I know everyone has different things that work for them. The push push push method may work very well and successfully for some people...but definitely not for me (and I push myself pretty hard generally but this sort of therapy is different). Ugh...I give you lots of credit for sticking with this and still trying to make it work. All you can do each and every day is your best and that just has to be good enough. If it isn't...then this program just isn't right for you...but I still keep hoping it WILL help.

That is a great reply Catra. I agree with the assessment of how this PT is treating you. How is that supposed to help? I would be so upset dealing with that I think the stress would eradicate most of the gains. Push, push, push didn't work for me either. It was my fastest ticket to backtracking.

It sounds like it's time to re-evaluate with the lovely treatment team. I'm sorry this has been so hard on you. I know you waited such a long time to get in and had such high hopes for this program. Catra has great suggestions on the Home Health PT. Maybe that would be better for you...

Sending hugs and thoughts of comfort. I hope you have a better week coming up,

It is definitely counter-productive thus far.

Perhaps viewed as an inability to accept my CRPS diagnosis but my knee pain is distinctly different from my leg/foot pain. It feels more orthopedic in nature (grinding, splitting, internal, aching, twisting, shattering, etc.) than does my lower leg/foot (freezing, burning, shredding, stinging, tingling, stabbing, etc). I have little to no meniscus left and a mild-mod osteoarthritis in that knee. In addition, the musculature/ligaments surrounding my knee are very week. I have a HUGE knot in the muscle right above my knee. My knee pain limits my mobility far more than does my lower leg/foot. But apparently all of the health care providers I have seen thus far group my knee with my leg/foot and refuse to treat the entire process with anything more than tricyclics and mind games.

Is it any wonder that I have had 3 failed attempts with physical therapy? Why does everyone insist on repeating the same failed ideas? Wasn't it Albert Einstein who said "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results" ???

I wear the the socks that pull moisture away, and keep feet warm. One brand is under armour sold at Olympia sports, I struggle to put them and most times need help as they are longer and tight and my hands don't work well, but they keep me warm. Wig wam sells some too that are heavier and llbean.