Physiotherapy ~VS.~ $$$

[LuckyDuck]

Hi all,

I've recently started training in Parkour (plenty about it on YouTube :)), and yesterday I attempted a minor jump I've done about a dozen times already, in which I approach a wall to my right at a gentle run, plant my right foot on the wall, and push up and out.

Normally what happens is that I land on my left foot and keep running, or if I'm high up I roll and keep running.

Unfortunately, there was gravel on the bottom of my shoes that I hadn't noticed. My right foot slipped, snapping down and spraining my right knee. I tried to correct for the landing with my left foot and slipped again, rolling it under myself and fracturing/spraining it at the same time. I have to tell you, I've screamed like that twice before in my entire life. The first time I broke my tibula, and the second time I fractured my ulna and sprained my ankle. This was pain so intense I couldn't think at all, I just screamed for almost a full minute.

Strangely, though, after that the pain lessened considerably (probably nature's painkillers kicking in at last). My boyfriend helped me to the drug store for tenser bandages and a cane, and then we went home and straight to bed.

Lo and behold, however, by morning my ankle had disappeared in all the swelling. It was like a fat suit. I hardly ever bruise visibly, but it was dark pink. Dark pink on me is like deep, pulpy purple on anyone else. Naturally, I went to the hospital (where I waited for 11.5 hours... bloody Quebec healthcare... :mad:) and the doc sent me for X-rays, and informed me that while my knee would heal if I kept off it, as well as the ankle sprain. I would, however, need physiotherapy for the foot fracture.

I'm not made of money. Due to an astoundingly stupid legal loophole, this born-and-raised Canadian is not covered under ANY health insurance whatsoever. I couldn't even really afford that hospital visit, and I'm seriously questioning how much I need this physio. On the one hand, I've fractured my ankle before (same place) and I never got physio for that. But on the other hand, I fractured it before and it wound up breaking in the same place, which tells me it's now a weak spot...

My question:
What do you think, O wise and athletic VBers?! :help:

___

PS: Sorry for the monster post........ :-/ I'm a creature of details! Kudos to you if you read it all! :pibo:

[morelia]

I find physio exceptionally helpful, well once I found a good one who would actually listen to me and not assume I am over reacting.... I had 17 fractures, torn tendons and ligaments as well as another 4 secondary stress fractures due to trying to do too much too early :( So perhaps mine was a little bit more dramatic but still... I would not be able to walk properly without physio....

I would assume due to the nature of the injury from only my experience probably once every 2 weeks for 6-8wks....

The problem with foot injuries is that you can sometimes forget how to train your muscles to walk properly after an injury....

However due to your other injuries as well I would have thought the doctor may have suggested taking a bit of time off before entertaining physio.

[bronzebed]

i've broken quite a few bones and have arthritis in my knees. i will say that for the most part physio was pointless with the exception of the arthritis. it really helped for that. the first few times i broke a bone i went to the physio and followed all directions exactly. it felt like a waste of money. after those experiences, i just googled the recommended exercises and kept with them. i'm not sure what part of your foot you fractured but i fractured my 5th and opted not to go to physio and it was fine. if you decide not to go, make sure you follow all instructions you find on the net exactly and if anything feels wrong, see a doctor and take the time off you need to heal before getting back to training.

[IamJen]

How are you ineligible for healthcare?

[LuckyDuck]

How are you ineligible for healthcare?

It was a stupid loophole... you need proof of address and I had no valid lease. :-/

[LuckyDuck]

Ok, so in the end I did opt for physio, and cut something else out. Namely, rent. That's right, for the summer my boyfriend and I are moving back to Ontario to live with his family.

We had a lot of time to discuss it and decided that I need to go to physio if I want to keep training. If I've got any weaknesses, I can't pass up an opportunity to find them and fix them.

And I'm glad I went! I've been twice, once to sign up and fill out forms and have a chat, and the second time to actually get some work done. Turns out I didn't just sprain my knee, I tore a ligament, maybe 2 (I'll find out Monday). They did this awesome electrode therapy... wow, it was SO COOL. They strapped electrodes to my ankle and knee for 15 minutes, and when they took them off ALL the swelling was gone. And I mean ALL OF IT.

I'm quite vain about my ankles (lol). I know they're very shapely, and strangely I think they're one of my best physical features. Having one of them all sausage-y was like having your face swell beyond recognition. It made me sad just to see it.

Not to mention, before the visit my entire bottom half was just a world of hurt. After the visit, the only things that hurt were the injured parts: namely my left ankle and the middle and outside of my right knee. Everything else was just like before. It was like magic!!! :lol:

Seriously, I'd recommend it. And it wound up costing less than I'd thought! :) Still too much, but not as much as I thought it would, so... yeah.