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Should I use private physio at same time as health service one?

Posted , 8 users are following.

Nextoneplease
Nextoneplease

Hi everyone

There is a lot of discussion on here about physio and at 3 weeks post op, I'm desperate for physio support. I'm in the UK and will get one physio home visit next week, followed up by a few rehab assistant visits to monitor the situation.

This doesn't seem like enough to me. I do know a good private physio (expensive, but good) and last night in the middle of the night - unable to sleep - I made an appointment online for next week. 

My query is, have people worked with two physio sand two plans? Will one contradict the other and which should I give priority to? Any suggestions very welcome.

Good luck everyone smile

0 likes, 19 replies

19 Replies

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  • lynn33221
    lynn33221 Nextoneplease

    Posted

    Morning - I look forward to the responses to your question and I am sorry that I cannot reply with any experience on this.

    I am interested as it is something that I will be raising at my 6 week check this Friday.

    I am  5 weeks post op and only received PT support for 2 days immediately after coming home - after reading the posts on here this is not enough!  

    Good luck to you as wellconfused

    • Nextoneplease
      Nextoneplease lynn33221

      Posted

      Good morning Lynn and thanks for replying. 

      I feel a bit abandoned, especially, as you say, when so many people on here seem to be getting physio several times a week. I can't really afford a private physio but then, I can't really afford for this op not to work just because of lack of support, either!

      i saw your thread this morning and boy do I sympathise with you!

      By the way, I have a static bike from when I broke my shoulder a few years ago. There's no way I can use it at present .....my leg is way too swollen....but I've found it excellent in the past.

      All the best smile

    • lynn33221
      lynn33221 Nextoneplease

      Posted

      I do understand your feelings of abandonement - and I would add feeling somewhat confused too!

      I will let you know how I get on Friday and my campaign for some physio support and what I should be doing.

      Goodluck

    • Nextoneplease
      Nextoneplease lynn33221

      Posted

      Thank you Lynn smile

      To the confusion, I would add feeling totally lacking in confidence. The physio checked I could walk with crutches, transfer and do three stairs....once I could do those, I like many others, was discharged with nothing more than an A4 sheet of exercises. It may well be that they are enough, but it requires a lot of personal resilience to believe it, and to keep doing them! 

      Good luck on Friday. I look forward to hearing how you get on. Have got everything except my legs crossed for you! : D

  • sue37592
    sue37592 Nextoneplease

    Posted

    Hi, I'm in UK too. I had physio in hospital, then at went back to hospital for 6 sessions once a week. When I was 3 weeks post op she git me to use the static bike, you can't do a full turn at first took me approx 3-4mins. You go forward and back as far as you can go and you actually will go backwards full revolution for a few spins before going forward. She got me to do 10 mins each time. I now do 20-25 at home everyday. Ask the ot when theycome out can you go on bike.

    As for doubling up physio, I only went once a week and continued with all she told me to do at home, bike and walking. Now (8weeks postop) I just do what she told me. You can google post op knee exercises or watch them on you tube. I would wait till ot visits overbefore going someone else and concentrate on what they give you to do. Just remember to take your pain reluef 20 mins or so before she starts, keep drinking plenty of water and ice and elevate afterwards. Keep us updated x

    • Nextoneplease
      Nextoneplease sue37592

      Posted

      Thanks Sue smile 

      If I remember correctly, I listed using the static bike as one of my goals, pre-op (for fitness as well as knee rehab). So I look forward to next week to find out whether they recommend it. It'll be just over 4 weeks post-op by then....it just seems such a long time to wait to see anyone sad

      However, once they give me a plan, I'm usually pretty good at sticking to it, so here's hoping.....

      Thanks again and all the best 

  • saljy
    saljy Nextoneplease

    Posted

    Hi, before my last op, I was having hydrotherapy, NHS physio and private physio every week, the private physio was excellent, she listened to me, and seemed to know my knee better than the NHS physio whom I had seen for months. I am starting private physio today as I am 16 days post op ( I've been doing my exercises each day since leaving hospital for a acl removal and meniscus tear). Give it ago, the first appointment will be mainly a consultation, you will get an idea from that to how good they are and how they work.

    Kind regards

    Sally

    • Nextoneplease
      Nextoneplease saljy

      Posted

      Thank you Sally smile

      I know the private physio is good, it was actually him who gave me the tools to get my op, this time last year. The GP really wasn't interested, so I went to the physio, and he wrote a report saying that surgery was in his opinion my only option....my knee even then was too bad for any kind of physio, except good old thigh tightening and straight leg raises, which he taught me and which I did for nearly a year pre-op. 

      And by the way, once I saw a surgeon, he was in full agreement with the physio, rather than my GP! 

      Having had this standard of care privately, I am even more frustrated by the snail's pace NHS system. However, I think I'll see the NHS physio next week, and consult the private one the following week if needed. Then weigh up my options.....Will certainly keep you posted!

      Many thanks and good luck smile

    • saljy
      saljy Nextoneplease

      Posted

      Hi ya, Just back from private physio, which was amazing, they got me on the bike with 1/2-3/4 rotation, the CPM machine, with 122 degree of bend, then on this pilate machine. Two half hour sessions booked for next week. The physio was brilliant!! Now resting with an ice pack on my knee. One happy lady!!! :-D
    • Nextoneplease
      Nextoneplease saljy

      Posted

      Oh, that's great to hear, Saljy smile

      I'm so glad it was such a positive experience. 

      Enjoy your rest, you've earned it smile

  • lighterson
    lighterson Nextoneplease

    Posted

    I am in UK and had private physio twice a week from 4 weeks till 6 weeks then one a week till 16 weeks, all good now, can now do everything and ust a tiny amount of swelling just above the knee. Howeversuggest you find a physio who has good experience with people who have had a knee replacement. Good luck
    • Nextoneplease
      Nextoneplease lighterson

      Posted

      Thank you lighters on for sharing this experience. I'll give the NHS a try next week, and then if not happy, I'll do something similar to what you did. Expensive, but this is too important to sacrifice on the altar either of finance or of political correctness.....IMO, anyway!

      thanks and good luck

  • federico08565
    federico08565 Nextoneplease

    Posted

    Hi go it alone like I did, do whatever you can to keep the joint moving, it better cheaper and you can stop when your hurting.

    It's seven weeks since mine and I am there,just a gap of 2 fingers under my knee, pain hardly any and now sleeping in the bed.

    Was sleeping on the floor which helped imensly , no pain.

    Good Luck.

    • Nextoneplease
      Nextoneplease federico08565

      Posted

      Federico, I am full of admiration for you, and very pleased everything is working out well smile Hardly to have pain at 7 weeks is fantastic smile

      Not sure I have your stoicism, but many thanks for sharing your experience. And it's certainly a good point that by going it alone, you can stop when it hurts.....surely physios should do that too....however, I know they don't all !!

      Many thanks and good luck smile

  • John5006
    John5006 Nextoneplease

    Posted

    Hi there,

    I had a partial knee replacement on 6 Nov 2015, home on 9 Nov, my dressing removed on 19 Nov and a Physio review at hospital on 24 Nov. I saw the surgeon on 29 Dec. I had physio during the three days I was in hospital. Then nothing thereafter, except the review. I was given an NHS booklet with my exercises in and instructions on what to do. This booklet was totally inadequate and not fit for purpose. Just like the PT treatment I had - NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE.

    I got more value from Youtube by looking for exercises that I had to do and follow. 

    For 8 weeks before surgery I went to my Sports Injury Therapist for work done to strengthen my knee. Best thing I ever did.

    Then during the rehab from 9 Nov to 29 Dec I went back to my Sports Injury Therapist for ongoing massage/manipulation of the knee joint and surrounding muscles. As you say, expensive and good !

    For me my surgeon, medical staff and nursing staff at hospital were great. The Physio side of things was total crap! 

    I would at all times go to a private physio in preference to a NHS one. I am constantly amazed by such diverse treatment re Physio throughout the NHS in UK. (I'm in Cornwall). As far as I am concerned the NHS is  only National by way of its title - it is certainly not National in terms of its daily application - and as for a service - forget it - I say this not just from a point of view of knee surgery but I have a heart arrythmia too and the treatment for that is so diverse around the country its hard to believe we are all in the same country.

    Its all about money and it is very much a postcode lottery. Compare treatment in Fulham, London to Helston in Cornwall or Truro and the Fulham patients will be significantly advantaged.

    Good luck, stay with your private physio is my advice everytime.

    John

    • Nextoneplease
      Nextoneplease John5006

      Posted

      Hi John

      Many thanks for this detailed response. Reading your post, I began to feel we must live in the same health area / postcode.....but we don't, I'm in the Midlands wink You describe the system around here to a 'T', and as you say, I find it totally inadequate. Unless the NHS comes up with something much better next week, I'll be taking your advice and going private. Sad, but they don't really leave us with much option, do they? sad

      Many thanks and all the best smile

    • lynn33221
      lynn33221 Nextoneplease

      Posted

      Hi again - I have read John's comments here and on other posts.   Disgusting why spent 12,000 per op if the effects are negated by no relevant suppport?

      Any way - read John's exercises think they are in my post about achieving the bend - the oven tray one is brilliant!

      regards

      Lynn

    • sue37592
      sue37592 lynn33221

      Posted

      Yes it is the similar to one I did but used a smll skateboard to get further and further back. it does really help.

      I agree with support from medical people, I too have spent a lot of money ( my 50th birthday present to myself which I will be paying for until I am 60) but I had to do it as the NHS waiting list I would not have had operation until next Feb 17, I mentally could not have waited till then, but gp just keep taking the painkillers. My life was horrible, could not do anything, but I am a totally different person just to get leg strengthened and sto swelling. I only got the 6 sessions of physio as i went private, if I had it done on the nhs i would have got physio in hospital the 3-4 days I was there and nothing once home.

      I have copied the exercises as I love the stretch ones you can really feel them work better with the resistance, My physio did one like that with weights to strenghten my quads, boy it hurt but helped.

      Sue

       

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