Happy National Physical Therapy Month

My ankle injury journey-Part 1

I’ve had loose ankles since high school. My high school track coach made everyone run all 3 seasons, indoor, outdoor, and cross-country, no matter what your discipline was. As a sprinter, cross-country nearly killed me. I sprained my ankles BADLY in the woods at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx, running exhausted over rocks and gravel. That left a permanent weakness in my ankles that would literally alter the course of my life. Every year or two, I would sprain the same ankle. I would go to Physical Therapy (see there is a reason I’m telling this story) and they’d fix me up. Until….

The Tree that Grew in Brooklyn-and took me out

NOT THE EXACT SIDEWALK, BUT YOU GET THE PICTURE

Fast forward a few decades and about 30 sprains later, I was walking home one night from work in Brooklyn. Broken sidewalks, with tree roots gnarling through them, abound in this neighborhood. It was a dark wintry night, and I didn’t see a crooked edge in the sidewalk. I tripped and my poor ligaments finally gave out. I sprained my ankle so badly, I fell and literally couldn’t stand up. I literally saw stars from the intense pain as I limped back to my car.

Like any good doctor, I ignored it. For months.

Having suffered through 30 odd sprains, I did what I also do- iced it, wore my ankle supports, elevated it on pillows. After the pain didn’t subside after 2 months, I went to PT. The pain got better, but when the swelling didn’t improve after 6 months of exercises, taping, and treatment, my PT and I finally had to admit that maybe this time wasn’t the same.

We got an MRI. I had torn my ATF Ligament and created an osteochondral defect in my talus. (I had ripped the cartilage right off the bone in my foot, like that little cartilage cap you see on drumsticks). Super fun.

Time for surgery

PT wouldn’t be enough to fix these defects. I had to get it surgically corrected.

But I always think back that the only provider I sought out during that initial phase was my physical therapist. I trusted him to alleviate my pain, strengthen whatever was left in my ankle, and overall make me feel better. And he did. The care that he took, the attention he gave, was a salve that reduced the pain and got me functioning. To this day, I see my PT more than I see any other doctor.

While he couldn’t fix the torn ligaments and cartilage, physical therapy was going to be a major player in my life for the next few years. Part 2 of my PT journey, next week. In the meanwhile…..

Don’t be like me

All of this is to say, don’t put off your aches and pains. Don’t ignore the signs your body is sending you to take care of yourself.

I didn’t know this, but in researching for this newsletter, I learned that in all 50 states and DC, you do NOT need a prescription to see a PT!

So you have no excuse not to simply go and get whatever you need looked at, looked at. Physical therapists are so knowledgeable about kinesiology, anatomy, physics, pain medicine and more. They’ve always taught me new things and provided insights my medical knowledge just doesn’t include.

They’re awesome, so let them work their magic. Make an appointment today!

Thanks for reading and take good care of yourselves