More Physical Therapy Progress

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PT instructions for microdiscectomy/microdecompression recovery

My physical therapist Valerie said, “I see a lot of ab work in your future.” And she drew up a list of exercises. Doesn’t she have nice handwriting?

As I’ve worked these exercises, it’s been fascinating to see my strength come back faster than I could possibly train it. When I started the side-lying leg raises, I could only do five on the left side, with no weight. A month later I could do three sets of twenty with a three-pound weight.

There’s no way you can progress that quickly through training alone. Clearly the nerve has been healing. The left foot’s better too. While I haven’t tripped over it walking in ages, not that long ago I would still occasionally miss a step with it. That hasn’t happened in over a month.

A few weeks ago my physiatrist re-evaluated me and gave me excellent news. He said the strength in my left foot was now so close to the right that if he were seeing me for the first time, he’s not sure he would have even called it a neurological deficit. He says he won’t need to see me again for this injury.

Yesterday Valerie re-evaluated me as well. She rated both feet as having normal strength, 5/5. The left is a bit weaker and has less stamina, but with the way it’s been continuously improving, I feel optimistic about it improving more. The left hip is also weak relative to the right but within the normal range.

I’m looking forward to seeing Dr. C. next week and being cleared for full activity. I brought him a thank-you card at my six-week visit and he seemed touched. He deserved that and more for giving me a second chance at so many things.