Milly Goes to Physical Therapy - A True Story
Learn more techniques in Manage Your Workers Compensation Program: Reduce Your Costs 20-50%, for a variety of tried and true cost savings for employers. The tool kit contains the tools.
An MRI diagnosed Milly with: swelling & pain; osteo-arthritis of the patella; a Baker's cyst; and a torn meniscus. The treating physician ordered eight sessions (2 x 4 wks) of physical therapy and a rolling walker to aid mobility. Surgery was to be the final option if improvement failed.
At the first session the therapist: measured and recorded Milly's current functional ability; determined level of swelling and pain; determined expected physical ability/maximum movement desired at the end therapy; designed a treatment plan to move Milly toward recovery. And finally - discussed Milly's on-going concerns including overall joint problems and inability to function due to her osteo-arthritis. The therapist reinforced the diagnosis that the meniscus tear was not going to heal, but the goal was to strengthen the knee to greater use, improvement, and comfort.
The treatment plan was: (1) heat to relieve pain & relax the joint; (2) ultra-sound with a corticoid gel to promote healing; (3) gentle to moderate exercises to strengthen the knee muscles; (4) ice to reduce pain & swelling; (5) "take home" exercises.
At the last session functional ability was re-measured and Milly is mostly pain free; swelling is gone; the knee joint is flexible; mobility very much improved. A recommendation was made for water therapy to continue improvement. Milly is to continue using her walker even at work.
Milly lost very little time from work once therapy started. For now she avoids surgery which would mean time away from the job. Her doctor is treating for her osteo-arthritis as a separate issue. It was a huge savings for the employer.
Chapter 11, Manage Your Workers Compensation Program contains more information about using PT in your cost containment program. Your broker may have copies of the book for you.
