1. < Bones, Joints & Muscles

Physiotherapy?

Posted by dougs72 @dougs72, Jun 20 8:53am

When googling for a physiotherapist, it always goes to physical therapy. Is this because PT places also offer physiotherapy or is it that all physical therapists are also trained in physiotherapy? Perhaps someone can explain the true differences to me (outside of what I already googled) so I can determine what is best for me, because without a definite diagnosis for my back and sciatic pain, physical therapists struggle with specific things to have me do.

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heyjoe415 | @heyjoe415 | Jun 23 6:26am
In reply to @emo "I agree. I’m a patient at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, which is a research rehabilitation hospital,..." + (show)
@emo

I agree. I’m a patient at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab, which is a research rehabilitation hospital, so I was lucky to be referred to someone fairly quickly. I always struggle to summarize exactly what sets a physiatrist/Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation doctor apart. Where I live they go by “PMR” as their speciality. But that tends to confuse me because my dad has a chronic condition with the same acronym.

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It's too bad it's so confusing emo. These MDs perform an incredibly valuable service, but most people don't know they exist - or what to call them. And it's even more confusing because these Drs are not PCPs, but do so much of the same work, just more specialized. But specialized in what? The Dr. I saw was part of the orthopedic team but was classified as a PMR Dr.

I guess the message for people with something wrong is to be persistent and look around to find someone.

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dougs72 | @dougs72 | Jun 23 6:57am
In reply to @heyjoe415 "Got it Doug, thanks. Yeah my lumbar spine is an utter disaster area, but I work..." + (show)
@heyjoe415

Got it Doug, thanks. Yeah my lumbar spine is an utter disaster area, but I work out every day with focus on maintaining a strong core. According to my surgeon, that's all that is standing between me and fusion surgery.

And it's interesting that you think the hamstring pull, spasm pain is being caused by the piriformis muscle and or hip/gluteus/sacrum. And if you're getting no relief after the epidurals, then yeah, it's likely not the lumbar spine or typical sciatica.

I've got a similar problem. While not chronic, I get what feels like hamstring cramps depending on how Im sitting, how my legs are positioned, or if I'm lying flat on my back and doing certain exercises. My Dr. thinks it may be due to stenosis, or another one of my lumbar problems. To that end, I had an MRI done four days ago and hopefully will know more soon.

Ha your Dr suggested an MRI? That would be very helpful if it is indeed a soft tissue issue in your sacrum or gluteus. An MRI could resolve this. Just a thought. All the best! Joe

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Yeah I've had numerous MRIs which is part of the non diagnosis issue. I would pay my life savings for a specific diagnosis with a specific plan of treatment.

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