First Visit to a Physiotherapist

I suppose that we may decide to go to see a physiotherapist for a number of reasons, the main ones being "it hurts" or "maybe it will get better more quickly with help" or " if I don’t do something about it soon I might regret it".

However, we may decide to delay going to see a physiotherapist for many more reasons, the more obvious being that "it’s probably going to hurt more if someone fiddles with it" or "I know how to deal with it because my friend has something similar and she copes with it" or "I’ve left it this long, I might as well leave it a bit longer".

Choosing a physiotherapist is not always easy. If you take a personal recommendation it may not be that helpful. For example, just because your friend’s physiotherapist is great for her stress incontinence, it may not mean that he/she can help with your neck pain. You may want to decide on the basis of male or female or whether or not he/she is affiliated with a local gym. Or it might just come down to deciding like me (bewildered by choice) with booking the one who had the most suitable time-slot that fitted in with my schedule.

Nagging little worries before an actual visit could be "what shall I wear?" and "how much clothing do I have to take off?". Let’s face it despite many of us protesting to the contrary, it is an issue (particularly for women, but maybe not exclusively) if our underwear does not match, looks like it’s falling apart or even looks too nice!

My first visit to the physiotherapist was pretty straightforward despite many of the above forebodings! First of all I gave a brief medical history and answered a number of questions about my lifestyle and what I hoped to achieve - perhaps more than I had expected; but I was told that it is important to treat medical issues holistically, and information that I might think irrelevant could prove instrumental in diagnosis and treatment.

I had been ‘warned’ beforehand that I would be handed a lovely pair of shorts to fit into (or not fit into as I suspected!) for being examined. Until you know what sort of treatment you need it’s best to be flexible about clothing, but it’s still a good idea to bring along something else to wear, as it does feel a bit constricting lying around in your day clothes. I took a simple pair of leggings and a t-shirt, and in my case these were an acceptable alternative; but the bottom line is that even shorts are better than those dreadful hospital gowns that always have significant ties missing!

The first treatment was a bit like going to the doctor - once you’re there it’s amazing how symptoms that have dogged you for days/years now seem to be difficult to describe. Keen to show how intelligent and motivated I was, I was determined not to appear as a victim somehow complicit in my own condition. But I was put at ease very quickly and encouraged all the time. It was good to be given some pamphlets to read which I could read at my leisure, and also in this case actually written by my physiotherapist! I was also given exercises, which despite my dire attempts at the most simple of sit-ups and leg stretches, I could feel confident were designed for me and my condition. It was important for me to learn that I could begin to manage the pain and not let it take control of my life.

A treatment plan was worked out which gave me an idea of what I should expect over the coming weeks. It became clear that as with any therapy, both conventional and complementary, my effort and commitment was a key ingredient in how I could best help myself. Basic understanding of keeping fit and active, standing and sitting properly, when to use pain-killers etc., as well as the physiotherapy itself, was vital to progress. With this knowledge I was able to approach each session without fear or worry.