I have been in and out of physical therapy for about 11 years now. For the first five years, PT for me was limited to various joints after injury and was addressed from an purely reparative orthopedic perspective AKA they were only concerned with one joint at a time and repairing whatever injury I was currently recovering from. While this probably works for most people, with someone with a systemic musculoskeletal disorder, it wound up doing more harm than good. Because I was constantly pushing my joints without knowing it, occurring lots of damage and injuries and just overall having no idea what was going on. After dropping out my freshman year, I stumbled upon amazing PT #1. She was a rehab PT and helped answer the critical question of the time: "why, after years of PT, was I still getting worse?". It was one of the first times anyone had looked at all of me as a functioning system that needed to be connected. I worked intensely with her for almost two years before she went on maternity leave and her practice switched to out of network. It took me a couple months to find the practice I am at now and I am forever thankful for everyone there, especially Gavin, my PT.
Younger athlete me would laugh at the seemingly stagnant pace of progress that I operate in now. She would laugh at how simple the exercises were, how slow they must be done to protect from injury, and how many little things knock me out. When I look back to all the sports, climbs, hikes, and runs I did it is almost as if it is a different person. Now I get high fives for rolling over, standing up without falling or passing out, and walking without assistance. It is almost silly to compare but at the same time, I believe it is important to know where you came from. I am making progress. I am getting stronger. I am working hard. It just looks different now.
The importance of having a PT that supports you, listens to you, and believes in you CANNOT be understated. For EDSers especially, this isn't an area you should compromise in, trust me I have seen the damage it can do. Deconditioning, spasticity, injury, depression, general fuckitness. My PT and I have toughed it out through some major obstacles, setbacks, and flares. So heres to you, Sir Gavin the Brave for taking me on as a challenge and helping me learn to protect the function I have left and be patient with my body and mind. Seriously, I don't know what I would do without you.
Younger athlete me would laugh at the seemingly stagnant pace of progress that I operate in now. She would laugh at how simple the exercises were, how slow they must be done to protect from injury, and how many little things knock me out. When I look back to all the sports, climbs, hikes, and runs I did it is almost as if it is a different person. Now I get high fives for rolling over, standing up without falling or passing out, and walking without assistance. It is almost silly to compare but at the same time, I believe it is important to know where you came from. I am making progress. I am getting stronger. I am working hard. It just looks different now.
