I just wanted to give an update on my first visit to Physiofit last week. I had my initial consultation which went very well. Catherine Norcia, a Registered Physiotherapist, Pelvic Floor & Vestibular Rehabilitation Specialist really helped to explain a lot of what is going on with my body. We talked for quite a while going through my medical history, as she wanted to get a full picture of what has been going on. Then she did a full internal assessment, as well as external, which included assessing how I walk.
I learned quite a few things, which will be helpful in my recovery, including that I have an anterior pelvic tilt and quite a bit of a hip sway when walking. I also have a very weak core and so that affects the spine, hips, pelvic region, etc... I knew that staying in bed for long periods of time because of pain would take a toll on my body. However, we can work on strengthening my core, which will help in all areas.
Another interesting discovery is that many people who have any kind of abdominal surgery can develop pelvic floor issues. This makes sense because this pain did correlate around the time when I had my gall bladder surgery. The muscles get weak and so if you're not aware of it, then those muscles become very inflexible and cause a lot of pain. For me, I had so much going on physically and emotionally that my body just felt on fire.
I was given a few specific exercises to do until the next time we meet, so I have been diligently following the routine daily.
The plan is to do weekly pelvic floor physiotherapy WITH regular physiotherapy to build/strengthen my core. If I was only to do pelvic floor, it wouldn't address the other issues. Ugh, my insurance is almost up for coverage, but I think this is definitely something that I need right now to get back on the path to recovery, and so once there is progress, I can spread out the visits more.
What do I like about Physiofit so far?
- Cleanliness. The environment is very clean. I know to a lot of people that's not really the first thing that they look for, but considering how intimate sessions are with the internal work being done, I really appreciate the extra time they take to make sure everything is clean and sanitized.
- Professionalism. The staff I have met so far are friendly and Catherine is so knowledgeable in her areas of study. I felt the assessment was extremely thorough compared to anything I have had prior with their bio-mechanical physiotherapy approach.
- Engaging Communication. Ever go to an appointment and feel like you're talking to the wall? It's the most frustrating experience ever. Having someone who is aware of your limitations is awesome, as well as showing genuine compassion. It's great to have detailed explanations with verbal speech, visuals and written information.
- Flexibility. Extremely accommodating with scheduling sessions!
- Accountability. Giving me "homework" to do at home. I love this idea because it makes me accountable for healing as well. If I don't do the work, I won't see the benefits.
- Collaboration. I signed a form giving permission for Catherine to retrieve any medical documents from my family doctor that will better help with my treatment and provide updates. I really like this idea so everyone is in the loop.
At the end of the session, I received a goodie bag! As you can see with the photo, I was given brochures of all different services, including some muscle gel and lotion.
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| All the services offered here |
So that's where things are at the moment. My next session is on Tuesday, so i'll update again soon!
If you have any specific questions, you can always leave a comment or just send me a note by e-mail or Facebook.
As always, thank you for all the support!
*Update 2019: Catherine moved back to Montreal, so she is no longer at Physiofit. However they hope to have another pf therapist in soon.
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