Donna

How long did you wait before deciding on physical therapy and what was the obstacle?

I went to the doctor right away and told her I have to have help with this. She sent me to physical therapy immediately.

What was it and how bad was your problem prior to receiving physical therapy?

When I would wake up in the morning and get out of bed, I felt like I was on a ship, rocking over huge waves. I walked into the wall that holds my shoe rack and tore two gashes in my arm. I thought it was just a one-time thing but when it happened again I thought “I have to have some help with this!”. I can’t keep walking into walls. To wake up and not be able to walk straight is really scary.

What was your pain preventing you from doing?

I couldn’t walk my dogs, I couldn’t put up my Christmas tree, I couldn’t climb a ladder, I couldn’t reach the dishes on the second shelf, I couldn’t step up on a step ladder, I couldn’t even get in the car and drive anywhere because when I looked to the right or left I lost my balance. So it was really terrible.

What would you say to someone who was experiencing pain but skeptical about physical therapy?

I would tell them “get yourself down here and get treated! Do it! Don’t waste a minute. You don’t want to live with that, it’s just debilitating. Don’t put yourself through that.”

What were you wanting to achieve?

I wanted to be able to wake up in the morning and know that I could walk without walking into walls or to get into my car and go somewhere when I needed to. The freedom to just know that I had balance. I have achieved that.