[nrv-hams] Physical Therapy Visit on Monday for Carter Craigie

[Carter Craigie]

Hi All,

 

After my fall and consequent concussion on Saturday, March 9th, my
neurologist, Jill Cramer,  sent me to see a physical therapist (PT) in
Blacksburg; my appointment was this morning, Monday, March 18th. My
prescription was for a Eppley's maneuver, a treatment to reorder the
crystals in my head to line them up properly with my inner ear. Dr. Cramer
sent me because I was having dizzy spells after my hard head
knock/concussion on the garage concrete floor. This treatment, it was hoped,
would be a one-time event, and all would instantly be well.

 

Glenn, the PT, (nobody in this part of Virginia has a last name, only a
single name--and usually the first one) put me through an extensive battery
of tests, many more than the doctor had done originally, last Tuesday, in
her office. He found that, indeed, I had dizziness when trying to follow his
finger from right to left, and from down to up; but that when he asked me to
tuck in my chin, and to hold my shoulders back...there was NO dizziness!
Surprising. He then gave me tests which showed my balance was somewhat poor,
especially when standing on my left foot only--the same foot that had given
way when I was going up the garage steps just preceding my fall. He also
found I was at a slight risk of having a fall.

 

He then got me to lie on my back on the examination table, but my ribs on my
right side were still giving me a lot of pain from the fall. (Most of my
aches have gone away, but this pain is persisting.) I don't know if I had
pulled a muscle or some cartilage or whether I had cracked a rib. He waited
until I allowed the pain to diminish, and then started the Eppley's
maneuver. But he did not see the telltale signs he would have expected with
such a maneuver.

 

He got me to sit up and to do the tucked-in chin and shoulders back "trick"
again, and I experienced NO dizziness! He then told me he thinks I may have
injured my cervical (neck) area when I fell, and that the dizziness was
coming from that trauma. He gave me 5 sets of exercises to do twice a day,
all dealing with bending my head over and back, side to side, and so forth.
I have already done my first of two sets today--with no ill effects. He also
wants me not to lie on my left side when in bed, and to focus on some object
when I am getting up or down in bed. He wants me to look all around while
Kay is driving, focusing on particular objects as I do, all for good
exercise. (Notice that I never said anything about Kay's driving!)

 

I am to see him again on Wednesday, and my good friend Pete Burkey W3WEQ
will drive me, since Kay has to go out of town. Glenn will re-evaluate me,
and we'll take it from there. I am expecting a series of visits to see the
PT, but am expecting to see improvement. I will see if he can also do
something about my continuing weakness (and pain) in my knees.

 

So that is my update for today.

 

Best wishes,

Carter