My healing journey continues after a physical therapy evaluation

I’ve had a busy couple of weeks, but I received some good news: After advocating for myself, I was approved to start physical therapy (PT) for my broken rib and sprained diaphragm!

Last week, I had an evaluation with the same physical therapist I’ve been seeing since I was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). She’s fantastic and understands that PT isn’t one-size-fits-all, especially for someone with EDS.

The evaluation was pretty straightforward. She examined my posture, range of motion, and pain responses in various places and during different motions. Some of it was humorous. When she asked me to do a certain range of motion with my damaged right arm and shoulder, I laughed and said, “You know I can’t do that, right?” She laughed right back.

Fortunately, there’s a lot my therapist can do to help me. The not-so-great part is that a lot of work needs to be done. My injured muscles appear to all be pulling on each other, making everything worse. I keep saying my left side feels like a brick, just one big block of tension, which makes it difficult to stretch or work on.

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After careful consideration, my therapist wants to try the Graston technique, in addition to traditional exercises. I’ve tried all sorts of things in PT and massage, but I wasn’t familiar with this method. It involves working various metal instruments along the skin to find and help break up muscle tension, scar tissue, and adhesions — all of which I have.

When I told my mom about the plan later that day, she was excited. She’d had the same technique done at PT for lower back pain, and she said it helped her a lot. It can cause some bruising, which isn’t ideal for someone with EDS, but I trust my team. They’ve worked with me on and off for well over a decade now, and they’re very familiar with EDS. Plus, I know that if something doesn’t work the way we hope it will (as sometimes happens with EDS), they’ll redirect and find a new path.

I don’t have my first Graston session for a few weeks, but I do have exercises to begin at home. I was hoping to get permission to return to some of my normal activities, such as horseback riding and more strenuous barn chores, but I was told no, not yet. I was disappointed, but I understand. My friends joke that I’m taking a master class in patience, and my goal is not to fail. They know patience, especially with physical issues, is not my strong suit.

But I’m getting closer, and thankfully, I at least have a plan in place now. With the holidays coming up, I’m hoping that the next month goes by quickly and I can get back to my “normal” in the new year!

Note: Ehlers-Danlos News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Ehlers-Danlos News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Ehlers-Danlos.