I'm sure it depends upon the therapist you see there, but overall I'm pretty unhappy. Long story short, I need one treatment plan...not one from my doctor and one from my physical therapist.
When talking to my doctor, he explained to me that the first priority was getting both knees lined up properly (I'm being vague for privacy reasons). Secondary issues were tightness in calves and leg. Based on testing and images certain issues with the knee were ruled out - let's call it "knee issue #B". The script was to work on both legs for the doctor diagnosed issue.
On initial visit the lead (it seems they have a hierarchy there) the physical therapist doing my intake (PT#1) told me that I definitely had knee issue #B - no question about it and against the doctor's diagnosis. Honestly, I don't know if anyone looked at the doctor's script which has two diagnosis on it...neither of which are issue #B. While I respect their opinion and I'm sure 90% of what they see there is probably that issue based on symptoms...it's not that. My doctor determined through testing and images it's not that. I even discussed what the doctor told me with PT#1, yet PT#1 refused; to work on both legs or to supply therapy as prescribed for that first visit. PT#1 said "we will work on the other leg later in the treatment". Hmm. OK.
The next visit, I had a different therapist, PT#2. First thing he said to me was "PT#1 told me you have knee issue #B". Ugh - my heart sank. It seemed to me during our few visits together that PT#2 seemed to be trying to make both PT#1 and the client (me) happy. Again, I'm not sure if PT#2 actually saw the script from the doctor. I did make some progress with PT#2...but still no exercises for the issue described by the doctor. I wonder if I'd be further along if I had been given the treatment the doctor recommended.
I had a check-up visit with my doctor and told my doctor what PT#1 said about my knee having issue #B. My doctor did a very thorough recheck and images and *again* determined the issue is not knee is not issue #B.
As luck would have it I was given an appointment with PT#1 after this follow up visit. I told PT#1 about the visit and recheck and that the issue is not #B. PT#1 was a bit snarky about what I said and asked detailed questions on how he determined this diagnosis. I repeated "through additional testing and images" (that's all PT#1 needs to know). I'm thinking now we are on the same page. How wrong I was...
My next appointment was with PT#1 again. During this visit I was asking basically "hey - what do these exercises do? How are they achieving the relief for the doctor's diagnosis? Are we going to work on these previously not worked on areas?".
PT#1 then talked to me like I was child and this is the way things are going to be: I was told that the main priority was the PT#1's diagnosis (which now changed from issue #B to something else), that's what we are going to work on, because if I don't then I'll never recover from it, and you'll always have issues, and do I understand that I'm being told. I felt like I was getting a scare tactic - again.
I cancelled the rest of my appointments and scheduled somewhere else.
My physical therapist is not my doctor...my doctor is my doctor. That's something PT#1 doesn't seem to understand. Additionally, I'm not even sure if I can be treated for something other than what is prescribed on the doctor's script (I just don't know the details of that). We all need to be on the same plan working together and we all need to have input into the plan...but there can only be one plan. There's nothing wrong with giving someone something to think about like saying "hey, usually when we see this it's knee issue #B maybe your doctor should recheck that", but to diagnose someone and basically communicate that their doctor is wrong (and yes...doctors get stuff wrong all the time, I'm not saying they don't) and to disregard the treatment plan all together...that's a problem.
Note: My doctor did not recommend this facility. I chose it because it was very close to my house and a friend had been referred there. I went because of my friend's recommendation and location. read more