HOLLYWOOD PHYSICAL THERAPY

Kiki M. _{on Yelp}

Aug 26th, 2009

Breaking your leg sucks.  Breaking your leg then having a 6" metal plate and seven pins inserted into your tibia to crank it back up into place to line up with your knee really, really sucks.  Having arthroscopic knee surgery a couple of months after that ordeal opens a whole vortex of suckage.Carolyn Alter, PT helped me get from a percocet-addled, two week post op basket case on crutches to the high heel wearing, ass-kicking goddess I am now.  Well, maybe not goddess but I'm on my way.  For six weeks after the first surgery I was on strict orders not to put any weight on my leg.  Not even a teeny, tiny bit.  I went to Carolyn three times a week and she slowly got me doing exercises to try and improve my muscle tone and flexibility.  It is frightening how quickly your muscles atrophy after surgery.  My left leg looked like the Incredible Hulk compared to the shrunken little twig on the right.After that six weeks of hell, I was sentenced to six MORE weeks on crutches but allowed to be 50% weight bearing.  We upped the types of exercise and soon I was seeing marked improvement.  As with all PT, you really have to stick to a plan, including doing exercises on your own.  Carolyn explained and demonstrated everything I needed to do at home.  Some days were full on hour+ workout, some days were massage and ultrasound treatments.  It really depended on how my leg decided how to behave that day.  That's Carolyn's true talent: sussing out what's going on with your body and encouraging you to listen to its cues.  Carolyn is part coach, part therapist, part personal trainer, part cheerleader, part older sister.   She knew when to push me and when to lay off.  She is just generally awesome.  Due to the second surgery, I ended up being in her care for eight months.  I don't miss being in pain, but I really do miss seeing her a couple of times a week.  Now where are my skis...