. . . to be completely mystified by what just happened?!

[RedPandaFluff]

Just had a physio appointment for a suspected sprained Achilles.

Expectation: I would go in, give a history, physio would examine me, move me around a bit, look at my posture/alignment etc., maybe an ultrasound of the area, given some exercises to do and told to come back in a week.

What actually happened:
Laid flat on my back, made to do knee raises and leg lifts while he tapped the soles of my feet, abruptly slapped my calf muscles, poked around my knee with a sharp wooden stick, told to touch the side of my neck with two fingers, and he even occasionally tapped me on the nose.

Yes. TAPPED ME ON THE NOSE.

I left, completely bewildered, with tape along my calf muscle.

I have no idea what just happened. I was so shocked that when he replied "functional neurology" to my question of "er . . . so, what was that?!" I just accepted it, said thank you, smiled and left.

AIBU to think that was an absolute waste of £50?!

Very strange
Can you not self refer to Nhs physio in your area?

I had Achilles tendinitis and didn’t get poked with a stick or tapped on the nose by the NHS physio.

Treatment was assessment of gait, exercises, anti inflammatory and ice x3 a day for 15 mins.
They eventually cleared it with uss therapy.

@PrawnOfCreation I think you've absolutely nailed it on the head.

I think I'm going to reply and ask for a non-weird physio appointment, and they better at least give me a discount.

I'm going to be so embarrassed if I see the previous guy there - I don't want to hurt his feelings . . .

(. . . because what if he casts a spell on me?!)

@ChestyNut I'm not sure about self-referral, although I thought about going to the doctor, but guessed it would take weeks for a referral so just sorting it myself was probably the better option. I can just about afford a couple of sessions privately.

Blimey that's a real non-answer answer isn't it? No explanation of methods at all, probably because they (nor can the 'physio') actually back them up.

If they'll give you a discount and an appointment with a sensible medical evidence based and trained physio I would go for another appointment. Instead of asking you to phone to speak to odd nose-tapper why don't they ask him to reply to your e-mail, in writing, himself?

If you do go back just make sure you disguise yourself and check for bats.

If he is using alternative therapy, then he should have discussed ths with you and sought your consent - you booked a physio treatment. I would be asking for another practitioner and I would not be expecting to pay for it.
Alternatively round here you can self refer for physio- but they send you excercises to try for 2 weeks before you book an appointment

zingally, I've never had Thai massage but that sounds quite feasible. As I understand it it DOES involve the therapist using their own bodyweight to manipulate you. I think it's sometimes called Thai yoga massage because it looks and feels like you're doing yoga. This kind of thing:

I quite fancy having it, tbh.

errr.... odd!

I once went to a physio appt, to discover that it was in fact a dormitory of about 12 beds, each with a patient lying/sitting or whatever. The "physio" was some old battle axe who just paraded around, and she had several minions (not physios) who basically just applied electrodes to everyone's bodies to the relevant part of the body that needed treatment. These then vibrated a bit, but no observation or assessment was made of what the electrodes were doing.

Absolutely no physical examination beyond initial basic mobility test, no manipulation or what one might deem "treatment".

I didn't go back.

I have alot of neurological assessments and they tap areas to check your reflexes are working, and that the correct area of the body reacts so tapping your nose you would usually blink or do something they recognise as the brain responding, tap your feet for a reflex etc .. are you sure you haven't booked the wrong thing as that does sound like he was carrying out an neurological assesment to me? X

Sounds like kinesiology, not physiotherapy.

I've got a shoulder injury that started last September. Paid to see a physio in November, but it wasn't getting any better so went to see GP in December. My first physio appointment is next week and my shoulder is now a constant pain. (One month wait from GP to hospital scan appointment, week wait to see GP about scan, then 5 weeks waiting for hospital to call and book physio appointment, with the earliest date available being 3-4 weeks later.) If you can afford it, keep paying for your own, but also worth getting things started with the NHS referral sooner rather than later!

Like that episode of friends when Ross pretends to be a massure.

BertieBotts

Actually I’ve seen EFT to be VERY effective. Especially where conventional treatment has failed.

Damsel

No Kinesiology I’ve ever had was deployed like this!

NellieDavey

That shoulder problem with no obvious cause, could be referred pain from liver or spleen. I’d check that out too!

This is what the Mayo clinic recommends:
www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/achilles-tendon-rupture/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353239

I saw a sports physio for my bad sprain, Ihave a weakened ankle because of an injury, she did test my reflexes, did some very gentle manipulation, recommended the usual RICE - rest, ice - I usually do it for 10 minutes just stick ice cubes in a freezer bag and secure with a compression bandage - and repeat three/four times a day - compression and elevation. She later did acupuncture, which really helped and in between I took painkillers. Then later when it was healing exercises to help with flexibility and strength in surrounding muscles. I found a private sports physio online who also did acupuncture, and checked her qualifications and the clinic she worked at.

Sports physios are trained to get people moving and healed, I've found chiropractors less than helpful.

She came out to my home for sessions, and it was pretty reasonably priced.

@ambereeree I'm reminded of friends when Ross pretends to be a masseuse and uses wooden spoons!

"He told me he LIKED that!" lol

There are so many charlatans out there.

A decade ago I visited a chiropractor on the recommendation of a friend. The first thing he did was to get me to sit on his hand and then ask me to spell 'cocksick" (I can't remember how it's actually spelt).

Total pervert!!

Tenpercent And you actually sat on his hand?!!! 😂

Your reply needs to be along the lines of...’Yes, please book me a replacement appointment for the actual treatment I booked and paid for.’

Do not pay again! It’s not what you booked.

I'm just picturing the OP being treated like a naughty puppy and I'm very amused.

He is definitely crackers. Did he have a cupboard in the room, big enough to hold the real physio? £50 is not bad, where does he live?

ps dobu have his number?

He will definitely give you a massage with wooden spoons next session:

My carer and my cat play,'boop on the snoop', basically my carer taps the cat's nose with a finger, then the cat puts her paw on his nose. I'm not sure the cat knows it is a game.

I think this physio was playing the same game with you OP

That sounds like kinesiology?

My DD has a condition called Functional Neurological Disorder. She has severe LD, so definitely isn’t making it up on purpose, but we’re told it’s a psychological response to PTSD. One of the symptoms is a dropped foot. Her other main symptom is seizures though, which can last for hours. She has had many tests... none of which involved tapping her on her nose, or poking her with a stick .