Why physio?

[Picklypickles]

I've been experiencing a lot of pain in my feet over the past year, the pain is in my toes and across the top of my feet and the sides of my ankles. I've seen my GP about this and have had bloods taken and x-rays done. I think the GP was thinking along the lines of arthritis or something like that.

Anyway, bloods all came back normal and so did the x-rays. So I asked what else it might be and where I go from here, all my GP said was that I should self-refer for an appointment with a physiotherapist, which I have done and am waiting for an appointment.

I don't understand why though? I don't know what is wrong with my feet, neither does anyone else. What will a physiotherapist be able to do? I have to admit I'm not very happy about having to go to see one, my dad's ex wife was a physiotherapist and was always talking about how physio's are all sadists who love to torture their patients.

I have a friend who is an NHS physio and she says she is fed up with patients who don't do the exercises she gives them, and are then cross with her because their problems haven't gone away and expect to get some drugs or an operation to fix things.
You can't help some people.

I've seen physios with various issues over the years, and it's almost always been helpful. On the one occasion that it wasn't, the physio realised that there must be a deeper problem that hadn't been diagnosed, and he referred me back to the hospital, where a scan did find the issue - so even then, he was a key part of getting the diagnosis.

I even had one physio appointment by telephone, long before covid. I was a bit skeptical, but he asked me to do various things and describe which hurt, and was able to extract enough information and send me some exercise instructions in the post.

physio therapists are miracle workers ime

they can identify where the pain is coming from (muscles, joints, tendons) and give an exercise plan to help with this.

strong muscles mean less stress on bones and joins which can reduce pain.

What on earth are you talking about?! I haven't even had an appointment yet let alone been given any exercises so I don't know why you're chastising me for not doing them! I am most certainly NOT interested in getting any drugs, I don't get on well with most medications and I've already had enough surgery on my kidney to last me a fucking lifetime thanks so really not after an operation either. Please stop just making shit up that nobody has said.

I would be grateful you have been referred if I were you.
They can and do do a whole heap of good.

Where have I said I am ungrateful exactly? I wanted to know why the GP suggested physio, a question that others on this thread have been very helpful in answering for me.

I would agree with a podiatrist appointment- One with experience of biomechanics- They are the foot experts, will give advice like physio and advise on footwear & insoles- Be prepared to dump any high-heals.

This bit

I have to admit I'm not very happy about having to go to see one, my dad's ex wife was a physiotherapist and was always talking about how physio's are all sadists who love to torture their patients.

Op it sounds like you already have a gut feeling that it might not be a musculoskeletal problem but it's worth going with an open mind.

They will do a thorough assessment and are well trained at recognising issues which will not respond to physio but can refer you or advise you on the next step if that is the case.

All the best, I hope you get it sorted soon

Bullshit and downright insulting.

I saw a physio for a couple of sessions. She always came out the room to watch me walk in
Session 4 I walked in and she said "I'm not touching you until you have an MRI, something is really wrong"
She sent me for an MRI and they found a massive herniated disc in my back and I had emergency spinal surgery to prevent paralysis

Wouldn't see anyone else, she spotted what everyone else had missed and referred me for the MRI

Not being happy about something is NOT the same as refusing to do it, is it? Funnily enough I wasn't very happy about having a kidney removed, yet here I am with only one kidney left.

my dad's ex wife was a physiotherapist and was always talking about how physio's are all sadists who love to torture their patients

Oh, that's such bullshit. I've had physio many times in my life and this couldn't be less true. They want to help you - chances are they'll have a feel of your feet, ask you to stand and walk so they can see what's going on, ask you a few questions and then give you some foot stretching exercises to do.

If you have muscular/joint pain and there is no disease present, physio is the logical next step to try and correct the problem. Really not a big deal at all; you're worrying about nothing.

Popvans post is completely untrue - like many people I think physiotherapists are brilliant and genuine miracle workers.

However, that's not to say you don't occasionally come across the odd dudd. I've had one of these, as with any dudd professional you dump them and move on. I've seen several since for different issues and they've all been absolutely fantastic.

I hope @Popvan you have better luck next time you need physiotherapy.

Thank you very much, helpful to know that even if its not a musculoskeletal problem a physiotherapist might be able to help identify what it is, this is exactly what I wanted to know!

Agree - that doesn't reflect my experience with NHS physio at all. I had great treatment for three separate issues. I had a shoulder problem so bad that I could barely use my arm and couldn't put a jacket on without help, and physio was a game-changer.

You do, obviously, need to be diligent about actually doing the exercises they give you - a lot of people give up because they don't see immediate results, but it requires a lot of patience.

Such an incredibly rude and ignorant and possibly misogynist attitude. Physiotherapists are highly trained professionals and at this stage of your investigation the most likely health care professional who can help you.

DD was referred for NHS physio January 21 for bursitis in the hip - not heard from them!

Well I'm very thankful it wont be my dad's ex that I see, by the sounds of it she's a rarity!

The thing I'm worried about is actually getting to the bottom of why I've been having this pain and whether or not there is an underlying disease.

My mum has Parkinsons, scoliosis and anklyosing spondylitis and sometimes has to go to physio although it hasn't helped her much, but obviously her issues are far more serious than mine.

I just didn't understand why physio if I don't have a diagnosis or clue about what's up with my feet, but I'm reassured reading all the helpful replies that a physiotherapist might be better at finding out what's wrong than the GP.

I love that description.

What it's actually based upon is how they insist on telling you you need to do exercises that are uncomfortable at first - because it's what you have to do in order to regain range of movement, stability and strength.

I love it when I get to see a physioterrorist. Because they're literally there to help me get better.

OP, they could see muscle weaknesses, instability, posture issues affecting your biomechanics and help you address those.

Whose attitude? I don't know if you're talking about me here but I don't even have an appointment date yet so no idea if the physiotherapist will be male or female?!

How was I chastising you?

Plenty of people talking about their experiences of physios and I was just adding mine.
If someone (not necessarily you!!) is determined to find a disease or illness for their problems and expecting an intervention, rather than considering it could be a mechanical problem that needs some input from themselves, then a physio is not going to help them.

Your attitude could be unconsciously or consciously misogynist (most physiotherapists are female). I'm fed up with the continual lack of respect for trained professionals like physios, teachers, etc, traditionally female professions.
I hope you can approach your appointment with a positive attitude so you get the most out of it. No it's not going to hurt, but you might have to do the work. Hope you get your issue sorted.

With the comment about how you can't help some people!

I'm not determined to find a disease, far from it! I'm not a medical expert that's all, I've been having a problem for which I have sought advice from my GP, I have done what was asked of me in having bloods and x-rays taken and the results have been normal. I still don't know why I have so much pain and the only help my GP has given since was "go to physio" and not knowing much about physio other than what my dad's horrid ex has told me I was a little confused as to what a physiotherapist would be able to do!

I just want whatever this is that's wrong with me to be gone, it's having a huge impact on my day to day life. I've spent a lot of time in and out of hospital over the years and it hasn't always been plain sailing, I have at times been referred to the wrong departments or for procedures that I shouldn't have been, which I guess has contributed to my apprehension!

A good physio will heat treat the injury, put an electrolysis machine on the area (tiny electric shocks to loosen up scar tissue), microwave treatment that encourages blood flow, and manipulation that helps move scar tissue out of the area. they should also give you exercises to do that will strengthen the affected area as it recovers.

Obviously you might not need all of those treatments, but you're likely to need some of them. The manipulation hurts (usually), but some extra short term pain is better if it makes the long term pain go away.