Physio Therapy - Advice

[m4dh4tt3r]

Hi All,

2 weeks ago landed up in a crash and hurt my left leg pretty badly, Knee was swollen to about double the size and ankle was sore, couldn't walk for about a week and went for X-Rays and luckily it didn't show any breaks.

There is still quite a bit of fluid in my knee and it doesn't seem to be ligaments. The surgeon said I need to go for Physio Therapy now.

My question is what is the average cost for knee/leg physio per session? I have a hospital plan with discovery but it wont pay for any physio, actually it wouldn't even pay for the X-rays or the hospital visit after the crash or the surgeon.

Can anybody suggest a physio therapist in the bedforview/primrose/germiston/edenvale area that is sort of cheap(if cheap physio therapists exist)?

Thanks
Madh4tt3r

 

[I.am.Sam]

hi madhatter

normally physio sessions cost between 200-450

 

[RiaX]

if you want your knee to ever be the same ... go for the physio dont mise on the cost

 

[reactor_sa]

I was going twice weekly at one point. It was R550 per 45minute session. The first session is an hour (paperwork, which time they bill you for).
If you have water on the knee, the first stop should an orthopaedic surgeon specialising in knees. They will drain the fuild out the knee (**** its painful - needle the size of a straw), and if necessary refer you to, or advise you about, a physio.

 

[Nanfeishen]

To help reduce some of the swelling use an ice pack on the knee, and whenever possible keep the knee elevated (put a pillow inder the knee joint in bed etc)

 

[syntax]

I know people are going to tell me im wrong, but i usually go to a physio for an initial assessment.
I then google strengthening or rehab exercises for the condition. Do this myself for a time period, then go back for another assessment.

My experience with physio's is they tend to keep you coming back way more than needed, and for too frequent periods.

 

[Ms_S]

You can look for a clinic in your area, that has a physio. Physio's at public hospitals/clinics usually have their own filing system, and work with appointments, so there will be no need to stand in long queues.

 

[RiaX]

I know people are going to tell me im wrong, but i usually go to a physio for an initial assessment.
I then google strengthening or rehab exercises for the condition. Do this myself for a time period, then go back for another assessment.

My experience with physio's is they tend to keep you coming back way more than needed, and for too frequent periods.

Hmmm this is a difficult one. I would say its good advice and bad advice.

Good advice if money is tight at home and your medical aid doesn't cover physio. Also very realistic advice because at the end of the day physio is a business.

Bad advice if the injury is severe, then you have to take your tieme and go slowly and have long sessions for extended period of time. Can leave your joint damaged permanently if you decided to exercise on your own, even with the right exercises. If you aren't qualified then how can you make on the fly adjustments to the rehabilitation of the joint.

 

[syntax]

Hmmm this is a difficult one. I would say its good advice and bad advice.

Good advice if money is tight at home and your medical aid doesn't cover physio. Also very realistic advice because at the end of the day physio is a business.

Bad advice if the injury is severe, then you have to take your tieme and go slowly and have long sessions for extended period of time. Can leave your joint damaged permanently if you decided to exercise on your own, even with the right exercises. If you aren't qualified then how can you make on the fly adjustments to the rehabilitation of the joint.

I get what you are saying, but anytime i have been to a physio and it has been properly serious, i end up being referred to a surgeon and then back to physio for rehab afterwards.

I usually do a follow up every two weeks. So i will do an initial session, if its not very serious, i get a diagnosis and do as above in my previous post. Then go back in two weeks or so and get another followup. I find that most of the time, after two weeks i am usually recovering anyways.

 

[RiaX]

reasonable.