To Walk the Walk...

My physical therapy/ personal training session was simply- amazing. It has been a year (or multiple years rather) since I've been able to leave a work out walking tall. Normally I have a limp because my left hip is throbbing and burning in all the wrong ways. Monday was a completely different story!

I'm so excited to have finally found someone that actually took the time to "listen" to my words and understand my language. When I went to the GroupHealth clinic two weeks ago the physical therapist raised her voice to me and refused to understand what I was explaining. She took our short hour and chastised me for not taking care of this sooner instead of trying to find out WHY I refused to come in. And when she did examine my hip, she jerked it and caused more pain then when I had walked in with. I couldn't walk to for almost two days.

Have you ever experienced something that ached and hurt so much you almost feel as if you are falling into a pit of despair? I was close to heading in that direction. Now I have felt serious depression before after I had my daughter. It was a dark and very lonely time for me. Knowing I was getting back to that horrible state of being scared me. Having met with the Physical Terrorist (wonderful word choice Dan!) pushed me even closer to that pit of misery. But meeting with Mark- a very professional yet HYSTERICAL person turned me around in just one session. Like I said before- amazing.

First things first, he had me take my shoes and socks off and walk back and forth across the gym several times. While I was doing so he got down on the ground and watched my entire motion. When I walked back the fourth time he got up and told me his prognosis. Apparently I walk incorrectly with my left foot. Instead of using my big toe and allowing my arch to fall when I "land" I walk on the outer edge of my foot. This, in turn, has caused my entire left leg to shift and adapt to this way of walking. My muscles and hip joint a have all changed to support the way I turn my leg out. Think of it as a partial duck walk. Who would have known that this could cause so much pain long term?

Well long awesome story short he went through many stretches with me. He even got up close and personal a few times as he manually turned my thigh in the direction it is supposed to turn as I did several stretches... and it didn't hurt! I was so shocked! Well... I'm not going to lie- I think I was shocked most of the time, especially when he entered my "personal" space. HAHAHA! I remember thinking to myself that I was glad Josh wasn't watching! ;)

So now I have another 9 sessions and I am feeling hopefull for the first time since I've started this blog that my hip will finally feel GOOD! I do have an old hip injury-pulled hip flexor and Mark thinks adductor as well... but it's not the end all anymore!

Thank you all for your support! :) And don't be a stubborn fool as I have. If you hurt, get it fixed. It may be something simple, but you won't ever know if you don't try. :)