by Vicki M
Vicki M, 50, Wife & Working Mother of 3 Adult Children
Many friends of Vital Link know me, because I work there. Last year, I was forced to deal with the unpleasantness of major abdominal surgery to remove fibroid tumors. A complete hysterectomy was recommended. I was not thrilled about missing several weeks of work so soon after opening our Doylestown office, but the council of my doctors, family and friends convinced me to go ahead with the surgery as quickly as possible.
I chose Abington Hospital where they are using the Divinci Robot for many surgeries. I was told that my recovery would be about 4 weeks as opposed to the usual 6 weeks with traditional incision surgery. Because I have had persistent low back pain, a constant source of frustration for me and my doctors, Ben White, DPT & Adam Wagner, DC. We talked about the possibility that the fibroids could be an underlying source of my pain. Ben recommended I use the 6 weeks leading to my surgery date to focus on building core strength because in his experience, recovery would be less painful, and hopefully, faster.
What a GREAT IDEA! For 6 weeks, 2 or 3 times a week, I scheduled myself into Ben’s calendar, and he taught me how to reach the many muscles of the abdomen that I had not exercised for a very long time. On October 6, the surgery went very well. I had no complications, and the tumors were benign as I had expected. What I didn’t expect was that on that first night after surgery, when my nurse came to listen to my heart and asked me to roll to my side; I easily engaged my upper core and had very little discomfort rolling. She was amazed and remarked that most women have a great deal of difficulty rolling to their side. I was proud to tell her about my 6 weeks of PT, and that’s when I knew how well my time preparing had been spent.
In the first days of recovery at home, my husband was also amazed at how well I was able to get up and down, and get in and out of bed. Having also strengthened my arms and legs in the process allowed me to use alternative muscles to do things that the lower abdomen usually does. I was feeling well enough to come back to the office for a few hours a day by the end of my 4th week after my surgery. Full time by the middle of week 5. Remarkable recovery!
Today, I am completely recovered, and have no more chronic low back pain, which I now believe was largely aggravated by the fibroids.
I’m a true believer in physical therapy before surgery. Thanks Ben and Adam, for your support, knowledge, and care!
Vital Link Physical Therapy & Chiropractic Care treats patients at 314 North Broad Street, Doylestown, PA 18901
www.vitallinkus.com
www.vitallinkpt.com
office@vitallinkus.com
