Qualifications of physios to treat on NHS

[Judith Mollet]

Physios who are qualified und Chartered physios can work without supervision. It doesn't mean however, that they can "fix" everything just like that in every patient they meet. Is she newly qualified or still a student? Is she new in this particular situation?
I would expect a physio or physio studentto be bright enough, if not getting any progression or success with a problem, to talk to fellow physios for advice.
And even long qualified physios can't "fix" everything. We can often improve and manage a case using a wide selection of modalities available and by teaching the patient to manage and help fix it. You don't say exactly your diagnosis is and what part the doctor played in explaining it to you before referring you to physio. Does your doctor know of your frustration for lack of progress, it's been a long time already.
Speak to your physio about your impressions of lack of progress. See what answers she come up with. Reading your "not physio bashing" I can't understand why you are going to her still or haven't talked to her about it. She must notice what your thoughts are. Maybe she is less competent than others. In all professions, some have more talent some have less, to grasp a problem and deal with all sorts of clients. But if she's qualified she can work without supervision. You say you are in military. Your profession demands alot of your body and knees. Maybe too much? I can't say as there is not enough information about your diagnosis; state of cartilage and joint surfaces; pain; behaviour of pain; treatments tried; length of treatments; what you do with your knees all the time etc. And is your knee pain due to feet-hip-other factors? There are other physios in the NHS.
Hope you get some help. Maybe be a little patient with physios, for some problems there is no quick fix. Just management.

[cwodavids]

"It doesn't mean however, that they can "fix" everything just like that in every patient they meet. Is she newly qualified or still a student? Is she new in this particular situation?"

As far as I know he has been qualified for the nearly 6yrs i have been at the base. I would assume that he has been qualified for that full time.

"And even long qualified physios can't "fix" everything. We can often improve and manage a case using a wide selection of modalities available and by teaching the patient to manage and help fix it."

I understand that the human body is a complicated thing and not everything can be fixed, however I have been given exercises to "manage it" which simply arent working.

"You don't say exactly your diagnosis is and what part the doctor played in explaining it to you before referring you to physio. Does your doctor know of your frustration for lack of progress, it's been a long time already."

I havent actually been given a diagnosis (I have told him what is wrong and what has caused it, he knows best though) The doctors answer was send me for more physio! This doesnt really help the issue and im sure you can appreciate it is VERY frustrating. I cannot get treatment from anywhere else as Im registered with my doctor on camp so cant register with any other doctor. No other doctor = no referal for other treatment.

"Speak to your physio about your impressions of lack of progress. See what answers she come up with. Reading your "not physio bashing" I can't understand why you are going to her still or haven't talked to her about it. She must notice what your thoughts are. Maybe she is less competent than others. In all professions, some have more talent some have less, to grasp a problem and deal with all sorts of clients."

I have mentioned it that I'm not getting any progress but their answer is to downgrade me (which means i cant do my job) and give me intense physio. They cant see the irony of the situation. As I explained before, I have no choice about my physio as I have to be treated by a military physio (this is much cheaper and EVERYTHING in the military comes down to money) and will not get a referral for a civilian physio.

"You say you are in military. Your profession demands alot of your body and knees. Maybe too much? I can't say as there is not enough information about your diagnosis; state of cartilage and joint surfaces; pain; behaviour of pain; treatments tried; length of treatments; what you do with your knees all the time etc. And is your knee pain due to feet-hip-other factors? There are other physios in the NHS."

My profession does require more of my body than most people however, very few professional athletes have issues like this as they get proper treatment. It is the standard of the treatment that concerns me. I am a helicopter winchman so spend a lot of time squatting. After a fall of ten feet and damaging my ankles my knees started hurting quite badly after i was able to walk again (after 3 months). I suspect my knee issues have came about from the mismanagement of my ankle injuries as i only received half a dozen physio sessions (again it comes down to money, there is one physio for a LOT of people.) After my session with the podiatrist he identified several issues from my gait. He thinks it is highly likely that my injury has caused all my problems as i never had any issues before then. Covering the issue of "state of cartilage and joint surfaces;" is half the issue i have, I have not had a single test to find out the state of my knees. All i seem to get is lines drawn on my knees and my muscles measured.

I shall be getting my orthotics shortly so hopefully this will fix things and i can completely bypass any physio.

I really dont want to belittle physios but the treatment i have had has been pretty pathetic and its got to the stage im willing to pay a LOT of my own money to go completely private. I obviously would prefer not to part with my own money but its looking like i might have too.

D

p.s. Sorry about spelling and grammar as this was done on my Blackberry and in a hurry.