When traditional physical therapy fails to provide relief, many people turn to their doctor in search of a different solution. Unfortunately, this often leads to unwanted procedures or surgeries. It's important to remember that the body changes quickly after an injury, and even if the initial condition has improved, persistent discomfort may remain. If you return to a physical therapist weeks, months, or even years after the initial injury, they will be able to better evaluate and address the underlying factors.
They will also treat any compensatory problems that have developed as a result of the injury not fully resolving. Every person and every injury is unique, so being reexamined could be the first step on the road to full recovery. If you're not making progress within or between sessions, you and your therapist should discuss other options. Your therapist should be competent and confident enough to tell you if physical therapy isn't working.
Likewise, you should be honest with them if you're not seeing the results you're expecting. A good alliance between patient and therapist is essential for progress. If you didn't communicate your lack of progress until the last day of physical therapy, then the fault lies with a lack of communication. It's important to understand how physical therapy works.
Are you attending three times a week for four months? Or are you skipping sessions after one or two? Some physical therapy treatments are not helpful and can make symptoms last longer or even cause new problems. If your therapist is concerned or treatment isn't progressing as expected, it's time to consider other options. If your physical therapist referred you to another office or therapist because they felt you needed a movement-based solution rather than a treatment-based one, then it's important to take this advice seriously. Make sure you know what exercises to do, how to do them, and when to stop them—this is critical for successful physical therapy treatment. In some cases, additional images and tests may reveal that the meniscus is still damaged despite physical therapy. When you and your therapist are satisfied with your progress in terms of the goals set at the beginning of the program, it's time to move on.
Your physical therapist did not prescribe any medication and should not tell you if or when to take it.
