Growing up with four brothers, I am comfortable around guys. As I was laying on the table waiting to get started at ATI, I realized that all the clients were a combination of men and male high school athletes. The PTs who were there were Brad, Greg, Larry, and Matt. Brad came over and started working on me. The fact that there was nothing but guys around me didn’t bother me at all.
Larry was hooking up one of the high school boys a couple of tables down. They were talking about bears and the differences between brown bears and black bears and how aggressive they are. I kind of laughed a little bit and looked over at them and Larry asked me what I would do if I was confronted with a black bear. I told him that I would, “Die.”
He laughed and there was a conversation from everyone about spiders and other scary animals as well. Brad methodically worked on my knee and had me raise my right leg a few sets and told me that we were going to stand as I rested between sets. Then he called to Larry reminding him that no one is supposed to have a “bad leg .” I asked him what he meant as he had me lift my left leg as well. He told me that the first thing they tell you in PT school is not to say that someone has a “bad leg” but rather an, “injured leg,” “involved leg,” or a “treated leg” instead. I told him that I had a, “bad leg.” Because I do.
I told him that when I worked at Barwis I always said my right leg was my, “poop leg.” Because I am left-handed so my left side is my dominant side. All the guys laughed, Matt said he would have to check a text book but he didn’t think that it was good to call someone’s leg a “poop leg.” I’m going to stick with, “poop leg” because now after surgery, it still hurts so much!
Larry came over and he and Brad got me ready to stand for my four downs. My second down was most impressive because Larry told me that I self-corrected when my right leg began to buckle by squeezing my glutes and tightening my quad. I am not standing for a very long time but I am working toward getting better so I can get back to Barwis. After my fourth down, I sat down and Brad told me that it was time for some, “well deserved ice.”
I didn’t get a “knee sandwich” this time but the ice felt really good on my knee! It may not be proper to say that I have a, “poop leg,” but that is what it is until it stops hurting so much and I get stronger and back to Barwis. In the meantime, I really enjoy the relationships I have with all of the PT’s. They are family just like everyone at Barwis is!