[Chelee]

Margerie, Earlier today I read your post to me and what perfect timing. I was just going to call my Orthopedic surgeon's office to request more pain pills. So I decided it was also a good time to ask my ortho's nurse WHY I didn't get any PT this entire time?! When I was in the hospital I asked a number of times why I wasn't getting physical therapy? Never got a straight answer? Other then the fact I was at City of Hope and I had a "case manager" from my cancer center handling things putting thru all the authorizations. I kept asking my Ortho and his nurse if my case manager was "denying/blocking" my physical therapy? The ortho's nurse would just tell me that the doctor writes the orders and they are suppose to follow them. I told her at that time they aren't doing anything for me.

I am so angry about how slow this recovery is going and I can't help but think if I'd had PT I might of been off this walker long ago. So your post did help to get my BP up. LOL I read your links along with a bunch I dug up for every type of femur surgery I could find. So after all the reading I called my Ortho's nurse & let her know how upset I am that I'm not further along in my recovery then what I am. She says well I have to remember that the doctor had me using a walker and wheelchair for two weeks BEFORE my surgery so that made my muscles even weaker then they would have been before the surgery. (She gave me extra ammo with that comment!) So I said ISN'T that more reason I should of had some physical therapy? She tried to get off that topic and I pushed the issue and told her I REALLY need to know why I did not have any PT? I told her I need to know if my "case manager" down here blocked my PT or what? I even asked if I could have a copy of the Ortho's orders? I did not let her off the hook and she is going to call me tomorrow to let me know from her end why I didn't get any PT. I told her if it's my case manager I NEED to know because I'm really upset. None of this is normal...not only did I not get physical therapy, I did not get occupational therapy or respiratory therapy which I was suppose to get. I think my case manager is behind all this. She made a comment to me one time that some of her patients think they are there to DENY/BLOCK medical care to keep down costs. (I'm starting to believe that's exactly what she has been doing!)

So I will have a answer tomorrow...she knows how upset I am. I'm glad I read your post before I called. I'd hate to blame the case manager if I found out it was really my Orthopedic that didn't order all of this. But I would find that hard to believe since he told me in the recovery room I would be UP first thing in the morning walking. HA! Never happened.

Chelee