Knee injury -- a question

Options
pattie_jo
pattie_jo Member Posts: 7
edited February 2018 in DCIS (Ductal Carcinoma In Situ)

Awaiting my surgery date for lumpectomy and reconstruction for DCIS. I hurt my knee 10 days ago, finally saw doctor about it and she ordered physical therapy. The physical therapist said normally they would incorporate "E-stim" (like a tens unit) as part of the therapy, but because of my recent breast cancer diagnosis, they can't. I asked why and he said something to the effect of "because we don't know if it has spread to other parts of your body". I was confused and quite honestly, in pain and just wanted them to get started with my therapy, to ask any more questions. But now I'm home wondering why. Has anyone ever heard of this or know anything about it?

Blessings,

Pattie

· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • pattie_jo
    pattie_jo Member Posts: 7
    edited February 2018

    Bump

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Jelson
    Jelson Member Posts: 1,535
    edited February 2018

    Pattie Jo, I have had no experience with this, but thought your interaction with the PT odd. It certainly showed the PT to be not only insensitive, but totally ignorant about DCIS. Using his argument, I would wonder that the modality could ever be used at all, since who can guarantee that a patient doesn't have undiagnosed cancer somewhere. so I googled e-stim, but found mostly erotic devices for sale on Amazon, so I tried tens unit and breast cancer and came up with some interesting articles. try it yourself, it seems as if the oncologists are researching tens units for pain relief for different kinds of cancer, seemingly unconcerned about it potentially spreading cancer, while the PTs are concerned about liability for somehow spreading cancer. Here is one one of the sites where PTs are asking themselves about it : http://physicaltherapy.rehabedge.com/tm.aspx?m=603...

    If you don't want to call him out on this nonsense, I would ask the PT for some other mode of treatment or find another PT, you deserve to have your knee pain treated and good luck with your upcoming lumpectomy and reconstruction.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Veeder14
    Veeder14 Member Posts: 880
    edited February 2018

    I would find another PT clinic. From my experience, treatment for your knee wouldn't have anything to do with having breast cancer. I did have a tumor removed from my upper arm radial nerve (non malignant). PT never does ultrasound or electric stim directly over that so the nerve doesn't get irritated. But refusing to treat your knee sounds ridiculous.

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • Annette47
    Annette47 Member Posts: 957
    edited February 2018

    If changing PT’s is not an option (don’t know how many options you have), then maybe a note from your oncology team saying it’s okay might help?

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • pattie_jo
    pattie_jo Member Posts: 7
    edited February 2018

    Update:. So I called my oncologist and left a message about this with her nurse. Nurse said she had never heard of this and she takes A LOT of phone calls/questions from patients, she'd have to ask doctor. She called me back this afternoon, said oncologist didn't really know anything about it, they looked some things up and decided the PT would know what is best, to follow his guidelines. So I guess no E-stim or ultrasound therapy for my poor knee. 😢

    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Categories