Finding pain relief through Physical Therapy

Teresa Wiley always considered herself very athletic. She was a jogger and worked out on weight machines. She hiked and exercised through walking videos. 

Then her knees started hurting. 

“I could hardly walk,” she recalled. “I just woke up that way.” 

With several cousins diagnosed with the central nervous system disease Multiple Sclerosis, Teresa was immediately concerned that the debilitating disease was her fate. She scheduled a visit to her doctor and had a slate of x-rays. Those depicted arthritis in her knees. 

The primary symptoms of arthritis are pain, swelling and stiffness – much of what Teresa was experiencing. Any joint in the body may be affected by arthritis, but it is particularly common in the knee. Having knee arthritis may make it difficult to do routine everyday activities, such as walking or climbing stairs. 

“The doctor suggested physical therapy or shots or a knee replacement,” Teresa said. “I didn’t want a knee replacement and I don’t like to ingest drugs or shots.” 

She opted to try physical therapy for some help. She’d previously used Rehabilitation Services while recovering from a meniscus tear in her left knee. She also was a frequent attendee at an exercise class led by Physical Therapist Terry Robinson. When she learned Terry was employed at LVMC, Teresa made an appointment for PT. 

Teresa’s therapy included riding the exercise bike, doing electrical stimulation and other exercises. Electrical stimulation therapy is commonly used for pain management and offers patients a non-pharmaceutical and non-invasive way to treat knee – or other joint – pain. 

Exercise bikes – particularly recumbent bikes – are commonly used in physical therapy. Cycling in that manner, with guidance from a Physical Therapist, puts minimal stress and strain on the knee. According to the Arthritis Foundation, stationary biking gets the legs moving through their typical range of motion, encouraging the production of synovial fluid, which lubricates the joints. 

“Physical therapy was excellent,” Teresa said. “The people were pleasant and nice. It was clean. I felt comfortable. I only have good reviews.” 

She’s been going to treatments at LVMC since November 2023. She plans to have sessions as long as her health insurance allows. 
“I would go forever if I could,” Teresa says. “It has helped. I was afraid to do my walks, worried I might get out and my knees would bother me and I couldn’t get back.” 

She finds it particularly beneficial that she’s able to have a physical therapy appointment not far from her home. 

“There’s no way I’d go to Santa Barbara to do it,” she explains. “It’s very helpful and beneficial to me just to go to Lompoc Hospital and get it done.”