I had my first rehab session yesterday at the Philippine Heart Center’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Section. Both my Ortho and Rehab doctors are suspecting meniscal injuries and are hoping that I would respond well to the therapy so I wouldn’t have to go under the knife. I’m crossing my fingers and praying really hard (yes, I’m praying again after sooo long) that the rehabilitation would work wonders and that I’ll be able to walk normally in time for my departure to Japan. The odds are just nerve-racking!

The day before going to the rehab, my Ortho doctor injected some kick-ass pain steroids directly to my knee. Needless to say, it was painful! I would have cried if I was the crying type. The thought of some metallic, pointed, foreign object being forced into my knee joint was beyond me and the sensation of some viscous fluid being oozed inside was really some experience. I wouldn’t forget that until the day I die. Anyway, after the seemingly endless minutes of torture, the steroids kicked-in and Hallelujah! I couldn’t feel pain. For the first time in a very long time, I was able to lightly step on my left leg. I was due for rehab the next day.

My Ortho doctor recommended either National Kidney Institute or Heart Center. I was eyeing NKI at first since their rehab department was only on the 2nd floor versus the Heart’s Center’s 8th floor but their slots were full and I just wanted to start my rehab immediately. The Heart Center lady over the telephone was also more accommodating so Heart Center it is. I chose well. The rehab facilities at the Phil Heart Center were good and the staff were all warm and friendly (my Physical Therapist was hot!). I even bumped into Kuya Dave Griffiths at the rehab. He was also having PT sessions for his back. But I guess, all hospitals have their flaws. Have I already mentioned that the Rehab Department was on the 8th floor? Billings were issued at the department and payments are to be made at the cashier on the ground floor! Isn’t that just great? It was just so freakin’ smart of them, I think. And I thought I could manage going to rehab alone. Good thing Kuya Caloy loves me and promised to go with me on all my rehab sessions (waaah! what would I do without you, Kuya?) which is by the way, everyday at 7 o’clock in the morning. Indeed, one of the perks of being injured is that you genuinely feel that you are loved.

My rehabilitation consists of an ultrasound, electrocution, muscle stretching and walking. I was kind of a bit scared of the electrocution thing at first having a lot of traumatic experiences with electricity in my past life but it turned out it was one of the most relaxing parts of my therapy. They had a 4KHz, 20 Hz frequency modulated signal with a 30mA current pass through my knee and thigh muscles. The current was to be increased every 5 minutes and it does alleviate the pain! Amazing! My favorite part of the rehab was the muscle stretching. Being able to stretch my tight muscles after weeks and weeks of no use was just… ooooohhh! Rehab was like having a Thai massage everyday! Rehab is bliss if only it were not draining all my hard-earned money. Yezzz, tama ang commercial ng Clusivol, mahal magkasakit kaya bawal magkasakit. I promise never to scrooge on myself again after this. I am going to enjoy every penny (or centavo or yen) I’m ever going to earn to live a happy life and to make others happy. After this experience, I’m going to live life as if death is just an arm’s length away. First step, rehab. Tomorrow, earth, beware, I’ll be let loose soon!