Last month, I was demonstrating the Lotus yoga pose to my children. I noticed my 10-year-old sitting on the floor, already comfortably in the criss-cross position resembling a Lotus pose. Intrigued, I asked him if he could place each foot on the opposite thigh. Surprisingly, he did it! I wanted to know if my 6-year-old could do it too. I called out to her to show the criss-cross applesauce, the extreme version. That’s when it happened!
I felt a pop in my left knee.
I could barely walk on it due to pain. And it felt heavy below my knee like it was not part of my body. Being a doctor is no easy task, especially when it comes to dealing with our own injuries or those of our loved ones. The burden of knowledge weighs heavily on us. While many people tend to catastrophize situations, doctors do it with a flair. We are acutely aware of
the worst possible diagnosis and often convince ourselves that those are the ones we will inevitably face.
Also, as a doctor, I’m all too familiar with the hoops patients must jump through within the medical system to receive treatment for a joint injury. It all begins with an X-ray, a standard diagnostic step. Following that, patients are typically prescribed a 6-week course of Physical Therapy.
Only when these PT treatments prove ineffective, are patients finally granted access to an MRI of the painful joint.
NOTE: If you ever hurt your joint, get the X-ray as fast as possible to get the ball rolling.
So the next morning, I went to the urgent care. It is not a fracture. 2 weeks passed – No improvement in pain. During that time, I applied ice packs and heating pads, KT taping, hydrotherapy in the shower, and arnica gel topically. Nothing made it better. There was some temporary relief, but that was it. Then I decided to put myself into a Flowpresso machine.
What is Flowpresso?
Flowpresso uses special compression and deep pressure to help lymphatic fluid flow better and remove waste from our bodies. It also includes heat therapy to improve circulation and create a calming environment for relaxation and healing. People who have tried Flowpresso have experienced better relaxation, sleep, energy, and stress response, as well as faster recovery from injuries. It’s an effective therapy for promoting lymphatic drainage and overall well-being.
I did 4 Flowpresso sessions four days in a row.
After my initial 20-minute session, I noticed improvement with pivoting. Imagine yourself as a driver, getting out of the car. You step on your left leg, pivot, and then step with your right foot. The most painful part for me was the pivoting motion. But this time, after experiencing the benefits of Flowpresso, it felt different. There was a noticeable reduction in pain while pivoting.
For the next 3 days, I varied my sessions between 20 and 40 minutes.
Improvements that I noticed with FlowPresso sessions:
- The overall swelling was going down and I could straighten my knee more.
- The bulge in the back of my knee was smaller.
- Pivoting was getting easier.
- Less overall pain.
- Going down the stairs was easier where I could alternate my legs, instead of leading with one.
I was skeptical though:
What if less pain is simply a natural part of recovery?
What if my improvement has nothing to do with the Flowpresso?
I decided to take a break from using the Flowpresso for three days as I was occupied with patient care. At the end of the week, I went on a 60-minute-long walk with a friend. But after the walk, I noticed increased swelling behind my knee and more pain compared to how it was during the week.
However, once I hopped back into the Flowpresso machine, it happened once again. The swelling subsided, and the pain diminished and it lasted longer.
That’s my story of how I used FlowPresso to help my knee pain and swelling.
Who is FlowPresso for?
- Those who benefit the most from it are individuals with POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome). The number one recommendation for POTS is compression therapy.
- My patients with an overlap of fibromyalgia and POTS notice more mobility in their joints and a reduction of body swelling.
- Those who struggle with insomnia experience improved sleep the night after a 1-hour FlowPresso session.
- FlowPresso puts people into a parasympathetic mode, creating a sense of relaxation similar to a comforting hug. It is particularly beneficial for individuals dealing with anxiety and depression.
I made a video of me setting myself up on the machine.
You will not have to do it yourself, we will take care of you!
In the video, I talk about contraindications, so please listen to that part. And I talk about the 2 different settings the machine offers.
Need Help With a Knee Injury in Kirkland?
ISM Health is a state-of-the-art healthcare clinic led by naturopathic physician, Dr. Jamie Agisheva. Our naturopathic medicine services include annual physicals, DOT physicals, IV vitamin therapies, biofeedback, and of course, sick visits for common ailments like viruses. We are committed to helping you attain your healthiest life, whether your goals are improved athletic performance or just learning more healthy snack recipes to improve your nutrition intake. Contact us to schedule an appointment with a licensed medical professional for your DOT medical card today!
Knee Injury Treatment Experts in Kirkland
Serving Bothell, Kenmore, Mill Creek plus Lynnwood, Edmonds, Mukilteo, Woodinville, Kirkland, Everett, Lake Stevens, Snohomish, Marysville & all of North King & South Snohomish Counties
Posted on June 22, 2023 | Published by Ignite Local | Related Local Business