Diagnosis after a fall

[mrsomes]

I recently fell.  Broke my wrist and wrenched my back and neck.  During the course of physical therapy I was told that I had arthritis in my neck.   I'm 55 and my PT told me it was not that unusual for a woman my age.   I never had any pain until I fell so this was news to me.   I'm being told that the arthritis is limiting the range of motion of my head and shoulders and that there's not much that can be done to get that back but I should continue PT to make sure I don't lose any more range.  Does anybody have any experience with this?   I plan to keep up the exercises forever to make sure things don't get worse but I have no idea what to expect down the road.  Thanks

[mrsomes]

I'm glad you're telling me exercise is good because it hurts.   Everybody tells me that's normal and it will get better.  My orthopedic Dr is actually the one who told me about the arthritis in my neck based on x-rays.  He said that I have the type of degeneration and arthritis that he would expect to see in any 55 year old woman and not to worry.   I just have no idea what that really means long term.  I know that things happen as you age but nothing has ever happened to me like this so it's all new.   Thanks!

[TrudieC]

Keeping up the exercise is a good thing.  However, a physiotherapist is not the person to properly diagnose you.  You need to talk to your doctor, get xrays done and get a referral to be properly diagnosed and treated.