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Mile Bluff made Harold a believer in PT By Katie Mead While leading a very active and physically-demanding life, Harold Steele could not afford to deal with any injuries. Harold, who is from the township of Ironton, works at Pace Industries as a mixer, and owns a small hobby farm with a menagerie of animals. “I go to work, come home, work with my horses, and fix fences after working a twelve-hour shift at Pace,” says Harold. Earlier this year, a busy Harold re-injured his rotator cuff and tore his bicep tendon, taking him out of commission from his busy lifestyle. “I went to see healthcare providers at a different facility that suggested surgery,” explains Harold. “I came to Mile Bluff to get a second opinion because I couldn’t afford to be off of work for six weeks. I was sent to UW Health for further testing with a doctor who specialized in sports injuries. He suggested that I try physical therapy before going ahead with rotator cuff surgery.” Harold was skeptical when he started coming to Mile Bluff’s Rehabilitation Department for therapy. “Because of the pain I was in, I was doubtful that anything would help. I couldn’t raise my arm above my head because it was hurting so bad, but I said I would give therapy a shot though.” After working with Marlene Rosenberg (physical therapist) and Megan Berendes (physical therapist assistant) for eight weeks, Harold’s opinion changed. “I could feel the muscle getting stronger,” explains Harold. “I knew I had to build the muscle back up and then build the muscle around the area it was torn.” Because of physical therapy, Harold did not have to take time off of work to recover from an operation. “I’m so glad that I didn’t just go ahead with the surgery because I would have been out for another six weeks,” says Harold about his time at physical therapy. “The whole time I was going, I was able to do light-duty at work; I couldn’t have done that if I had been operated on. I would have been off of work, collecting workers’ compensation, which doesn’t pay the bills.” Harold says he’s not back to 100 percent; but he expected that, given his age and the severity of his injury. He still does the exercises that he was taught in therapy, and when he works, they fit right into what he’s doing. “Marlene and Megan really changed my mind about physical therapy because it really works,” states Harold. “I would recommend that anyone in a situation like mine should try physical therapy. It’s a God-send! It saved me and kept me working. I’m so happy I did it! I really appreciate those girls; they turned me around and made me a physical therapy believer.” For more information about the physical therapy services available in Mauston, call 608-847-1422 today. They’ll make a physical therapy believer out of you! For appointments in Lake Delton, call 608-847-2871.
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Mile Bluff Medical Center/ 1050 Division St./ Mauston, WI 53948 / 608 847 6161 Mile Bluff Medical Center, 1050 Division Street, Mauston, WI 53948 608 847 6161 or Toll free in WI at 800 252 4377 © 2008 Mile Bluff Medical Center |
