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Changing His Future with Physical Therapy: Samir El-Sayed’s Success Story

March 15, 2022 | Patient Success Stories
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By, Allison R. Weder

“I don’t have to worry about major surgery right now.” – Samir El-Sayed

A convenient location and a doctor’s referral brought Samir El-Sayed to one of our clinics in 2017. The choice was made for him then, but now he knows the therapist you choose does make a difference and would not go anywhere else. Samir’s story begins outside where he loves to be active. He spent years enjoying sports like skiing and tennis. Unfortunately, those favorite activities left him with a knee injury that required surgery. A surgeon performed a meniscus repair and recommended physical therapy as part of his recovery. Samir recalls feeling great after his first round of therapy, “I was able to fully function after my first experience. Then I was able to go out and do functional things! Play tennis, go skiing. It was helpful.”

A few years later, Samir was diagnosed with degenerative arthritis in his hip. “Ski season was very hard. I had to give up playing tennis. The two things that I really enjoy doing I had to put on the shelf. I really wasn’t happy about that.” He met with an orthopedist who tried steroid injections and other treatments. But not much helped. He remembered his previous success with physical therapy and decided to see Kevin, his Physical Therapist, again. “I made a commitment that I was going to be ready for the next ski season. I decided I was going to go back and work with Kevin and give it my all. We started in late August and met twice a week all the way through December.” Samir’s sessions included a variety of treatments and techniques. “The first 20 minutes, Kevin would do hands-on techniques. He worked on increasing my flexibility and loosening the hip which had become tight over time. Then he developed a specific set of exercises that I would do for the rest of the time. We also realized I had a torn labrum. Kevin adjusted my plan and developed a set of exercises to help that. I regained my strength and flexibility.” Samir was shocked to see how quickly he made progress. “It was pretty immediate. Walking out of the session initially I was feeling better.”With the pain disappearing and his strength returning, Samir felt confident he would be able to hit the slopes again. “I never got discouraged because I saw some benefits. Every time I went, I could tell I was getting stronger and after therapy my hip would feel looser and was able to have fewer problems.” Samir does not downplay the hard work necessary to have a successful outcome. He is also quick to point out choosing the right therapist is important. “They really do care about their patients. They’re willing to take the time and effort to help people get better. They’re super knowledgeable about what they do. I’ve gone to people in the past where that hasn’t been exactly the case. Kevin just has a high level of competence that really comes across. You won’t get the same level of benefit if the treatment isn’t tailored to what you need. It just won’t be as effective.”When ski season arrived, Samir was ready. “I’ve skied five days this year. I’ve had a total turnaround. That’s why I’m so happy with Kevin and physical therapy. I’m back to doing the things I love.” The best part for Samir is not worrying about surgery right now. “When I went to my (doctor) last year, he said, ‘you are looking at hip replacement in the next few years.’ That was a shocking statement for me. I was really surprised. But now, being able to delay that and enjoy life? My time is important. I want to do this on my time. I’m able to ski with my adult children who push me to do things I normally wouldn’t, and I enjoy it. That’s what matters. I don’t have to worry about major surgery right now.”

The entire Phoenix Physical Therapy Team is committed to providing our patients with quality physical therapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy in a safe and healthy clinic environment. We continue to follow the guidance provided by the CDC, WHO and public health officials to update you as new information becomes available. Let’s work together to keep each other safe and healthy.

The safety of our patients, communities and team members remains our top priority. We know you have a choice in your care providers and appreciate your commitment to Phoenix and our qualified clinicians.

Here are the actions we have taken to keep our patients, communities and team healthy & safe:

  • Flexible scheduling allows for social distancing
  • Regular cleaning and sanitation of all clinic surfaces
  • Facemasks must be worn by all Phoenix staff and are recommended for all patients
  • Screening questionnaire and temperature checks prior to entering clinics
  • 6 feet of social distancing throughout the clinics

Keeping Our Clinics Safe

Here are some tips on how we can keep each other safe:

  • Handwashing is your best self-defense against the spread of germs. When soap and water are not available and hands are not visibly dirty, use at least a 60% alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
  • Please stay home if you are not feeling well, especially if you have a fever, are coughing or sneezing, or are experiencing shortness of breath. If a patient shows up with symptoms, the clinic team will work with them to reschedule.
  • Be vigilant. If you have traveled to any of the countries where there are outbreaks of the virus, please follow guidance from the CDC website and our Travel Guidelines.

Here are actions we are taking to keep our clinics clean and safe:

  • Equipment will be wiped down after EVERY use with antibacterial wipes/sprays
  • All surfaces that patients or staff may touch including door handles, countertops, seating, pens at sign-in, bathroom and all other common areas will be disinfected regularly
  • Treatment tables will be 6 feet apart
  • Team members will wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, particularly after going to the bathroom, before eating, and after blowing their nose, coughing or sneezin
  • Clinics will have hand sanitizer available at the front desk and in the treatment areas
  • Any Phoenix team members who are ill will be asked to stay home
  • We will maintain social distancing between patients in the clinic
  • Caregivers that are bringing a patient to the clinic should wait in their car or come back when the appointment has ended unless necessary (i.e. minor requiring a guardian or for assistance needs)
  • When possible, we will treat patients in private rooms to increase social distancing
  • Any patients that have underlying health issues (i.e. diabetes, respiratory problems, etc.) will be given the option to be seen during special clinic hours or can opt to be treated in a private room away from other clinicians and patients
  • All patients should be self-screening before entering the clinic. Our PCCs will perform a secondary screening during the check-in process and before patients enter the clinic including a screening questionnaire and temperature check.
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