This is the person you are trying to help

In walks your 2pm evaluation. Well, not really…they scoot in backwards, sitting on their four-wheeled walker complaining about how long the medical history form is and “why do you need to know all that stuff?” A long past medical history is fine, you can handle that, you can synthesize how 10 years of uncontrolled diabetes mixes with COPD, a back problem they’ve had “since they were 19” and the multiple progressive knee scopes and procedures they’ve had.

During the interaction, however, the person is “off.” They don’t interact with the ease and simplicity that you do with your staff, your friends or the prior patient. You can’t quite describe it well.

Repetition

Repetition is a wonderful way to work at an issue. Consistent, vigilant, methodical practice.This does not speak to magnitude. Small efforts, in time or intensity, aimed at a goal are a real meaningful attack.

This is a perspective shift for many. For clinicians and patients. People, humans, want a “fix,” an immediate “undo” if you will. I find myself explaining that rehab is a process, not an event. So I will often try to tell a story about it.

What’s going on here? 1

THE role for Physical Therapists

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There is a clash between knowing that biomechanics and structure are not 100% responsible (ie. a 1-to-1 relationship) for pain, and the fact that (from an Example I got from Mike Eisenhart) some one with a poorly moving C5-C6, (as best we can tell the difference and as valid as our hands may be) has a risk factor for future neck pains and problems.

No. Not causative, but a risk factor.

G O A L !

What you perceive today as a struggle is not truly due to the task at hand. It has to do with what the goals of the activity are.

The goal determines how the steps will play out. A worthy goal can bring you through any tough time. If the outcome is not of interest to you, no simple/light task is easy. It’s all a struggle if the goal is not meaningful.

Experience and the Experiment

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“Dad, let’s do an experience” my 6.5 year old said to me this morning. “Let’s see how far away these walkie-talkies can go and we can still hear each other.”

“Do you mean experiment?” I ask. “Yes, ex-per-i-ment” she says. We go over its pronunciation a few times. It’s a mix between my daughter having no front teeth and that she just gets her word choices mixed up now and then. Experience. Experiment. It’s an easy one to slip up on, plus they could be viewed in the same category in her head. “I will have an experience and learn something.” “I will do an experiment and learn something.” Same thing, basically, to a 1st grader.

So, you can see this question coming: Do you get Experience and Experiment mixed up?

The Claims Equation

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I’ve finally figured it out, I’ve boiled it down to the simplest of terms: I dislike unsupported claims. From this simple seed, stems so many urges to engage in discussion, debate, conversation and reflection.

I could not figure out why listening to biomedical model explanations bothered me so much. I could not figure out why those using nocebic analogies drove me crazy. I did not know the reason that I loathed unsubstantiated predictions of the future (“You will need a knee replacement.” “You will have pain forever” etc). It comes down to the claim.

Maybe you could say I just enjoy truth, but truth is a complex part of this whole thing (personal truths, facts, outcomes, etc). To explain this best, allow me to use some math:

Commute = Classroom

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Commute time can either suck your life force, or it can become a valuable part of your development. So, yes, there are tons of great Podcasts on the subject of Physical Therapy / Physiotherapy from many angles, and I encourage you to listen and learn. But what I’m going to share today are 3 Non-PT Podcasts… for PTs.

1)     The You Are Not So Smart podcast, hosted by David McRaney.  There are tons of great episodes here, primarily on psychology, cognitive biases, social patterns, scientific thought and all things thinking. I cannot state enough how important these types of topics are for the practicing PT, primarily because, no matter what the injury or body part, we all treat people.  They’re all great, but… Some highlight episodes:

Ethics Principle 2D

Code of Ethics: 2D. Physical therapists shall collaborate with patients/clients to empower them in decisions about their health care.

Empower: To give power or authority to; to enable or permit.

It comes down to this quite often. A patient tells me that they will need [Surgery, Meds, Injections] because a medical authority told them they need [Surgery, Meds, Injections]. Caveat: this is true sometimes, in my opinion.

Once this phrase is uttered by a patient an immediate response is made that includes describing patient rights.

The big C…

Cancer.

It sucks. Fortunately, most of us will live our lives out without this battle. We’ll go on, mostly, ignorant to the difficulty, the fear, the anxiety, the depression, the emotional strain, the unanswered questions, the sleepless nights, or even the simplicity of the brutal financial cost.

And that’s what this post is about…the cost. Well, two things: the cost and the hope. When someone you know struggles with cancer, there may be a variety of things you can do to personally help bear the burden. When it’s someone you don’t know…there may be less options. BUT none of them are less important.

A friend of the PTBT is struggling fighting against Double Hit Lymphoma, a rare and aggressive form of lymphoma. We are asking you to partner with him and his family in this fight by providing some financial support. Initial costs for lymphoma treatments can be as much as $60,000. By giving financial support, you also give the other important tool in fighting cancer, hope. Let Rob know how far and wide the ripples of his life have spread and supply him with the hope he needs to continue fighting.

There’s only one day left, so please support the ‘stache and spread the word. https://www.booster.com/teamrobfights

After all, hope may just be the best medicine out there.

-PTBT

An assemblage of what I learned in 2014

I’ve learned so much over the last year… both in PT and in business, interaction and skill sets… Let me try to compile some things.  I think a lot of these are my own thoughts, but with the amount of information and exposure I have been blasted with… I doubt they all originate in my cortex, please forgive me.

Perhaps this docket of diction will resonate with you.  If you don’t read the whole thing- attempt to make a list for yourself…

Warning: wear a vest, there will be lots of bullets…