Hey guys, I think I missed last week I can't find a fourth post so here is another one.
Do you remember that OSPE we had for Penny's class where the patient was an actor and had a breakdown in the middle of treatment. I think that was a good assignment because it made you think way back in second year that the patients are actually people and can do unexpected things- a very valuable lesson as it turns out.
This last week I have had 2 patients (both I had been seeing reguarly for shoulder pain) cry during treatment sessions about things completely unrelated to physio or their injury. I have to say although that exam in 2nd year terrified me the situation didn't throw me at all in real life.
With both patients I chatted to them about what they were crying about, applied a heat pack for a while and gave them a gentle ST release (indicated through previus Ax in both cases). In terms of progressing their treatment all I did was to check their HEP exs and encouraged gentle stretching of UT and Cx mobility exs to ease tension.
In both cases my supervisor was perfectly happy. He agreed it would have been inapprpriate to push them further under the circumstances (both patients had pretty substantial things to be crying about by anyone's standards). I was comforatable I had made the right decision because having seen both patients for a while I had built up rapport with them. However I was concerned that since my supervisor didn't know the patients he might not have been happy with me doing so little hands on treatment. So I was pleased he agreed with my line of treatment.
2 comments:
I also agree with what you did here. I mean clearly what the patient really wanted was a place to pour out all the problems that they're having with the shoulder and how much it has impacted their life. You focused on the person as a whole which is probably more appropriate in this case than if you just targeted the shoulder. If you treated only the shoulder, the patient will hate you, they'll never come back because, they'll think that you don't understand them.
In many cases the emotional side of the treatment is just as important, if not more so than the physical. I have had similar experiences, especially when the patient is not going to regain full use of the area you are treating. Allowing patients open up to us is an important part of our job and as much of a worry it may be to think of the supervisor's reaction, you did the best thing by your patient, and that's all anyone can ask for!
Post a Comment