Post Thanksgiving Excitement

Very infrequently do I share my cell number.  It's not that I don't want phone calls from anyone, it's just that you could say my cell is used more often for outgoing calls than it is for incoming calls.  My lack of communication habits via my cell phone does create anguish for my family.  Seriously, there is a time and place for conversing ... when I'm at work, driving or doing something in the community that just isn't the time to be yapping on the phone. 

Well... my heart went out to a particular patient prior to the Thanksgiving holiday.  There is nothing worse than having pain, being afraid and having no one to walk you through what you can do to alleviate your symptoms.  I know this... and decided to share my number.  (I didn't tell her, "good luck in actually truly reaching me," because it really wasn't the time or place to let her know that I prefer to make calls and not take calls.)


Well... this patient did awesome over the holiday!  I really, really was more cognizant of where my phone was and did keep my eye on it for any potential missed messages.  The last few days, I thought about her quite frequently.  I was wondering how she was doing... if her pain was subsiding... if her muscle tension was reducing.  My curiosity sometimes gets the best of me.  I came really, really close to calling her just to see how things were going.  But I didn't.  I didn't because I knew that one action just might be misinterpreted.  I most certainly didn't want to convey that I didn't think she could improve!  I didn't want her to perceive that I didn't have the utmost confidence in her ability to manage her discomfort.

So, today my curiosity was quenched.  If I had decent rhythm, I would have broken out into a happy dance!  There are so many patients, just like this lady, who amaze me with their ability to trust and change.  Pain isn't fun... pain is scary... pain sometimes takes on a journey because of what is said and how it is said.  Words and perceptions... what an impact they can have!

This lady will be back to life and graduate from physical therapy way sooner than she probably ever dreamed.  I won't forget the smile on her face or the ease of her movements as she walked in the clinic.  I especially won't forget her excitement as she shared her ability to have a great holiday due to her success in managing her symptoms.  When I see patients work hard and have this kind of success and excitement, I'm proud of them.  I wish I could have some kind of gong for them to gong or a plaque or trophy to take home.  Cheesy, I know...

From her, I will keep first and foremost in my head the importance of words... what is said and how it is said.  Words matter.

photo via Flickr by Rob Hogeslag