Busy Clinic

Today I logged three patient visits back to back.  I have only done this once before in the CHC about 2 months ago.

The first visit was sprung on me due to a 12th term intern.  She has been done with her patient visits for a week now and I was next in line to work with her patients.  I did the assessment, she asked the patient questions about the current status of the problem we were to treat and just like that, I was treating my new patient.  Fortunately, I got a few good adjustments on this new patient and the problem cleared up immediately, which was a severe headache.

The next visit today was a patient with lower back pain and shoulder girdle/thoracic pain.  In conjunction to this pain, the patient was also seeing a PT for a shoulder problem.  I treated the lower back problem and the upper back/neck problem by adjusting the spine and deep tissue work.  The adjustments went well, the patient felt immediate relief and obtained greater motion overall.  The issue was a locked up pelvis and upper back.  Once these segments began moving, the pain level reduced significantly to almost no pain at all!  Directly after the adjustment, I spoke with a massage therapist who was treating the patient after me and gave directions as to which muscles to focus on.  Apparently, the patient left pain free.  I will see this person again on Friday.

The final patient of the day was a challenging one.  One that I have been struggling to figure out how to adjust due to the physical condition of the patients body.  The issue was largely due to severely weak abdominal muscles which has been causing excessive absorption of mechanical forces into the lower back musculature.  We utilized the flexion-distraction table which is motorized and allows tissues to be pinned and stretched.  Great relief was obtained using this table but unfortunately only around 25% reduction in pain was elicited with this approach.  Overall, a 75% reduction in pain was achieved after two visits.  The slow response is likely due to the poor health of the tissues we are working with.  I think I will be using electrotherapy to wear out the muscles next time I see the patient which will allow me to adjust the lumbar spine more effectively.

We chatted about proper lifting and bending habits that must be implemented in order for the problem to subside.  Hip hinging and abdominal bracing is key for this patient to regain control over a highly dysfunctional abdominal system.  I will treat this patient for the 3rd time either Friday or Saturday if the symptoms go up or do not reduce.  Next week I will see this patient two times and then reduce the frequency to 1 time per week for maintenance care and wellness implementation for dietary counsel and fitness improvement.

After all was said and done, Dr. Roberts sat next to me and told me I need to up my game with my patient care.  She advised that I give more to the patient as far as services go because they can easily go to a field doctor for their care.  She wants me and everyone else to go the extra mile.  Sort of pamper the patients a little and offer an expansive approach to treatment.  Make them feel as if we are giving them a lot for their money and more than likely, if they get results and feel pampered, they will continue care.

Lessons are being learned and the stress is reducing each day I spend at the clinic.

All for now