Lessons and Rewards

So, it's been a week working at the rehab clinic and I have got to say, it's been an amazing experience so far. Already I'm getting to know a number of the clients by name and to which therapist they belong. I get to hear some very interesting stories from them, including what happen to bring them into the clinic. I have several that I've become close, but many others I am still getting to know and become close to them. Because of confidentiality I will not mention private information.
One of the ladies I have gotten close with is a 95-year-old. She had a hip fracture and is now experiencing knee troubles. She does work with the P.T. Assistant about 2 times a week. She has told me quite a bit about how her family is very helpful with her and how she was the first majorette at the university she attended. From what I've been told, she has progressed a lot. She also tells me to make sure to keep on with schooling and that I'm going into a great field. I have to agree with her on that.
Another lady I have to agree with also works with the P.T. Assistant as well as the head physical therapist. She has had knee problems as well. I watched one time when she was being worked on, and you can see the pain in her face as she was going through the motions. The P.T. Assistant works really hard on his patients, perhaps a little too hard. But anyways, this is what the lady told me about them: "They may put me through hell, but there is a reason why I chose them." Patients know those who will work them above and beyond their limitations, and even though they will experience pain, they know that that pain will get rid of the original symptom.
An interesting time was when I got to observe a P.T. with a new client. She came in with back problems. The P.T. asked her several questions about how she felt during the day and when the pain would hurt etc. I watched as the P.T. looked at her back and made her move her back side to side and front to back. There seemed to be no problems with that, so it wasn't a spinal problem. Then, she would move the patient's knees to see if the problem was actually coming from her knees and causing the back problem. No pain again. Then, the P.T. began to massage different areas in her lower back and found out the problem was actually in her buttock region. She was involved with a lot of sitting for quite some time and it caused less blood flow to those regions. So, the P.T. came up with some exercises for her to do to help out with the problem. Physical therapy is like a solving a puzzle. A person can come in for one symptom, but the cause could be hidden somewhere else.
One of my favorite things I have done so far was help out with the O.T. (occupational therapist) with a client of hers. She has had a broken wrist and had to have surgery for it. My task was to help her with some of her exercises to move her wrist. We had her using a hand grip, picking up small items with her thumb and different fingers, and this one machine where you put a peg with the outside looking like an everyday tool and you would have the person turn it to work the wrist. I must say she did fantastic. I was thinking she didn't even need therapy anymore! It was my first time working hands on with a patient, and I really enjoyed it.
Even though it has been a week, it has been a rewarding experience so far, and I know that this will be a rewarding occupation. I'm so glad to have chosen this path for myself and I can't wait to continue on.