6 out of 10
Sheree DiBIASE | Hagadone News Network | UPDATED 12 years, 6 months AGO
"Oh just live with it and it's all in your head." I have heard those statements a lot in my 28-year career as a Physical Therapist. Part of those statements sound true however there is definitely more to the story. Recently, one of my patients told me that Arthur had come to visit. At first I thought what? Who in the world is Arthur? She then quickly clarified that Arthur is the nickname for her arthritis. She calls it that when it flares up. We both laughed and suddenly I wondered how many people out there just live with Arthur everyday and think that they have no other choice.
In physical therapy everyday we are constantly asking our patients what is your pain today on a scale of 1 to 10? I am sure they all get tired of the question. Some even laugh and say I don't even know. I just know I can't look over my shoulder when I drive, or put on my shoes and socks or lift a gallon of milk off the top rack in the refrigerator. So what is your answer, on a scale of 1 to 10 today? Are you above a 6 out of 10 with your shoulder pain or your neck that is so stiff you have a headache?
Here's what we tell our patients. Anything over a 6 out of 10 is too much pain and there are things you can learn to do and things we can do in physical therapy to help you. You do not have to live with pain like that, period. Anything above a 6/10 is too much pain. Your mind and your body are so connected that you can deal with pain below a 6, but when it rises above a 6, it is way too much. Your body and your mind are so connected that we become frustrated and agitated when our pain goes to high. So don't think just because Arthur came to visit he has to stay. There is a way to keep him from taking up permanent residence. We might not be able to get rid of him all together, but we can help you deal with him so your pain is below a 6 out of 10. So just come into physical therapy and we will help you find some answers.
Sheree DiBiase, PT, and her staff can be reached at (208) 667-1988 and they are happy to help you learn how to keep Arthur from taking up residence. Lake City Physical Therapy
ARTICLES BY SHEREE DIBIASE
All about pelvic health
Kegel mania started years ago. In fact most of the women I know have heard about Kegel exercises, even if they don't really understand them or know how to do them very well. Often women will say, "I think I'm doing it right, but I'm really not sure."
T'was the night before
When I was little I loved the magic of the poem “The Night Before Christmas.” My parents had a well-worn book that had beautiful illustrated pictures and they would read it to me each Christmas season. As soon as I could read it myself I would slowly read each page and get lost in my imagination. I would pretend that St. Nicholas was coming to my house in Maryland, landing on our roof with his reindeers and sneaking in my living room to deliver the “goods.” I would wait up as long as I could to try to get a peek of him. I wanted to know him. I wanted to watch him make his delivery. I wanted to see if he was really “jolly.” I wanted to believe. I wanted to believe in something bigger and better than anything I'd ever known.
Caregivers make the world a better place
Last week one of my incredible, long-term employees came to me and said, "I know what you need to write about next week. You need to write about all of our amazing patients that are caregivers. They need to know they are not alone and that we can help them, make this time of their lives better." I smiled and we proceeded to talk about the art of caregiving and the caregivers themselves.