Heavy Lifting… Bring a Friend
I’ve known Carl for some 20 years and I can still remember his first visit to my old office in Eastchester. He’s a naturally strong man with large shoulders and arms that don’t come from working out in the gym. He was born that way. When he shakes your hand, it feels like he’s grabbing you from the elbow down and could lift you off the ground with the flick of his wrist. This strength has served him well in his construction career.
Last week, he limped into my office, significantly crooked and holding his lower back. His torso was angled 45-degrees from his hips and his breath was stressed as if breathing deep would send him into a spasm. When I asked him “How did this happen?” he just shrugged and said “I don’t know. Got out of bed this way.” I thought of a few humorous things to say, but I didn’t say them because a laugh could’ve brought him to his knees, and even in this weakened state, he was still capable of hurting me.
Knowing that I wasn’t going to get any reliable info from Carl, I asked his wife who had driven him, to come back into the treatment room. The first thing she said was “Did he tell you he was moving boulders in the yard over the weekend?”. She went on to tell me that he spent hours digging up, lifting, and moving rocks weighing between 50 and 100 lbs.!
Why am I telling you this story? It’s because no matter how savvy you are about your health, when you’re not feeling well, it can be challenging to be your own advocate. It’s a good idea to bring a family member or friend. Someone who can communicate with the doctor, think of follow-up questions, or help interpret the doctor’s answers. I know from experience that patients who involve another person in their care get better results and are more satisfied with their provider.
When coming into our office, help us take better care of you. Make a list of questions, recent procedures, or changes in medications. Fill us in on your health status, and any notable changes. Don’t worry, we don’t expect you to be perfect (we’re not) – fess up to your on-again, off-again workout routine or weekly happy hours. Most importantly, bring a family member or friend, and let us know about the boulders you’ve been lifting.