When asked, the patient reported that she was able to do all her daily living. Now, this brings up an interesting point.
Obviously, the patient *is* limited by her pain. She does not use her right arm in the same manner as if she didn't have pain. So, does this "qualify" her for OT? If we use this approach, why doesn't OT treat people who are limited by back, hip, leg or foot pain? On the other hand, the patient's concerns are ONLY related to her pain, nothing else is of great importance. Since she does not have perceived occupational deficits, does this "disqualify" her for OT? How hard should an OT dig to find occupational deficits? Isn't the OT's job to help **the patient** identify and prioritize their deficits? Obviously, this approach isn't effective with cognitively impaired patients, but for patients who are able, shouldn't THEY identify their occupational deficits, with the help of the OT? Ron ----- Original Message ----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Tuesday, August 26, 2008 To: OTlist@OTnow.com <OTlist@OTnow.com> Subj: [OTlist] Would You Treat For Refer to PT? cac> Are you sure she can reach up into high cabinets in order to cac> cook and clean with that right arm? Can she fasten her bra the cac> way she used to with an internal rotation?approach in back or cac> is?she resorting to compensation, but she would like to get back cac> to her?prior method??I'm sure if you dig hard?enough you?will cac> find some occupational dysfunction. If not I would defer to PT. cac> ?As an OT it depends if you are comfortable and competent to cac> treat shoulder dysfunction.? I have had two post professional OT cac> courses on shoulder dysfunctiion, ?taught at a credited program cac> of OT, so I have to answer yes to your question. cac> -----Original Message----- cac> From: Ron Carson <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> cac> To: OTlist <OTlist@OTnow.com> cac> Sent: Tue, 26 Aug 2008 3:15 pm cac> Subject: [OTlist] Would You Treat For Refer to PT? cac> Received a new home health referral. Patient's diagnosis is right cac> shoulder pain. Patient presents with bicep tendon pain during AROM, cac> PROM and palpation. She lives alone and is independent with all her cac> daily living tasks. cac> I referred the patient to PT for the shoulder pain. Would you, as an cac> OT, treat this patient? cac> Thanks, cac> Ron cac> -- cac> Options? cac> www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com cac> Archive? cac> www.mail-archive.com/otlist@otnow.com -- Options? www.otnow.com/mailman/options/otlist_otnow.com Archive? www.mail-archive.com/otlist@otnow.com
