The courage of a lion

As physiotherapists we are motivational, we drive patients to push through pain and frustration, to persist to reach their goals. We are their motivation to achieve health. For the first time in my physiotherapy experience I have been awed by the courage of one patient to push through.

When a frail elderly female patient was experiencing 10/10 pain, it was not the over exaggerated kind you sometimes come across. The screaming and crying were no put on. This patient was in extreme pain. Yet she was determined to move, even though moving at all caused her left hip to give her excruciating pain. We had to log roll her then do a cradle transfer with two keeping her legs straight just to sit on the edge of the bed. The pain was already tiring her out, but she continued to say "no, I want to move, let's go" and when we did with less pain she was ecstatic saying "yes, we are going girls, we are going!" Just to move without pain was a blessing. And when I say move, my sock foot was the means by which she managed to slide her left foot along the floor with two assist and a 4WW. Slow but steady we managed to go two meters. It was a miraculous moment for the severity of pain but also the immobility the patient had endured for two days.

You might ask why I persisted in mobilising this patient, considering the pain and the fact it took 40 minutes to get out of bed to walk two meters. But we all know the perils of immobility and when a patient is even more driven than you, you know you have to encourage that kind of attitude when it is safe to do so.

Through out the ordeal, breathing control and relaxation helped to reduce her pain perception and re-energise her for further efforts. She wept and was grateful to get back into bed, but she was also elated. And I must say, all three medical staff that it took to walk two meters were in awe of her courage and her persistance through excruciating pain. Some times you come across great moments of great character that inspire you to plough on. In all future situations I will remember her determination and achievement. We see alot of the negative side of health and the community in hospitals, but there are also moments of greatness.