As 2015 winds down and we embark on another year of guiding PTs toward being the best caregivers they can be, we invite you to reflect on some of the experiences that have shaped your approach in one way or another.

Here’s one from NAIOMT clinical fellowship instructor, Rajesh Khemraj, PT, OCS, COMT, FAAOMPT.

~ I love how every patient experience is truly unique. The stories they share with us can be humorous, truly profound and moving (bringing you to tears!) or sometimes so crazy you can barely believe they didn’t make it up!

“You won’t believe what happened to me,” said an old patient of mine when we ran into  each other in the parking lot of a store recently. He is a professional kickball player, yes, a kickball player, a fact that took me a few visits with him to fully believe! He was serious about it and very athletic. He would talk about the sport like any other athlete, and we carried out his training accordingly.

After catching up for a bit he raised his sleeve and said, “Check this out.” He revealed a big nasty scar the length of his humerus. While in a big kickball tournament in Las Vegas, he was getting ready to drill someone with the ball. As he wound up and started to throw, he heard a jarring double crack. He immediately dropped to the ground. He recalls his teammates were too grossed out to get close to him, but he did get care,  and eventually a rod and screws put in his arm.

I have to say, he is the first person that I have ever heard of shattering his arm just by the force of throwing a ball!

What is one of your best/interesting/moving (anonymous) patient story of the year?!

– Rajesh Khemraj, PT, OCS, COMT, FAAOMPT