PUSHING THROUGH THE PAIN
A Sensitive and Skilled Team Assist Patient in Return to Home
When a slip on the treadmill resulted in a broken shoulder, Jayne Dunn of Plymouth, MA was hospitalized needing right shoulder surgery for a fracture. After a two week hospitalization Jayne, age 59 entered a rehabilitation program where unfortunately she developed severe back pain and muscle spasms.
Jayne was then re-hospitalized with a compression fracture and possible rib fracture. In addition to her shoulder injury worsening back pain left her unable to ambulate. When Jayne came to Radius she’d been out of her home for seven weeks and was quite demoralized regarding yet another hospitalization.
At the time of her admission to Radius Jayne was in a lot of pain and efforts to help her with this left her overmedicated. She was unresponsive to family who thought she was surely “dying.” Other providers indicated that her prognosis was likely lifelong care in a skilled nursing facility. Jayne and her family struggled to cope with what appeared to be this new reality.
Jayne presented the Radius team with a complex medical history including uncontrolled diabetes, depression, hypertension, hypothyroidism and obesity. She came to Radius for short term rehabilitation to increase her gait stability, strength and flexibility as well as for pain management and management of her complex medical conditions. Upon admission Jayne was followed by a Radius interdisciplinary team that included medicine, endocrinology, psychiatry, nephrology and rehabilitation.
As part of Jayne’s treatment plan Radius addressed decreasing her pain medications while optimizing her pain management. She began work in rehab with therapists who tapped in to her determination to get better.. As Jayne progressed with her treatment plan there was a marked boost in her self-confidence. Her depression decreased and a motivated, hard working patient emerged, a patient who always pushed herself, despite the pain. She became a role model to other patients in the gym and reached out to less able patients on her Unit.
Prior to her injury Jayne had been very active and now her hopes for the future are to return to an active lifestyle. She has immediate goals to be more independent including walking unsupervised, driving her car and shopping. Jayne is the mother of 4 children, 7 grandchildren and one great grandchild. She lives at home with her husband and chocolate lab, Coco and is surrounded by lots of love, and the physical and emotional support of all of her family. She is grateful for the support, encouragement and skills of the Radius rehab team who provided her with the sometimes necessary push that she needed to do the work. And most of all, after being out of her home for four months, she is most grateful to be home.
At Radius Jayne formed significant relationships with many of the staff who boosted her confidence and helped her to become stronger. Radius felt like family to her. She and her family felt prepared for her discharge to home and appreciated the efforts of her discharge planner who ensured a smooth transition to home. Her family was educated regarding her needs and she continues to receive home based rehab. Interviewed at her home, she and her family expressed appreciation for staff at all levels for providing the nurturing environment necessary for recovery.
PUBLISHED WITH PERMISSION.
