The Quick Fix

We are lucky to work with such a dedicated group of patients that we have built some amazing lasting relationships with over the years. Many of these patients came to us to help resolve an issue. A sore foot when running, a pinched neck that can’t move, a shoulder that sears with pain lifting the kids…those are the types of things that force one to pick up the phone and seek some guidance. Some degree of disruption to life has occurred.

Over the years we have noticed there are two types of people who pick up that phone and seek our help: those that see the ‘big picture’ and those looking for the ‘quick fix’.

In 2009, when we opened TPA, wide eyed and bushy tailed we were on a utopic mission to save the planet from ailments and chronic disease due to injury and inactivity. We believed in our heart of hearts that all patients would want to better their own health and choose a path of long term success if they had the tools and knew how to use them.

Enter 2018, thousands of patients later as seasoned veterans of the sports medicine and rehabilitation scene. We are here with somewhat of a defeated perspective…some people just can’t be helped. Not because their injury is so severe or complex, but because their expectation is ‘to get fixed’. And that expectation is so deeply rooted that a 30 minute session doesn’t stand much of chance to dig it up.

See, people are not cars that can get dropped off to have the breaks swapped out or the alignment tweaked while we read the news of the day.

Our injuries and issues occur to living, adaptable, biological tissue. Tissues that are affected by dozens, likely hundreds (maybe even thousands) of variables including things like how your workplace makes you feel, the quality of your sleep, what dietary choices you make 80-90% of the time, how many truly close friends you have, experiences with previous injuries etc. etc. etc.

We admit the list of things that can affect how your injury heals or how you are coping with your pain can be daunting. And we can certainly appreciate the sentiment that it would be easier sometimes to swap out that cranky shoulder or irritating low back. Heck, we would even encourage you to joke light heartedly about it (laughter after all is one of nature’s best medicine).

The expectation to walk into an office with a problem and walk out feeling ‘brand new again’ is frankly unrealistic.

We all want to get better, fast. As clinicians we have invested a lot of time, energy and effort into learning how we can help facilitate that. And we have had the pleasure of working with some amazing human beings that have experienced, seemingly, unbelievable results.

One of my patients is a gentleman that was told he needed back surgery or would risk never walking again. You can now find him throwing the ball around with his boys or renovating his house as he pleases.

Another lady had persistent daily headaches that caused her to miss more days of work in a week than she could make. And weekends were nothing to look forward to. She is now working when she needs to and enjoying life with friends and family in ways she never thought she could.

If you want to increase your chances of being one of these people, let me share something they all seem to have in common: active engagement. Engaged patients say things like, “I want to be involved in the process, I want to understand my injury or my issue and I am eager to do everything I can to help my situation”.

Those looking for the quick fix, on the other hand, drop their body on the table and wait for dr. mechanic to swap out their pain. Instead of engagement there is expectation.

Expectation of being fixed, creates an imbalance of power…almost like the creation of some pseudo supernatural powers held by your therapist or doctor. We certainly don’t subscribe to the notion that as therapists we hold any supernatural powers. If your doctor or therapist embraces this type of power imbalance, I would suggest this is likely in the doctor’s best interest and not yours.

At The Proactive Athlete we are looking for actively engaged patients. Partners in the treatment and rehabilitation process. If this is not you, that is okay…but we are not the right clinic for you.

If you’re interested in doing what it takes to truly feel better and live a healthier more active life…then welcome, you’re among friends who feel the same way you do.