NEWSLETTERApril, 2018Featured in this issue:
Maximizing Time With Your PhysiciansThe medical system today is extremely complex, and can be overwhelming at times. Medical specialization now has us seeing many different doctors (specialists) at one time. In order to get the best possible outcome from any doctor visit and enhance coordination of care, it really does help to be an active consumer. With a little preparation, you can become your own health advocate and feel like you're getting the most out of each and every doctor visit. The following is a list of tips to help you take a more active role in your own personal health care. Prepare for the Visit.How many times have you left a doctor's office only to think of a question you wish Volunteer Information.Volunteer information about your symptoms and other health concerns, even if you're not specifically asked. The physician needs to know why you're there and what's bothering you. The more information you volunteer during your visit, the better your doctor is in determining what's causing your ailment and how best to treat it. It is also helpful to have an organized folder or notebook with pertinent health records for each new physician that you see. For example, this folder might contain a list of current medications, test results, diagnostic reports from x-rays and MRIs, etc. Ask Questions.Don't hesitate to ask questions and voice concerns as they occur to you during the appointment. Patients often want to seem cooperative and not appear pushy or ask what seems like a "dumb" question. Remember, no question is ever a dumb question when it comes to healthcare. It's your body and you are the person who needs to understand the plan. It's perfectly okay to say to your doctor, 'Wait, I want to make sure I understand what you're saying. This is important and I want to get this right." Then, make sure you write down the answers. Bring a Friend.Because appointments can be a little confusing at times, it helps to have an extra set of ears to pick up on instructions and other information. Bringing a friend, spouse, or adult child to an appointment is a good idea because it's sometimes difficult to keep track of all the information. Having someone who can take notes and be your scribe can be very helpful. Review the written information with your doctor before you leave the office. Bring a List of Medications.Everyone should have a current list of medications to show the doctor, but many don't. It helps you get organized and helps the doctor understand what you're taking. Your physician may not know that another doctor has started you on a new medication and this could lead to overdose or complications. Include the names of the medications, the doses, and the schedule of when you take those medications. Include vitamins, supplements (such as calcium), and over-the-counter medicines (such as heartburn remedies). Get a Recap.Before leaving your appointment, ask for a recap. Ask the doctor to repeat the instructions you're supposed to follow, and make sure you're both on the same page. Write things down, so you can remember what you talked about during and after the appointment. Finally, be sure you know how to contact your doctor's office if you have further questions. Incorporating these tips can help you get the most out of each and every visit with your doctor. Maximizing Time with Your Physical TherapistPhysical Therapy is a very powerful tool for treating a variety of condtions. Your therapist will, undoubtedly, play a large role in your recovery process. However, it really is a team effort between you and your therapist. Your participation is critical to overall success! Below is a list of what you can do to maximize your therapy experience and expedite your healing process. Think of Therapy as a Team Approach.Understand going into therapy that your therapist has the knowledge and expertise to steer you in the right direction for healing, but that it’s up to you to follow through and actively participate. If you are chronically late, miss appointments and/or are not consistent with your home exercises, this will affect your recovery timeline. You will spend approximately 1-3 hours/week with your therapist. While that time is invaluable in allowing them to provide you with some hands-on care, educate you on your condition, and guide you through exercises, you will still have many hours left during the week in which what you do will impact your progress in a positive or negative way. Set Realistic Expectations.This can be a tough for some patients, and understandably so. Anxious to get back to their prior level of function and not knowing the pathology underlying their condition (or the time it takes for tissues to heal), it is very easy for folks to be somewhat off base with their expectations. Every individual case is unique, and the length of time required to heal is also unique. Be sure to talk with your therapist at your first visit (once they’ve had the chance to fully assess your condition) about their findings, and how that will potentially impact your timeline for healing. Ask Questions.Part of our job as a therapist is to educate you on your body (both its normal function and what’s gone wrong in your particular case) as well as the “how and why” behind our treatment choices and recommendations. Asking questions helps you better understand what is going on, and it makes it easier to grasp realistic expectations for recovery. So if you ever feel you don’t fully understand any part of your treatment, ask us, and ask follow up questions until you do understand. Be Open/Honest.An honest, ongoing dialogue regarding your condition is invaluable in optimizing your treatment. Without your honest report, your therapist will have no way of uncovering such valuable information about your current state, and how their treatment choices are affecting that condition. Withholding information about your activity level, medications, and compliance with your therapist’s recommendations is not ideal either. We can typically tell when a patient is not following through with our recommendations. If you find you are unable to follow through on what your therapist suggests (whether it be particular exercises, activity restrictions, postural adjustments, etc.), bring it up at your next session. The two of you should be able to problem solve through any barrier. Listen to Your Body.Paying attention to how your body is responding to treatment can be crucial to your overall recovery. Pain is your body’s way of alerting you to trouble, and ignoring it can be very detrimental to your healing. Relief from symptoms can often be easy to miss. However, paying attention to those things that bring relief can be equally important to note. Being open and honest with your therapist about what your body is telling you will assist them in evaluating the effectiveness of treatment and allow them to adjust accordingly. PHYSICAL THERAPIST SPOTLIGHT:Mike Wells, DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy)Managing Partner Severna Park Office, VEDA Certified Vestibular Disorder Specialist When Mike was in high school, he sustained 2 shoulder surgeries from playing football. He was in physical therapy three days per week for many months and found that the people who oversaw his treatment truly cared about his recovery and wanted to help him meet all of his goals. In addition, it appeared to Mike that they had a lot of fun doing their job. It was then that Mike realized that this was the field he wanted to get into--one in which he could make a difference in helping people in their everyday lives in addition to looking forward to going to the office every day. Pursuant to this, Mike attended the University of Maryland and earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2005. Following graduation, he first specialized in working with athletes as he played multiple sports throughout his entire life. He enjoyed this population as he felt they were highly motivated to return to the field/court/rink and were willing to put in the extra work. Later in Mike's career, after working with so many patients whose injuries occurred following a fall, he decided to become a certified vestibular therapist. He wanted to help people prevent falls so that the injury and surgery never occurs. Mike feels the most rewarding part of his job is seeing when a patient, who was sure that he or she would "never get better" starts to notice improvements in pain, movement and/or strength. "It is like a light switch flips on and they start feel hope and optimism again" Mike says. Outside of the clinic, Mike enjoys spending time with his wife and 3 kids, going to the beach, exercising, rooting for the Orioles and Terps, and trying to find time to read a good book. When Mike retires (a long time from now), he wants to travel and perform volunteer work. The Importance Proper Lifting TechniquesWhy is safe lifting important?One of the most common causes of lower back injury is inappropriate lifting technique. Safe lifting, by ensuring correct lifting technique, is vital to minimize stress on the spine, therefore reducing the likelihood of lower back injury and lower back pain. Appropriate lifting technique can also help to strengthen your thighs, buttocks and lower back muscles, and improve posture. Various lifting techniques, which are taught to you by your physical therapist, should be considered while taking into account the weight of the object and the height from which you are lifting. Always remember these basic key elements when lifting: Don’t Bend Forward When You Lift.It’s a natural instinct to bend forward to lift something heavy. But when you do, significant strain on your lower back can lead to sudden injuries or repetitive motion injuries. Instead, squat at the knee to the level of the object and tighten your abdominal muscles. Move the object, bring it to your chest and hold it close, then lift it straight up using your leg muscles. Never Turn or Twist While Lifting.Never turn your body or twist your back while lifting. The added weight while twisting could cause pulled muscles, or severe injuries, depending on how heavy the load is. When you need to turn, be sure it's from a standing position, then pivot your feet instead. Hold the Object at Chest Level.When lifting, you want to keep the object in your arms at chest level. Avoid lifting heavy objects above your shoulders and use the proper equipment to lift and place heavy objects on a high shelf. Get Help When Lifting.For large, heavy items, you’ll likely want to do a “buddy lift,” where you and another person each lift one side of the object and carry it. However, this technique requires caution, since one person will generally be walking backwards. Make certain the path is clear of any debris before you lift and carry the object in a “buddy lift.” Deadline for Filing Tax Returns: April 17, 2018Medical expenses can take a bite out of your budget, especially if you have unforeseen emergencies that are not fully covered by your insurance. The Internal Revenue Service allows taxpayers some relief, making some of these expenses partly tax-deductible. To take advantage of this tax deduction, you need to know what counts as a medical expense and how to claim the deduction. Deduction value for medical expenses:The IRS allows you to deduct qualified medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income for 2017 and 2018. Beginning Jan. 1, 2019, all taxpayers may deduct only the amount of the total unreimbursed allowable medical care expenses for the year that exceeds 10% of their adjusted gross income. Your adjusted gross income (AGI) is your taxable income minus any adjustments to income such as deductions, contributions to a traditional IRA and student loan interest. For example, if you have a modified adjusted gross income of $45,000 and $5,475 of medical expenses, you would multiply $45,000 by 0.075 (7.5 percent) to find that only expenses exceeding $3,375 can be deducted. This leaves you with a medical expense deduction of $2,100 (5,475 - 3,375). Which medical expenses are deductible?The IRS allows you to deduct preventative care, treatment (including physical therapy), surgeries and dental and vision care as qualifying medical expenses. You can also deduct visits to psychologists and psychiatrists. Prescription medications and appliances such as glasses, contacts, false teeth and hearing aids are also deductible. The IRS also lets you deduct the expenses that you pay to travel for medical care such as mileage on your car, bus fare and parking fees. What's not deductible?Any medical expenses for which you are reimbursed, such as by your insurance or employer, cannot be deducted. In addition, the IRS generally disallows expenses for cosmetic procedures. You cannot deduct the cost of non-prescription drugs (except insulin) or other purchases for general health such as toothpaste, health club dues, vitamins or diet food, non-prescription nicotine products or medical expenses paid in a different year. |