The hospital inspections are still going on, so they have been having a harder time finding things for us to do as the physicians need to be available for the inspections as much as humanly possible when they are not with a patient. Thus, it was round three in the pain center. Today, three of us got to try out the shaking bed. It looks like a normal hospital bed, except that there are these boots that you strap into and the bed then stakes, mimicking a baby being rocked by his mother. It was very strange. It was relaxing and I could feel the tension in my shoulders (where my stress ends up) dissolving; however, it was kind of weird to be shaking in a bed. Then we went over to the physical therapy area where we tried out "the human car wash." I am sure that it has a real and scientific name; however, it looked like one of those touch-less car washes. First we had to take off our shoes, and then we lied on the mattress. Next, a domed, plastic top with a water-proof tarp came over us and warm water started shooting from the dome onto the water-proof tarp. It was like a water massage. It started out with weak water pressure then moved into a stronger pressure. I am so ticklish that in the beginning the water was making me laugh, but as the water pressure increased, my tickling decreased. Between the shaking bed and the water massage, all of the tension in my back was gone; however, I thought I was getting a little lower back pain towards the end of the water massage.
One hour later, I was in horrible pain. It was like I time traveled back to my post-surgical days and pain. I think there was just way too much stimulation for me and it made my internal organs, which were operated on, start to spasm (just like after surgery). I had some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicine with me so I took it immediately. Then I returned to the clinic, to wait for my afternoon assignment. Yet again, I was very lucky. We were dismissed early because the inspectors were still hanging around and they needed all available physicians for the afternoon. Usually, I'd be disappointed because it was a missed opportunity to learn; however, my spasms and pain were dramatically increasing. By the time Farley and I were driving back to Miami Beach, I was in tears and death gripping his hand. I took some more pain medications, iced my suture line, and took a nap. I was so lucky that I didn't have that pain come on when I was in with a patient or with one of my proctors.
I didn't think that it might bother me to try out the shaking bed and water massage because pain patients use these every day. However, post-surgical pain is a very different beast than chronic pain. I thought that I was almost 100% better, other than getting fatigued easier than normal. I learned my lesson today: I am not 100% yet!
My afternoon reiterated how horrible it is to be in pain and how helpless one can feel. As a medical student, it is always good to be reminded of how vulnerable patients feel and how with one bad turn it could be me in the hospital bed rather than a stranger. Being sick is such a humbling experience. I've always considered myself a compassionate person; but after my surgery and recovery, I think I've come to a new more personal understanding of pain and illness, which I hope will help me become a better physician. I can't even imagine what it is like for a physician who has had a grave illness, such as cancer. I expect it completely and utterly changes their view of medicine.
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