Is Recovery Just a Process or the Bond That Forms Through it?

Chapters

• 0:00 Introduction to a Different Episode
• 2:15 Discovering the Missed Shoulder Injury
• 5:12 Sarah's Journey to Physical Therapy
• 11:28 Tailoring Treatment to Patient Needs
• 15:08 Challenges with Insurance and Doctors
• 20:54 Advocating for Patient Care
• 22:53 Final Thoughts and Contact Information

Transcript

Sterling: 0:00

Hello wonderful people, this is Sterling Brown, your host to Struggle to Success podcast, and I want to say that this episode that you're about to hear is different. It was recorded with Rhodes GoTo mics and it was recorded live in transition. So that transition was it was recorded in the midst of doing something else. I know everyone is going to enjoy it. In this episode I had the opportunity to speak with Sarah Wright, who is a doctor of physical therapy who helped me recover after breaking my forearm and tearing my shoulder, an injury that almost ended everything. So, yeah, you might hear a few audio hiccups, a couple of rough pitches, but don't let that fool you. This conversation is packed with gold. You're going to hear how physical therapy isn't just about healing the body. It's about advocating for yourself when the system fails you, about having a team that actually pays attention and how the right person in your corner can literally save your life and your future.

Sterling: 1:07

If you've ever been injured, overlooked or told you're fine when you know something else is still off, this episode is for you.

Sarah Wright: 1:16

If you have ever been told by someone that you're not capable of attaining success, if you have made mistakes or lived in an underprivileged neighborhood, then this podcast is for you. You are now locked in to Struggle to Success. Struggle to Success aims to inspire individuals to navigate life's challenges with courage, fortitude and unwavering determination. So if you're in your car jogging or somewhere else trying to find the calm in the storm, then join Struggle to Success airing every other Saturday. Remember life is trial. Stay focused.

Sterling: 1:52

So we started off with a radius break the right forearm and rehabilitation, continuous follow-up, follow-up. And then you did something that was far and beyond.

Speaker 3: 2:07

You noticed something that was off about my posture well, definitely from the first day that you were here you came to me and was supposed to be work conditioning, so it was supposed to be like higher level, really physically strenuous activity, and first visit I was like this is not appropriate for him. He hasn't even healed this radius fracture yet. So we were already starting to see that there were deficits. And then, as we were exploring, okay, why are these deficits? I say distally, so like lower into the arm, why are they still there?

Speaker 3: 2:38

We start looking into your shoulder and I'm like, oh, this is way weaker than just the deconditioning over the year of being out of work. So there was already some concerns at that point. And so that's like we started off talking to your doctor, getting the regular physical therapy code for the lower part of your arm to start with, and then, as we started rehabilitating that, the exercises that you should have been able to do to strengthen and stabilize I say proximally, so closer to your shoulder you weren't able to do those exercises. So then that's when red flags started going off for us that we said, okay, we need to look into why are we plateauing here. And that's how we got to the point of let's get an MRI for the shoulder, figuring out that it's been torn this whole. The rotator cuff has been torn this whole time.

Sterling: 3:25

That was shocking.

Speaker 3: 3:27

Yeah, yeah, and definitely interesting that it hadn't been looked into with the traumatic type of injury that you had, that it hadn't been looked into first. But definitely they always start with the more severe, more obvious injury, which was your lower arm at the time. So I'm not even sure how soon that they would have looked at your shoulder because of the severity of the lower arm.

Sterling: 3:51

If you guys and gals hadn't brought it to the table, it would have been missed. If we don't have a good physical therapist team put in place, this is what happens, you know. And then now here's this individual who believes they're 100. Those of us are that are law enforcement or we missed. We miss it. And then here we are again, like what happened and you're putting in the hard work.

Speaker 3: 4:16

like really from day one you were like on board with what our plan was going to be for you and like never questioning why we were doing anything, putting in your best effort, kind of knowing when to limit yourself, when you're supposed to limit yourself, when we're trying to say back off on some of the pain. So I always say, it's the hard work that you're putting in. We're kind of just facilitating, we're helping you navigate that, but you're doing the hard work.

Sterling: 4:38

What led you to pursue a career in physical therapy?

Speaker 3: 4:45

So I was injured myself as a teenager, just more like simple injuries that I was in and out of physical therapy. There was one like up the street from my parents' house and it like that type of environment. I was like, oh, I never saw myself working at a desk, and so once I was in that type of environment, I could see myself being able to like physically care for people in a different way than doctors do. So I get to establish relationships with people. I get to see them three times a week, um, and I like building those relationships with people.

Speaker 3: 5:10

So, like you said, the fact that we've been together now close to a year since you started PT, that is what I wanted out of a job and I wanted to build those relationships and I wanted to be something that a community resource too. So I looked specifically for a type of physical therapy company that could let me practice the way that I want to practice, which is being able to get one on one care when I need to be pretty autonomous and everything that I do. So when I see needs like that, I can have those conversations with the doctors, change up my schedule to address your needs too. So, like today how I'm like okay, I want to have a one-on-one session so we can talk about all of this, that I get to do that. So, even specifically, the company that I work with was really important to be the physical therapist that I wanted to be.

Sterling: 6:01

Was that a long process before you started to practice here?

Speaker 3: 6:07

So I were kind of introduced to companies. When I'm in grad school we're like learning about different companies. I had worked for another company as a tech where I was kind of just helping out the physical therapists. So some companies do see much more patients than we do in each hour but then they're not able to have some of that manual time that I really feel like. As a clinician, I know the benefit of my hands-on treatments and I wanted to be in an environment where I do that. So that was definitely something that I was looking for when I was interviewing with different companies. I was also looking for mentorship. So as a new grad, I didn't want to just start doing things on my own. I wanted that mentorship aspect. So things that I looked for in. So things that I looked for in yeah, things that I looked for definitely in companies as I was interviewing for them. But as soon as I interviewed here I knew that this is where I belonged.

Speaker 3: 6:58

So I'm from Delaware County, closer to Philly, and I went to undergrad and grad school at Widener. They had a program that as a senior in high school I was accepted to the program and as long as I kept up my undergrad grades I could go right in so I didn't have to take juries or reapply to grad school. So I liked that aspect and I could get it done in six years. I'm also from that area and the Chester community is close to home for me and I love the sense of community that Widener brings to Chester. So Widener was really focused on, like Chester is giving us this space and we need to give back to them for letting us have this part of their community. So we had pro bono clinic that starting as soon as you started grad school, you were working as a physical therapist student in a pro bono clinic where I was getting to treat the patients.

Sterling: 7:47

How fast are you able to tailor a person's?

Speaker 3: 7:51

program. So a lot of it happens at eval and we call that like the subjective is the conversation that we have before I start doing any type of measurements. So I usually do a little bit more detailed. Subjective because I feel like it's so important to tailor sessions to the person and what their responsibilities are. So the fact that you came to me and you hadn't been doing anything like how you would grip a gun, like you hadn't been training your grip in that position, that was already I don't want to say red flag, but a red flag to me that like, okay, you're about to supposedly be returned to work and you haven't practiced holding a gun, shooting a gun at that point, like that was concerning, or even just we talked about that first visit, the um, the word that you use when you're like controlling a situation. I forget how you use it.

Speaker 3: 8:42

Maintaining positive control yes, maintaining positive control, like those types of physical duties that other people don't need to do that, but that is a requirement for you to be able to return to work. You need to be able to do that pain-free and with the level of strength that can keep you and the other people safe in the situation. So that was something that I needed to get out of that first visit. So as we progressed your program, I knew that that was the functional progressions I was going to make for you.

Sterling: 9:10

How do you proceed with different people from walks of life? Like you know, I'm in law enforcement. The issues that I would have where someone would not be in law enforcement, and the nervousness, the aggravation how do you?

Speaker 3: 9:24

handle that. So my undergrad degree was in psychology and that was really important for me because I wanted to understand how the brain worked, how people work, how they interact with each other, and a lot of people told me psychology has nothing to do with physical therapy. Why are you doing this as an undergrad degree? And I was like I work with people every day, like that is, I'm using my undergrad degree more in a casual conversation way every single day. So I think because of all that education, I kind of can read people a little bit more and so even like sometimes I see a patient across the room and I'm not working with them but like oh, just get a vibe from them that I feel like I need to go over or to like pull their therapist aside and just like make sure that that's being looked at. So I definitely get it from my undergrad degree. I think that background people's experience in physical therapy is just as important as the exercises and the hands-on stuff that I'm giving them. So I really do my best to make it a positive environment for everyone, because no one wants to be in physical therapy and so anything that I can do to make sure that maybe this is a happy experience, you know, one hour three times a week that they get to hang out here with people that they're familiar with. Like that's my goal of people physical therapy and I do feel like that maximizes the benefit of all the exercises and the treatments that we do too.

Speaker 3: 10:39

What are some of your hobbies outside of here that creates enjoyment? My family is really important to me, so spending as much time doing whatever with them, like whatever I can with them, so we go on hikes, we go on walks, um, I think since you've been here, I've taken my grandma on a few different vacations, so I like taking her across the country to see things. Um, you know I like to read. I do read PT research, but also regular books too, and I'm a big Philly sport fan.

Sterling: 11:07

So any games that I can get to.

Speaker 3: 11:11

Yeah.

Sterling: 11:13

From your perspective, what are the biggest challenges patients or therapists face when dealing with insurance companies, and doctors when dealing with the best course of treatment?

Speaker 3: 11:22

So with insurance companies there's just like hard rules that we have to follow and oftentimes it's a limit set by them that, no matter what happens to you, no matter who you are, this is the number that you get. This is the number of PT visits that you get and there's nothing that I can do to get more visits for you. That's just the plan that you're on and so working with different patients on how to either okay, we have 30 visits this year, how do we maximize those visits? Or working towards what is our next steps once we use those 30 visits. Do we do a wellness program where you're exercising in the gym in a familiar setting that you can at least continue on the PT plan that we had? Do we do self-pay visits and then looking at options of, okay, 60-minute self-pay visits, 30-minute self-pay visits?

Speaker 3: 12:10

So the limitations that insurance companies put on us is definitely the hardest thing and it's ultimately the plan that people sign up for and there's a lot of advocating on our part for getting visits authorized. So, even though I see the patient three times a week and I say they're benefiting from skilled care, they need this continued, ultimately the insurance can say no, we think they're done here Like we're going to discharge them. So that is a huge thing that anytime that I can advocate for more PT for someone, I will. And as far as doctors, sometimes again I feel like getting them to believe like how much we do know is a struggle. Sometimes I'm seeing this patient three times a week. I know a little bit more than you might pick up in your shorter sessions with them, and that's just the sessions that they need.

Speaker 3: 13:00

It's not saying that a doctor doesn't care, it's just that they're only allowed 10 minutes with you once every few months and I see you three times a week for an hour session. So again, just advocating for the patients and trying to get the doctors to buy into what we're saying sometimes is a struggle. But a lot of doctors in this area are very receptive and they respect physical therapy, which is nice to see the progression of that. And I do have a doctorate degree and that was progressed Like our perm was. Do have a doctorate degree and that was progressed like our perm was progressed to a doctorate degree, because sometimes with some insurances I see someone before a doctor would.

Sterling: 13:36

So it's a doctorate of physical therapy.

Speaker 3: 13:41

okay, yeah, so it is a clinical doctorate. It's not like a PhD, okay, and the push for that was because I can see people without them seeing a doctor first, and so I need to be able to assess someone and see, like, are there red flags that maybe a doctor would see at a family visit and know OK, you're not appropriate for this at this time? I need to be able to do that too. That's phenomenal.

Sterling: 14:02

Yeah, and going back to what you said earlier, you know the advocacy that you do on our part goes that extra mile which technically you don't have to do. You can say we're 30 and done, we're 20 and done, but again, a lot of individuals who need your assistance need your care. They don't get that and it's sad. But it also pushes us to say you know what we can do better and you are doing extraordinary work here. Thank you. I'm going to say it a million times If you could change one thing about the health care system to make your job or in your patients' experiences better, what would it be?

Speaker 3: 14:46

So definitely the access to physical therapy when I see someone. In an ideal world, when I see someone and I feel like they need three times a week, I don't want insurance limits or the copays to be a limiter factor, but ultimately it is, and I understand how the healthcare system works and it's a, it's a plan that people sign up for, why it has to happen. But at the same time, if I could change in my ideal world, if I see the clinical need for someone to be in physical therapy three times a week, that they would be able to do that. You know what I mean. So I would say that's the biggest thing that access to care. Do you believe that?

Sterling: 15:24

and this is the final, question do you believe that insurance companies are they have too much control or they're gaining too much control over the years that you've been in this type of practice, or?

Speaker 3: 15:37

how do you see it? So I, that's a good question. The issue is that people with say, like private insurance, they buy into it. So like their argument could be if you bought a premium plan, maybe you would have more visits, so if you spend more on the front end, maybe you would have better access to things. So like, sometimes that is an argument um, I would say like the stealth, I'm sorry, the state health care insurance um is one of the most um like limiting insurances in that they give us some visits and then even if I'm saying this patient is doing great, they're really progressing, but we still have all this way to go that they're oftentimes saying oh no, we're not going to authorize any more visits when technically they're not signing up for a plan that's limiting it's state insurance.

Speaker 3: 16:29

So I wish that I could justify and advocate for the patient and then them agree to it and continue. So it's hard because they're the ones paying. So I don't know if I can say that they have been more stringent recently because that, right, they're the ones paying the bill. So I appreciate that PT is within medical coverage whereas, say, like massage chiropractor, sometimes that's not covered at all by insurance. So I appreciate that insurances recognize the importance of physical therapy, but I do wish that they would kind of let us be the guide in the way that doctors okay, if the doctor says that this is medically necessary, I wish it was the same. Okay, a physical therapist is saying this is medically necessary, let's continue doing it. So I wish that I had a little bit more pull there. But I do appreciate my company takes almost any insurance and so a lot of people come to us because their insurance isn't accepted anywhere. So, making those connections like company to insurance wise, I appreciate that I can see a lot of people who are underserved.

Speaker 3: 17:43

So I would say and with all doctors too, I say this is to go on their website and see, like, does this person seem to speak to me? Does it feel like we're on the same page? Is there like a common goal in mind? Now, for most people, I don't know if they would necessarily know that this type of company allows for one-on-one treatments, whereas this type of company you're going to be seeing you with three other patients that hour and you might not get like one-on-one attention or that type of stuff.

Speaker 3: 18:14

So I actually don't know if there is a way for any person to know that about our scheduling. But I definitely think looking on the website and seeing like does this profile speak to me? Is really important, because I am not saying I am the best physical therapist and I'm not saying that I'm the best physical therapist and I'm not saying that I'm the best physical therapist for anyone specifically, but I want I would want someone to like read my bio and feel like, okay, I can connect with her, like I feel like she would listen to me. You know what I mean, and so that's what I try to get across with the, and so that's what I I would advise people to do is just like look on the website and see if there's anything even stopping in. So if you came to the front with a script and you can kind of get a vibe from the front office, you know what I mean.

Sterling: 18:59

And I kind of feel the same way that you know, as a person on this side receiving a therapy and receiving rehabilitation. The advocacy. For myself is also important, so I would 100% think that you would agree that we should advocate for ourselves and, honestly, if it's not working out, if it's not good, mesh, go back, know that there are, yeah, options, exactly, and I always say some doctors will write you a script that says for a specific PT location.

Speaker 3: 19:32

But I always tell patients you're allowed to use that physical therapy referral anywhere that you want or that accepts your insurance. That's good information. So never think that just because they said one place, that you have to go to that place, because sometimes there are affiliations that you might not know about. So I always want people to feel like they have autonomy in their own care. So I always want people to feel like they have autonomy in their own care and so like okay, that's a physical therapy referral that you can use wherever you want to or wherever your insurance is accepted. So that's why I want people to not potentially just go to the closest place to them, but to find a place like look into it and find a place that meets their needs.

Sterling: 20:06

Sarah, thank you so much for giving us your valuable time. Personally, you're doing extraordinary work. Keep up the good work. You have a great team here and thank you for giving us your insight. Of course, thank you.

Sterling: 20:26

So, if you've made it this far, I want to say thank you, and I appreciate you for real, because this wasn't just an interview. It was a mirror, a reminder that healing isn't always visible and advocacy ain't always loud. What Sarah Wright did for me she didn't just treat pain, she prevented a setback that could have changed my life. How many of us have walked around thinking we were healed physically, mentally, emotionally when, truthfully, we're still broken underneath? This episode was a reminder that the right person at the right moment can make all the difference. But it's also a call Advocate for yourself and please, please, please, ask questions, push for clarity and don't settle. Your healing matters, your progress matters, and sometimes the system won't fight for you, but you can, until the next episode. Remember the journey from struggle to success starts with showing up for yourself, starts with showing up for yourself and always. If this episode helped you, please share it and send it to someone who's recovering physically, emotionally and spiritually.

Sterling: 21:38

Novacare Rehabilitation has a five-star rating. They're located at 270 Granite Run Drive, lancaster, pa 17601. You can reach them by phone at 717-569-4093 or on the web at wwwnovacarecom. Their hours are Monday through Friday, starting at 7 am. If you have questions about physical therapy, recovery or just want to learn more about services they offer, don't hesitate to give Sarah and her team a call. Whether you're recovering from surgery or just want to understand your options, they're there to help. And until next time remember life is trials Stay focused.

Sarah Wright: 22:27

Thanks for checking out this episode of Struggle to Success. To connect with the show, you can email us at struggletosuccessp at gmailcom. Make sure you like and subscribe so that you never miss an episode. And remember life is trials, Stay focused.