I am a PA student, currently doing my final year of clinical rotations. During my last rotation I met with an elderly women who had come to our Emergency Room complaining of several days of diarrhea and she basically needed to be re-hydrated. She was a 94 year old women with basically no chronic health problems. As the IV was running and I was checking on her I asked about her activity. "Do you exercise?"
"I have exercised about every day since I was in my mid-20's. AND I would NOT recommend it at all," she emphasized. Curious to that kind of reaction I asked her why I should give up all my efforts.
She looked me straight in the eyes and paused a second before saying something I was not prepared for.
"Because I CAN'T DIE!"
Her delayed smile allowed me to finally let out the stored up laughter.
I am a recent physician assistant graduate who has stepped into the daunting field of interventional pain management. I am eager to contribute what I learn along the way and, more importantly, learn from the experts who deal with pain every day, with the goal of providing compassionate and evidence-based care.