CASE STUDY MS SAM CONNOR – BACK INJURY
You are on an Allied Health clinical placement. Your client- Sam Connor (aged 24) is a third year nursing student who injured her back whilst trying to move a patient to examine them. This happened in Sam’s first year of nursing whilst on a clinical placement working at the local hospital. Sam is the ex girlfriend of your brother. Sam injured herself whilst she was dating your brother.
Sam still suffers ongoing back pain on a daily basis, is uncomfortable sitting and driving and is having difficulty sleeping. Sam is having trouble keeping up with her studies, currently repeating first Semester subjects – missed a lot of time due to the pain. Sam is drinking 3-5 wines per night. Her relationship with your brother broke up one year ago, due to her chronic pain, inability to cope, and her ongoing alcohol and drug dependency, which made her moody. Your brother initiated the break up.
INTIAL TREATMENT:
Lower back pain sudden onset – home and rested with anti-inflammatory medications and paracetamol. Back muscles were tight and tender over lumbar region but mainly to the left.
CURRENT PRESENTATION:
Sam is very angry as she has had numerous investigations and all have shown nothing conclusive. She has stopped going to the gym due to pain and is now overweight and has limited range of motion in her lumbar spine.
MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE VS CHRONIC INJURY DISCUSSION:
ACUTE: injury- pain- relief- workload- lifestyle- sleep- frustration- job role- studies- restricting movements- effect on mood- regular physio? – Balance between injury and how she is adapting or not.
CHRONIC – ongoing pain- daily-? Investigations? Diagnosis? Sitting/ Driving Weight bearing? – Sleeping- Nervous system – Studies – trouble? – Repeating first Semester subjects – missed a lot of time due to the pain.
Isolated from her peers- feeling worthless.
PART: MS SAM CONNOR – ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS
1. Discuss the type of Therapy program you think would benefit Sam and why? How would you assess her progress re goals and activities to ensure you meet her needs?
2. Consider your role in this program. How would you provide assistance in the therapy session?
3. How did Sam’s past history affect your role and responsibility to your supervisor and yourself?
4. What communication strategies did you use with Sam and why? How would you monitor her progress?
5. How did you respond to Sam complaints about her?
• Pain
• Weight
• Your brother
• Her studies
6. What stress / behavioral management strategies would you use to help resolve the conflict Sam is experiencing?
7. How did you consider confidentiality respect culture in your dealings with Sam? What statutory requirements do you need to be aware of?
8. What behavioral and physical concerns did you document and why? What organizational policies did you consider?
9. How would you communicate with your employer? What clarification did you seek if any?
10. How would you demonstrate your overall direction of the case? What range of services would you use in your management of this case?