Sometimes we can celebrate truly satisfying patient outcomes. This case study highlights the importance of understanding a person’s problem from their perspective. It highlights plenty of other things as well, like the power of medical speak to create persisting pain, the danger of focussing on imaging findings among others, but let’s leave that for another time!
This patient presented with a 12 month history of symptoms attributable to patella tendinopathy. He had seen at least 3 doctors (GP, sports doctor, orthopaedic surgeon), had 2 scans, had seen 2 physiotherapists, was offered PRP injections, had reduced his activities from soccer to walking, was compliant with his rehab exercises and was still experiencing increasing pain.
Enough of the clinical scenario – more about the role of PROMs! This patient completed both the OMPSQ and KOOS scores.
The OMPSQ was used as one of the tools in managing his persistent pain. Explaining that this score was widely used to screen for the likelihood of chronicity on the basis of psychosocial risk factors, we were able to open a conversation about how thoughts, feelings, beliefs, and fears for the future contribute to the pain experience.
In conjunction with education around the neuroscience of pain the patient developed a progressive return to activity plan.
His pain released its grip on him – he reported near complete resolution of pain symptoms within 1 month of this intervention! He was back road cycling, playing soccer with his kids and running.
Persistent pain doesn’t usually resolve so quickly, but sometimes it does!
