Extreme Empathy.

Perhaps you've heard of Jocko Willinks' "Extreme Ownership"? Some may baulk at the term "extreme" and think that there's a need to chill out. But what could extreme empathy mean?

Let's trail to another thought: have you been to a medical appointment where you where there for an issue (not a check up), and it felt like the time to explain or express your issue took a lot less time than the time you were waiting? Maybe you actually read the literature in the waiting room or noticed the default picture on the neutral wall in some deafening silence? But you also had thoughts of what is going on with your body, or you were shifting uncomfortably in your seat, and you got annoyed (more than you'd like) at the front desk staff because you were actually annoyed that you had this physical set back at you felt like no one knew what was going on with your problem. You might have felt like it's "every man for himself"; I'll have to take care of me so here I am Googling my issue and trying to sift through the noise of experts on the web. Then there's this in-person professional that might not even know what is really going on with you.

Wouldn't it be nice (cue the song) if someone actually understood, or took the effort, to see your perspective and want to figure out your issue. What about it being an amazing thing if you were in for a problem (say, shoulder pain), but also were able to eventually express the fact that while you have pain at the shoulder, it's really also getting confusing with back and neck pain, and the fact that you can't lift overhead and you were just about to do a heavy single snatch on Saturday, ...and that your kid really wanted to play (spend genuine time with you) and grabbed your arm and you got a little too mad because their minute tug really, really hurt.

But you're at the clinic for this one pain, so you can't talk about all of that. Just keep it simple and focus on the pain and how to fix it. The medical professional doesn't have the time to really take the other mental stuff as factors, even though you adamantly know they really matter...to YOU.

Extreme empathy. That is what should be part of a medical professional's skill. Empathy typically is mentioned in courses or professional continuing education, but extreme? Nah, they can't care that much. But what if, with more 1:1 care, especially for musculoskeletal issues, like shoulder pain, without the waiting and without the stress of a time limit, a medical provider could provide empathy, and to the extreme, but they probably actually care to not just solve the shoulder issue, but see that the other "mental stuff" is really part of your goal in treating the shoulder?

Physical Therapist, one of the many types of medical professionals that would see shoulder pain are the neuromusculoskeletal experts that are involved with understanding and providing care through expert evaluation and skilled treatments that are meant to get after the actual issue, not just mask pain with temporary relief. Unfortunately, there are different flavors of medical professionals, including different kinds of PTs, that can include those that DON'T do what I just mentioned above, but there are still excellent professionals that exist who do provide extreme empathy and truly care about serving others in their medical professions.

Count how many medical professionals you know who have mentioned thinking about your issue outside of your appointment, just so they can better figure out your issue and help you for the long-run. You probably looked into your issue on your own; wouldn't it be nice if someone else care just as much because they can relate, sympathize (not lived your life but felt for you) or empathized (might have lived EXACTLY what you are going through, felt for you, but also see what you might need and be there in their role as a professional and expert).

I can guarantee that Hyacinth Athletics and Rehab has a super power (a few...) and that includes Extreme Empathy. We do not claim to be the end-all expert and solver of all problems in life, but we claim to care with insane effort, more than many professionals or people, and if we cannot completely solve your issue or for the long-term, we possess the humility and care to ensure we can find a route to help you to the right direction. However, we strive to use all means to improve our medical expertise, awareness, and delivery to help people achieve being truer and healthier versions of themselves!