Crisis, Can't make up my mind!

[the prodogy]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Hi,

I know if I'm asking questions here, it may be biased, but I'm ok with that. I'm currently in the junction and have to choose between family medicine and PM&R. Here's a quick list of my pros and cons:
Both: good life style, close interaction with patients, relaxing job
Family: a lot more flexible in jobs, may be easier to find a job (I may want to work in an urgent care one day and thought this might be a good option)
PMR: during my rotations (in patient I did not like so much, but out patient was amazing). I worked at a spinal cord and brain injury rehab hospital and I really liked what I did, but I'm not sure if that one rotation is a good representative of what PMR docs do.

Can someone tell me a little bit more of what a day in PMR is like?

 

[RUOkie]

Hi,

I know if I'm asking questions here, it may be biased, but I'm ok with that. I'm currently in the junction and have to choose between family medicine and PM&R. Here's a quick list of my pros and cons:
Both: good life style, close interaction with patients, relaxing job
Family: a lot more flexible in jobs, may be easier to find a job (I may want to work in an urgent care one day and thought this might be a good option)
PMR: during my rotations (in patient I did not like so much, but out patient was amazing). I worked at a spinal cord and brain injury rehab hospital and I really liked what I did, but I'm not sure if that one rotation is a good representative of what PMR docs do.

Can someone tell me a little bit more of what a day in PMR is like?

Here was my day today.
7am do two inpatient consults (post op spinal stenosis, and acute L1 compression fracture)
8:30-4 (my last EMG cancelled)- office hours. In the office I did 5 EMG/NCS, 2 Joint injections with U/S guidance, 1 diagnostic U/S of the Ulnar nerve, 4 new patient evals--2 shoulder pain, 2 LBP 3/4 were acute w/c injuries, one was chronic LBP and 6 follow ups.

now I'm (supposed to be) doing paperwork and dictations and then once home I'll do a 60min bike ride. Speed intervals today (5x5' with 5' recovery)

 

[the prodogy]

This was an awesome response! Hahaha, I already wanna be in your shoes!

 

[oreosandsake]

Here was my day today.
7am do two inpatient consults (post op spinal stenosis, and acute L1 compression fracture)
8:30-4 (my last EMG cancelled)- office hours. In the office I did 5 EMG/NCS, 2 Joint injections with U/S guidance, 1 diagnostic U/S of the Ulnar nerve, 4 new patient evals--2 shoulder pain, 2 LBP 3/4 were acute w/c injuries, one was chronic LBP and 6 follow ups.

now I'm (supposed to be) doing paperwork and dictations and then once home I'll do a 60min bike ride. Speed intervals today (5x5' with 5' recovery)

nice schedule.

can you elaborate on the speed intervals? do you ride every day?

 

[SSdoc33]

Hi,

I know if I'm asking questions here, it may be biased, but I'm ok with that. I'm currently in the junction and have to choose between family medicine and PM&R. Here's a quick list of my pros and cons:
Both: good life style, close interaction with patients, relaxing job
Family: a lot more flexible in jobs, may be easier to find a job (I may want to work in an urgent care one day and thought this might be a good option)
PMR: during my rotations (in patient I did not like so much, but out patient was amazing). I worked at a spinal cord and brain injury rehab hospital and I really liked what I did, but I'm not sure if that one rotation is a good representative of what PMR docs do.

Can someone tell me a little bit more of what a day in PMR is like?

read the stickies

my day: 830-1145. 12 flouro guided injections. 1-4: 15-20 patients. sprinkle in some EMGS here and there. no nights, weekend, or call.


the life of a PMR doc is very different than an FP. you will have more job opportunities and flexibility as an FP, but you will get paid less, and may find you need a fellowship to do anything cool. same as PM&R, really. if you are looking to work part time, or on and off (family, kids, etc), family would be a better direction to go. PMR, IMHO has more "upside", but FP would be a "safer" choice.

 

[RUOkie]

nice schedule.

can you elaborate on the speed intervals? do you ride every day?

I ride 3-4d/wk, run 1-2 and kayak once a week.

The speed intervals are 5min at 70-80% max effort (Z5) with 5min active recovery. I try to fail on the 5th interval (I did yesterday, although my 4th was sub optimal--didn't eat right yesterday). Normally I don't do all that much structured training, but cross season is coming up and I'm planning to do a few races on my single speed. (yeah, I know I'm an idiot doing this at 46y/o, but you only live once).

I also do 15-20min of light yoga every morning. mostly sun salutations and some cobra pose/upward facing dog.

 

[RUOkie]

This was an awesome response! Hahaha, I already wanna be in your shoes!

17 years in practice.

today wasn't as good. almost all my patients were functional illiterates.

 

[Leukocyte]

In the FM job market, supply is less than demand (and now with Obamacare starting in 2104, the demand for FM docs will skyrocket supply exponentially). Because of this, FM jobs are plentiful, and employers are ready to make all sorts of compromises. These days FM docs can request to work part-time, and can negotiate to have 6 - 8 weeks vacation/year. Starting salaries for FM docs are also clearly increasing...more and more employers are now offering starting salaries in the $160,000 to $200,000 range.

I know the FM world very well, but I am ignorant when it comes to the PM&R job market. So:

-Why did some people here post that PM&R jobs are "less flexible" than FM jobs?

-Are PM&R jobs less plentiful than FM jobs?

Thanks