umpteenth person wondering if PT is right for me

[phoenix_risingPT]

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I'll be as brief as I can about this, but as I'm starting to take care of prereqs I'm really concerned if this is right for me.

28, f, previous undergrad was in computer engineering, with a GPA of 3.696 (I usually just round it up to 3.7). Right out of college I got the dream job at the dream company...and nearly lost my mind doing it. I quit two years in.

I floated around for a while as a tutor and an aide, and after picking up a very typing-heavy job and developing an RSI that forced me to quit, I had physical and hand therapy for about a year and a half. I've dealt directly with pain and how debilitating and frustrating it is, and I decided I wanted to help people through pain as well. I also have a herniated disc in my lumbar that causes pain in my back and foot if I overexert myself.

I've volunteered in several settings: outpatient hand therapy, outpatient PT, pediatric setting for OT and PT (I was deciding between the two and opted for PT), and acute rehab in a hospital for PT. I have about 100+ hours total over the span of last year and this year, and am now enrolled full time in a local university to knock out my prereqs. I enjoyed all of the experiences, but I was especially drawn to hand therapy/outpatient therapy. I'm aiming to attend school for PT, and eventually would like to become a hand therapist (for professional gamers specifically since my passion is in video games, but maybe I'm shooting for the moon).

The thing is, I've never been a super active person. I don't play sports at all, but I'm trying to do better with my diet and exercise-as mentioned above though, sometimes I just wind up in pain when I try.

Financially i'm doing ok. No loans from undergrad married and we just bought our first home. My husband can shoulder the mortgage and bills while I'm in school, and I'm very used to not making my own money-I've spent more time without a job than with one, so there'd be no adjustment there. But I worry that if PT isn't the right thing for me, I'll have just wound up dumping another loan on my husband's shoulders and be unable to help pay it off.

Pretty much all of my career has been in some sort of service/support role, but the more corporate atmospheres drove me crazy, especially since in some of my roles I had to argue with customers about money in some respect. I really don't want to do that kind of work again. As cliche as it sounds, I really do want to help people. As an engineer I'm used to understanding how multiple components work and fit together, and in my jobs I had to understand how systems and processes worked. I like to think/hope that I can use this knowledge in PT to help my patients, where I'm in a better position of being the point of contact for help with a pain problem, as opposed to having to wrestle with someone about money. I understand we'll have to do that with insurance companies anyway, but I can only hope it wouldn't be too much of a similar experience.

I think I'm just really worried about not being able to physically keep up because of my pain issues, and that I'm coming at this with to naiive a perspective that will ultimately be somehow ruined when I actually start working. But, I really have no idea what else to do with my life, and I at least know I'm coming at this from an honest place of interest in the work. But, I don't want to wind up just repeating history again.

Thoughts? Anyone else been in a similar situation?

 

[CareerSwitcheroo]

It sounds like you kind of already know the answer. PT is a very physical job. Imagine yourself being on your feet moving around for 8-9 hours a day, then imagine yourself doing that for the next ~30-40 years. You're right that it's a big investment to make if you're this worried about managing your pain and could end up having to leave the field anyway. In the end it's entirely your call, and if you're 100% set on it, then you could aim to specialize in lower-energy PT settings such as hand therapy or skilled nursing. But also consider the possibility that you might not enjoy working in those settings as much as others.

If I were you, I would also consider applying to OT school. PTs and OTs often work alongside one another and the knowledge/skills often translate. Also, you'd probably incur a lot less debt than you would doing PT. Both professions are very rewarding and involve helping others. Just something to think about.

 

[tcpt]

I'll be as brief as I can about this, but as I'm starting to take care of prereqs I'm really concerned if this is right for me.

28, f, previous undergrad was in computer engineering, with a GPA of 3.696 (I usually just round it up to 3.7). Right out of college I got the dream job at the dream company...and nearly lost my mind doing it. I quit two years in.

I floated around for a while as a tutor and an aide, and after picking up a very typing-heavy job and developing an RSI that forced me to quit, I had physical and hand therapy for about a year and a half. I've dealt directly with pain and how debilitating and frustrating it is, and I decided I wanted to help people through pain as well. I also have a herniated disc in my lumbar that causes pain in my back and foot if I overexert myself.

I've volunteered in several settings: outpatient hand therapy, outpatient PT, pediatric setting for OT and PT (I was deciding between the two and opted for PT), and acute rehab in a hospital for PT. I have about 100+ hours total over the span of last year and this year, and am now enrolled full time in a local university to knock out my prereqs. I enjoyed all of the experiences, but I was especially drawn to hand therapy/outpatient therapy. I'm aiming to attend school for PT, and eventually would like to become a hand therapist (for professional gamers specifically since my passion is in video games, but maybe I'm shooting for the moon).

The thing is, I've never been a super active person. I don't play sports at all, but I'm trying to do better with my diet and exercise-as mentioned above though, sometimes I just wind up in pain when I try.

Financially i'm doing ok. No loans from undergrad married and we just bought our first home. My husband can shoulder the mortgage and bills while I'm in school, and I'm very used to not making my own money-I've spent more time without a job than with one, so there'd be no adjustment there. But I worry that if PT isn't the right thing for me, I'll have just wound up dumping another loan on my husband's shoulders and be unable to help pay it off.

Pretty much all of my career has been in some sort of service/support role, but the more corporate atmospheres drove me crazy, especially since in some of my roles I had to argue with customers about money in some respect. I really don't want to do that kind of work again. As cliche as it sounds, I really do want to help people. As an engineer I'm used to understanding how multiple components work and fit together, and in my jobs I had to understand how systems and processes worked. I like to think/hope that I can use this knowledge in PT to help my patients, where I'm in a better position of being the point of contact for help with a pain problem, as opposed to having to wrestle with someone about money. I understand we'll have to do that with insurance companies anyway, but I can only hope it wouldn't be too much of a similar experience.

I think I'm just really worried about not being able to physically keep up because of my pain issues, and that I'm coming at this with to naiive a perspective that will ultimately be somehow ruined when I actually start working. But, I really have no idea what else to do with my life, and I at least know I'm coming at this from an honest place of interest in the work. But, I don't want to wind up just repeating history again.

Thoughts? Anyone else been in a similar situation?

Thanks for sharing--interesting thoughts. I've had several engineers come through our program, each of them brought some degree of struggle semi-related to yours. Fundamentally, PT is a people profession and the truth is that people are messy, particularly hurt and sick people. It takes a special person, with a lot of patience and interpersonal skills to navigate the rocky waters through the worst days of people's lives. We do have to use our knowledge to help people, but frequently the knowledge is simply not enough. Knowledge of systems and processes and their interactions, for some patients, can be reassuring. For others, not so much.

I would encourage you to learn more about PT, be patient, and buy a few cups of coffee and get the inside scoop about what a PT really loves about PT, and what the real challenges are. The previous post hit the nail on the head, it is a physical and demanding profession requiring a lot of us across many realms--physical, psychological, knowledge of body systems, evidence, personal motivation and many others. For me, it has been deeply rewarding because I have learned through helping others, I have really truly seen my own flaws, struggles, and problems in a new light. That has allowed me to understand people in a new way, and operate with a whole lot more grace, not just with my patients, but with all people in my life. We all need help in more ways than just physical.

Honestly, when an applicant comes in or writes an essay that states, "I want to help people," Ok, great, let's hear you expand upon that. I think when you answer the "why" surrounding your motivation, you'll begin to get a clearer picture about the direction you want to go. PT or another direction. Good luck!