1 Who are you by profession and why did you choose this field of study?
, my passion is working with patients - I am a Physiotherapist.
I completed 5-year MA studies at the Academy of Physical Education in Warsaw, and I chose this profession not by accident, I knew from my childhood that I would be associated with medicine.
The profession of a physiotherapist brings together all my character traits. In which I feel like a fish in water - as the saying goes - do what you love and you will not spend a single day at work.
And so it is with me to this day.
My work is based on treatment with non-pharmacological and non-surgical methods. The main goal is to improve the psychophysical condition of the patient, fight pain and limitations in movement. The main tasks of a physiotherapist include treating or supervising the treatment of patients with neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and respiratory disorders.
2 What does work give you?
Work has been with me since childhood and I know that it only ennobles and teaches me a lot.
It provides me with the feeling of being needed by others, which translates into professional successes that motivate me to continue my professional education. Working with sick and suffering people teaches humility, patience, understanding and sensitivity. Professional independence is also an important element, I think, for every professional group. I cannot imagine my life without work and accepting only the role of mother and wife.
3. In the era of modern technology and available devices, which very often replace the work of a physiotherapist, is it difficult to prove that no one can replace a human being?
Both me and other physiotherapists can be calm. Indeed, we live in an age where medical and rehabilitation technology has made great progress, all to facilitate the physiotherapist's work and the patient's life. It is very much needed for the quality of life to increase, and for the rehabilitation industry to develop dynamically. However, never will machines, robots, devices, or apparatuses replace the well-educated hands of a physiotherapist. And here, maybe I can surprise you, because the education system today focuses on manual work only - that is, the hands, heart and brain of a physiotherapist are directed towards the least painful therapy with the patient's body. I am wholeheartedly in favor of this type of treatment also in my office.
4 Where did the choice of Norway come from? How long have you been living there, and how do you cope with running a business?
When I left for Norway in 2010, I interrupted my PhD studies at the University of Physical Education in Warsaw. It was a very difficult decision, because I still wanted to educate myself, and at the same time I always dreamed of going abroad - Check if I am a strong enough person who will build everything from scratch.
Why Norway? – pure coincidence – because Norwegian was the only language with languages offered by the language school whom I didn't know at all. And this is how preparations for going abroad went. An intensive year of learning Norwegian in Poland resulted in the fact that, while still in Poland, I found a job in which I saw myself. It was a newly opened SPA and Wellness. The beginnings were not easy, as for everyone, but this work gave me so much that after a few years I decided to take a bold step again, which I absolutely do not regret to this day.
Own company - coincidence again - after all, life is a series of coincidences that somehow get tangled up nicely there. However, I always had a vision - the office, the couch, me and the patient.
Without the invaluable help of my husband and those close to me that I have with me, it turns out that I am here and now for you. And I thank them very much for that.
Do you have clients from Poland, or are most of them Norwegians?
The diverse nationality that lives in Norway is welcomed in my office equally. Poles and Norwegians, however, are two fairly large groups of patients. I speak Norwegian, English and Polish, so I can find an understanding with everyone. Over the past 3 years, I have hosted in my office: Russians, Franzes, English, Germans, Nigerians, Lithuanians, Ukrainians, Slovaks, Icelanders, Swedes, Danes, Pakistanis ......
5. WHAT ARE YOU SPECIALIZING IN?
Working in Poland, I had quite a lot of opportunities to take up various practices, including orthopedics, neurology, rheumatology, cardiology, paediatrics. Consequently, I chose a field where I feel very comfortable and these are my "vibes" - we are talking about a wide field of orthopedics.
I work with patients who suffer, inter alia, on. Back pain, intervertebral disc herniation, sciatica, discopathy, lumbago, headache, dizziness, degenerative changes, torticollis, spondylolisthesis, muscle weakness, muscle coordination disorder, facial nerve inflammation, tennis elbow, golfer's elbow, painful shoulder syndrome, rotator cuff syndrome, carpal tunnel, joint overload conditions, spine surgery, ligament reconstruction, whip neck injuries, communication accidents, ligament tears, heel spur, contusions in runners, jumper's knee, Achilles tendon, ankle sprains, Scheuermann's disease, lateral curvature of the spine and varus knee and tarsus, flat feet, concave back, round, body asymmetries and many, many others.
Before starting any treatment, I always conduct a detailed interview, diagnostic, neurological, orthopedic examination, combined with specialized functional tests, in order to know what is the cause of the problem that the patient is struggling with. After which a treatment plan and initial therapy are established.
I have a wide range of services, I can help at almost any level of pain - both acute and chronic.
He performs treatment in the field of physical therapy (point laser, ultrasound, electrotherapy), dry needle punching, kinesiology taping, fascial therapy, trigger point therapy, manual osteopathic therapy, all forms of massage, therapy of pregnant women, posture defects in children.
My first keynote in setting up treatment is PRIMUM NON NIGHTS - first do no harm.
6 What are your future career plans?
Once, during my studies, one of my lecturers said that he was reading Anatomie Bochenka for bedtime (it is a several-volume book on detailed human anatomy), then I thought - What? Gosh how boring it is!
Today I can say that I do NOT, because I am doing the same today. To be good at what I do, I must constantly educate myself and develop, and at the same time train my brain to work constantly. Because every time a patient comes to the office, I have to adjust the treatment so that the patient feels better after each visit. The therapy must first and foremost be safe, the least painful, effective and efficient. Thus, improve the vital parameters and mental state of the patient.
. Also education and expanding your knowledge so that you can help even better. This year's plan is to develop my skills in manual visceral therapy and start working with HVLA techniques - short-lever manipulation. Of course, I have some plans for the future, but I won't reveal them now - everything will definitely be done with care for the patient.
7 What problems do people face most often in these times, we are talking about various diseases, maybe posture defects, etc.?
When answering this question, we must remember that we are and work in emigration. They usually live in exile people in power age, typically for work, and there are also people who settled down ten years ago and have lived here their whole lives. These people work very hard, often in difficult climatic conditions, which does not make it easier to maintain health.
More frequent ailments that our countrymen struggle with are overload, fatigue, injuries at work, torn tendons, post-operative conditions. Although diseases of the spine "reign" in every nationality, because it does not matter whether this person works a lot physically or spends a lot of time at the desk, we injure our body with the lack of healthy movement.
I often hear from patients "that I am so tired after work that I do not want to do any physical activity", or "I have gyms at work ...".
I know very well what these patients feel and why they say so. However, once a very wise and valued professor Wiktor Dega said words that are still my motto to take care of yourself to this day. "Movement can replace almost any drug, but all drugs taken together will not replace exercise."
We are constructed in such a way that we must move healthily. I do not mean movement at work - because these are often repetitive movement patterns that cause pathological muscle tension, and consequently lead to dysfunction or pathology. And the vicious circle is closed.
And here, in front of my patients, I created group classes in the room, accompanied by quiet music, so that, as part of kinesiotherapy, each of my countrymen could take care of themselves under the safe supervision of a physiotherapist. There are elements of yoga, pilates, strengthening, stretching, breathing exercises, balance exercises, Power Ball classes.
. When it comes to the youngest, a clearly visible problem is the valgus of the knees and feet, as well as the lateral curvature of the spine. And here I must draw attention to the problem of Vit deficiency. D3 in the body of everyone, both children and adults. I suggest dispelling all doubts and doing a blood test to check the level of vitamins in your body - and possibly supplement the deficiencies.
8 Does the love of the profession burn out in your case, or is it the opposite with each subsequent small success of the patient?
I give my work a lot of love, and as it usually happens, you have to take care of it so that it does not burn out. Working with people is very difficult, especially with those suffering from physical and mental pain, and here we often have both variants tightly connected with each other. The ladder is simple, physical pain breeds sadness, dissatisfaction, and despondency, which in turn burden mental health.
Patients feel very comfortable in my office, they know that they can trust me and they will always receive the best help. They share with me their emotions, experiences, failures, and successes in regaining health. This is a very important element in maintaining a good relationship between the physiotherapist and the patient, just so that the physiotherapy process is successful. However, I am not made of steel and I have moments of weakness, burnout, helplessness, pain in the body - usually it comes from overwork - the enormity of my duties will be understood by everyone who owns their own company. I have set myself one specific requirement in relation to working with the patient and I hold on to it firmly and firmly. It sounds - TREAT EVERYONE THE PATIENT AS LIKE YOU WANT TO BE TREATED. If I feel that I cannot cope with this requirement, I take time off at work and the regeneration of my body and mind continues. I try to take care of myself regularly to be a good example for my patients.
Success at work happens very often. They drive me to keep doing what I really love. When I see a patient who, instead of tears on his face due to pain, has a wide smile. After all, it can function independently, so I do not need better motivation and propulsion.
9. If you were to choose a profession again, would it be physiotherapy?
. I have often wondered about this and I think I have found the answer to this question. I have been professionally active for 14 years - a lot and at the same time not much.
During this period, I had only 3 jobs - in Poland it was a private healthcare facility. NZOZ ORT in Krasnystaw, in Norway Nordsjøbadet SPA in Sola and now my company Fysioterapeut Kasia in Sandnes.
The experience and practice of those years meant that I now run a physiotherapy office. It perfectly combines knowledge and techniques in the field of physiotherapy, biological regeneration and wellness. I always try to make the "TEN" patient, tired with pain, leave the office. With the feeling that he was not only in physiotherapy but also in a small SPA. A little relaxation effect brings great health benefits.
Wellness has been a field that has always interested me and I am very proud of it. I have the opportunity to combine what I love into one for the benefit of the patient.
10. What personality traits help you work with people?
It was my character traits that made me a physiotherapist - I once wanted to be a surgeon.
However, every day I learn something new in interpersonal behavior and in creating my character.
I establish direct contact with the patient without major problems, I like to be of help. I am organized and I pursue my goal with my stubbornness and determination. Only then will the patient feel that he is in safe hands.
The practice I conduct is a private service. I always try to conduct the treatment process in such a way that the patient feels that I am honest.
Commitment is a feature that runs deep within me. When I do something, I do it 100%, and I expect the same from my patient. Because only such cooperation will bring expected effect.
Physical activity has always been with me, I cannot imagine working in one position behind a desk.
11.Your worst case?
There have been many difficult patients in my professional career, although the beginnings of treatment are always difficult. The patient doesn't know me, I don't know the patient, I don't know the body's reaction to stimulations, etc.
For me, there are no severe cases if it is the patient who wants to get involved and recover. Success is usually guaranteed with the commitment and hard work of both parties.
However, when it comes to the "worst" case of recent times, there are two patients. Thanks to their commitment and willingness to recover, we made it possible for them to enjoy life to the full from the hopeless state.
.Examples:
Young girl with a diagnosis from a doctor in an MR examination. Central protrusion with pressure on the spinal cord and meningeal sac - the patient was referred to ruthless spine surgery. As she said, she came to me by accident. And the coincidence further wished that the functional status in the neurological tests and examination was not as severe as in the MR description. We both engaged 200% in this work, which resulted in a follow-up MR examination after a year. Describing "the earlier described we have fallen out of the nucleus pulposus sequestration in the present study not visible". The professor in charge of the patient called the situation a "miracle". I would call it very hard work uphill. There was sweat, tears, pain, joy from the first painless night, then a short walk, and finally a dream run training. This patient gave me a clear answer. There are no hopeless cases (sometimes there are - exceptions) and that it is worth investing in the development of your knowledge. Because without proper knowledge, I couldn't help that much.
. Another example, please.
Another "difficult" patient - a man in his 40s who cried out of pain due to cold feet. The case was so difficult that the treatment of the pre-cancer stage complicated us. This case interested me very much and I took up the challenge, but I could not give the patient any guarantee of improvement. The patient also accepted the challenge I set for him as part of my homework. Learning to calm down and reject any thoughts in the moment and accepting yourself. As it is - the watchword - I like and love each other. Which is not easy, as the patient later said.
I, on the other hand, relied only on techniques from the concept of osteopathic manual therapy, fascial therapy for the entire body of the patient. I paid a lot of attention to manual work on the bowels. Also in the vicinity of the main blood vessels and arteries, while maintaining an appropriate atmosphere of calmness for the patient during therapy. As it turned out, after a few sessions the intended effect was achieved. I was not quite sure if we would do this job, but as you can see, it was worth the risk. Another success on our account. Once again with the commitment of the patient.
12. Your biggest career dream is…?
Many of my dreams have come true or are slowly becoming reality. It used to be my secret dream to have my own office and be my own boss. I didn't think it would come true in Norway. Dreams are there simply to make them come true. I am currently working on developing my business to include exercise rooms for patients.
But deep in my heart lies the plan of a fairly large clinic with the service of physiotherapy, first of all. Wellness end SPA with a combination of aesthetic medicine and fitness, where the main idea will be the good and care for each patient. As of today, I am happy with what I have and scrupulously pursue the goals set for myself.
