Jill’s Jottings – Johnstown

Short flight to Pittsburg, then hopped into the car Mary-ann had booked, luckily not a convertible as it rained nearly all the way through 2.5 hrs of traffic jams & roadwork’s to Johnstown. Then there at the motel, waiting for me, was a scooter very thoughtfully booked on loan via the John P Murtha Neuroscience and Pain Institute – so off we scooted looking for somewhere to eat.

Next am Sharon met us at the motel & walked us next door to the John P. Murtha Neuroscience & Pain Institute. A grand schedule had been organised for the day, starting with a Newspaper reporter and the institute’s media person taking photos of us & Institute staff as we toured the premises. Then a series of staff came to explain their roles and how the clinic’s activities fitted together. I am most impressed by the positive way staff interact here. Like Rancho Los Amigos, Los Angeles, the patient stays in one room while various team disciplines arrive to evaluate the patient’s situation. There is also a great sense of the ‘whole’ person being viewed (physical, psychological & spiritual ‘self’). This clinic is not afraid to discuss the sensitive issues of a person’s weight, depression & spiritual (such as how they see their place in life, what drives them & where it is all going) as part of a person’s total picture. This approach also seems to help people more readily accept the benefits of aids, modifications and scooter/w-chair mobility issues, rather than the ‘I’m not ready for that yet’ approach sometimes taken. Two new approaches to PPS management trialed and found beneficial here are acupuncture & aroma therapy. The aroma therapy practiced here is based on herbal properties, not the aroma, to assist pain relief and muscle relaxation. The Therapist is careful to avoid herbal treatments that may aggravate other treatment/conditions the patient may have.

Being a Regional PPS clinic, staff will search the web to find services nearer the patient’s home area to provide services such as; orthotics, allied health services, driving assessments etc. This clinic finds other services supportive of learning about Post Polio needs and how to best manage PPS. The whole atmosphere seemed very holistic, innovative and positive.

Early to bed after listening to such intense information. By now I am feeling in need of more ‘catch-up’ sleep. Late rise Saturday then sight seeing. The only way for me & scooter to reach Downtown Johnston was local bus (all accessible). I headed for a nearby bus stop and was glad the bus arrived 5 mins early as it was raining. The driver lowered the bus frame, then platform (by front door) then ramp. Total sequence took 60 secs. Once secured in the bus I asked to be dropped off at the Transit Centre. Looking aghast, the driver said I was to catch the next bus (5 mins later) as his Downtown trip took 50mins, not 20mins. I quickly said no probs I’d enjoy the tour & the driver proceeded to tell me about suburbs we drove through. I joined Mary-ann for lunch at the top of the Inclined Plane from Johnstown, great view. Then off to meet Jan (PPS clinic), but the meeting place was further than I thought and the battery level looked risky. So a coffee/access to electricity was needed. This caused great excitement at the local ‘Subway’ as they had not served coffee before and the owner Nick had to think laterally to find a socket. After all this commotion people sitting nearby were all chatting together with Jan, Nick & I about scooter uses.

As I scooted back to the Transit Centre a passing bus sounded his horn, so I waved - it was my earlier bus driver. Then as I mounted the bus to go ‘home’ my friendly bus driver again appeared, secured my scooter and organised with the new bus driver to drop me off at my motel’s front door - Great service!

Early to bed to be ready for an early departure drive to Pittsburg then flight to New York.

Jill Pickering