When your mother visits from Florida and you live on the South Shore of Massachusetts, lobster is a requirement for dinner one night (in addition to Chinese food of course).

This time I decided to take the “easy” way out and have it steamed for us before we brought it home (mostly to keep that “fresh cooked lobster” smell out of my house- yuck).

I prepared by digging out the lobster crackers and little pointy things that pull the meat out of the hard to reach places, melted the butter, set out bowls for the shells and an entire roll of paper towels and we got to work.

Yes. Work. 

Although the meat was delicious it was a struggle, and as much as we were prepared, a mess! It was then I realized why restaurants offer “Lazy Man Lobster” and why at that moment it seemed worth the extra cost. This got me thinking about patient treatment plans (I suppose only my brain would make this jump).

Let me explain. . . .

How do you present your heel pain treatment plan to patients? Do you provide more than one plan or do you give the same instructions to all patients suffering from the same condition? If the latter describes your approach, maybe it’s time to reconsider.

Examples: 
After explaining the condition itself, possible causes, and need for proper foot/arch support, provide two options for treatment.

The first includes: 
1. Cortisone injection and possible anti-inflammatory
2. Wearing a nightsplint to sleep
3. Stretching throughout the day
4. Icing several times daily
5. Topical analgesic
6. Return in 2 weeks to check progress, allow time for adjustment to medical grade orthotics and to be scanned for custom if required
7. Repeat steps one through five if not at least 50%  improved
8. Return in 2 weeks

The second includes: 
1. Medical grade orthotics and topical analgesic
2. No cortisone injection, anti-inflammatory medication, stretching or icing necessary
3. A five minute Shockwave treatment to be repeated once a week for 4-5 weeks
4. After the 5th week, determine if a custom orthotic is required or additional treatment is necessary if not 80% improved

I’d pick the second and I think more of your patients would too if presented in Lazy Man Lobster style!