Anna Suskin, PT, DPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy, USC DPT class of 2019

[Anna Suskin, PT, DPT @anna_suskin]

34 yo F w LBP feels she isn’t progressing despite measurable improvement & reports ⬇️ QOL. Used motivational interviewing to determine her barriers to success & how to overcome them. Pts will tell you how to get them better - just have to ask the right q’s & listen! @JasonCozby

[Anna Suskin, PT, DPT @anna_suskin]

27 yo M w WAD s/p bike vs auto MVA. Only sx as of now is neck stiffness. Currently in litigation & has not attempted riding yet. Best approach to determine/address psychosocial components/stressors to help pt reach goals of returning to biking? @JasonCozby

[Anna Suskin, PT, DPT @anna_suskin]

Pt is a 98 yo w lumbar spondylosis who exercises 30 min/day & gardens 1 hr/day! How do we modify his activity to ⬇️ load/strain to his spine & improve balance, but make sure he stays active? Focus on seated exercises and correct biomechanics with gardening! @JasonCozby

[Anna Suskin, PT, DPT @anna_suskin]

32yo runner w R knee/lat thigh pain, but couldn’t reproduce sx in clinic. Sx only arise after long run, so pt was told to run before session. Presents post 4 mile run w sx in clinic. Exam indicates L/S involvement w facet referral. PA’s + core stab exercises ⬇️ sx! @JasonCozby

[Anna Suskin, PT, DPT @anna_suskin]

Pt is a 28 yo F w lumbar HNP + radiculopathy. Pt tried 5 wks of PT w sx progression and ⬇️ QOL. As PTs, we always advocate for conservative care, but it’s also important to know when to refer for further mgmt. Pt referred to spine surgery for surgical consult! @JasonCozby

[Anna Suskin, PT, DPT @anna_suskin]

40 yo F w fibromyalgia. 1st FU appt: 50% ⬇️ in sx, 50% ⬆️ in low back AROM, and ability to walk 1 hr w/o stopping (only tolerated walking 2 min @ eval). Pt says she wants to meet us 1/2 way - taking time to listen and educate pt goes a long way! @JasonCozby

[Anna Suskin, PT, DPT @anna_suskin]

28F w highly irritated HNP causing limp due to pain. Extensive pt ed on activity mod & ice to ⬇️ inflammation. Pt returns to PT saying she went 🏃🏻‍♀️, ⛷, or 🏋🏻‍♀️causing flare-ups each session. Best way to convince pt to follow HEP and be patient w tissue healing time? @JasonCozby

[Anna Suskin, PT, DPT @anna_suskin]

20 yo M w severe pain consistent w myofascial pain syndrome - multiple psychosocial stressors add to symptom set. W/c is main mode of mobility since pt believes mvmt will only make sx worse. Focused on pain education and diaphragmatic breathing to calm SNS and gain pt buy-in!

[Anna Suskin, PT, DPT @anna_suskin]

73 yo w CRPS. 2 yr hx of multiple lumbar surgeries and difficulty w pain mgmt. Initiated GMI laterality training and plan to progress to mirror training. Best way to explain pain sensitization and pain science w/o making pt think the pain is all in their head? @JasonCozby

[Anna Suskin, PT, DPT @anna_suskin]

#PT546week13 Even though we learned about dementia and memory loss today, we will never forget about you @LibbyKrauseDPT! ❣️🧠❣️@juliehershberg @manjiridahdul

[Anna Suskin, PT, DPT @anna_suskin]

#PT546week12 Typical presenting signs of a neoplasm include HA, seizures, focal neuro signs, and personality changes. Follow SNOOPPPP, perform a cranial nerve screen, and refer for imaging to help locate and diagnose potential neoplasms! @juliehershberg

[Anna Suskin, PT, DPT @anna_suskin]

#PT546week11
Picture your brain as jello - the force of an impact to your head can cause it to jiggle inside your skull, resulting in injury to more than 1 side of your brain, not just to the area beneath the impact site!
@manjiridahdul @juliehershberg

[Anna Suskin, PT, DPT @anna_suskin]

An Ode to the Migraine for #PT546week10 @juliehershberg @LibbyKrauseDPT @manjiridahdul

[Anna Suskin, PT, DPT @anna_suskin]

If you see an aura, don’t think you’re insane, you may experience a type of migraine!
Lie down in the dark where it’s really quiet, since activity can give you nausea & make you vomit.
If it happens again think about what may trigger it, for it could be food like 🧀, 🍷, or 🍫!

[Anna Suskin, PT, DPT @anna_suskin]

#pt546week9 In honor of our class Pajama Day, here’s Pajama Sam reminding you to always remember your cortical homunculus when distinguishing between ACA and MCA involvement in a stroke! @juliehershberg @LibbyKrauseDPT @manjiridahdul

[Anna Suskin, PT, DPT @anna_suskin]

#PT546Week8 Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term for NON-PROGRESSIVE motor disorders due to disturbances in the fetal or infant brain. If you notice a significant decline in function, refer out! It is likely not CP! @juliehershberg @bsargent_usc

[Anna Suskin, PT, DPT @anna_suskin]

#PT546Week7
Requirements for MS diagnosis:
If there are white matter lesions all over the place
Then they say the disease is disseminated in space!
If you’ve have an episode before, and again symptoms climb,
Then they say the disease is disseminated in time!
@juliehershberg

[Anna Suskin, PT, DPT @anna_suskin]

#PT546Week6
✨PD Limerick✨
Parkinson’s is one of those diseases,
Whose patients have a gait that freezes,
They have tremors at rest,
And their posture’s not the best,
And they also have bradykinesia.
@NoraDarakDPT @juliehershberg

[Anna Suskin, PT, DPT @anna_suskin]

#pt546week5
🎵Ring around the rosy
A pocketful of posies
Ashes, ashes
We all... have NYSTAGMUS!🎵 @LibbyKrauseDPT @juliehershberg

[Anna Suskin, PT, DPT @anna_suskin]

#PT546Week4 Why don’t we hear about Susan Boyle anymore? Probably because learning about SCI is much more interesting! Determining a patient’s level of injury is like playing a game of clue, just follow the patterns of weakness and sensory deficit! @manjiridahdul @juliehershberg