Crutches.

Abstract

On Being a Doctor1 August 2017CrutchesRaphael Karkowsky, MDRaphael Karkowsky, MDFrom Penn Delancey Internal Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/M17-1147 Audio Reading - “Crutches” Audio. Michael A. LaCombe, MD, Annals Associate Editor, reads "Crutches," by R. Karkowsky. Your browser does not support the audio element. Audio player progress bar Step backward in current audio track Play current audio trackPause current audio track Step forward in current audio track Mute current audio trackUnmute current audio track 00:00/ SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail I follow him from behind. He walks unsteadily and, even with the use of crutches, his legs, largely paralyzed from polio as a child, are not strong enough to keep his feet from dragging across the floor. I breathe a sigh of relief when he makes it to the exam room without falling.Today's visit is unscheduled. “Mr. Devon is worried about his blood pressure,” my receptionist told me. We have a significant history together, so despite being short on time, I agreed to see him.We first met nearly 2 years ago. At that first office visit, he shook ... Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: From Penn Delancey Internal Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.Corresponding Author: Raphael Karkowsky, MD, Penn Delancey Internal Medicine, 800 Walnut Street, 17th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107; e-mail, Raphael.[email protected]upenn.edu. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement Audio Reading - “Crutches” Audio. Michael A. LaCombe, MD, Annals Associate Editor, reads "Crutches," by R. Karkowsky. Your browser does not support the audio element. Audio player progress bar Step backward in current audio track Play current audio trackPause current audio track Step forward in current audio track Mute current audio trackUnmute current audio track 00:00/ FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics 1 August 2017Volume 167, Issue 3Page: 212KeywordsAlcoholsBlood pressureEmotionsMalnutritionMemoryPoliomyelitisSaltsShouldersTouchWheelchairs ePublished: 1 August 2017 Issue Published: 1 August 2017 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2017 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...