Joel Laing, Diploma MDT - VIC Private Practice
Tell us a bit about your current work
I currently work in private practice over two sites, one in the city and one in Armadale. I see a caseload heavily weighted towards persistent pain cases and complex lower back problems. I am often seeing people who have failed to get better despite seeing many other specialists and health practitioners. I do see acute injuries, headaches, sporting injuries etc. but my passion is the complex cases as they are so rewarding when you can turn their pain around and get them back to what they love.
How did you start on your MDT journey?
I had a disc rupture (sequestrated fragment) and had leg pain for around 6 years, which was an original mechanical injury but transitioned into a chronic pain problem. I did the part A Lumbar course many years ago, with Greg Lynch and they used me as a patient on the course. I was amazed at being given hope, and tools I could use to bring about my own recovery and regain my confidence to get back to physical activity.
Why did you pursue the MDT Diploma? How difficult was it to complete the requirements?
I had assessed and treated using MDT principles for over 10 years and had always wanted to do it, but things like having kids, opening my own business and other life hurdles kept getting in the way. I decided I would just get it done and timed it before our second child was due (my wife was pregnant when I was off in the US sitting the final exams).
It was very challenging, especially the practical placement. But I have always believed you need to work hard for anything that is worth having. It was well worth the money, stress, and hard work.
How has training in MDT impacted your daily practice?
I use MDT to assist ruling in and ruling out various competing diagnoses/classifications. It is also outstanding to assist ruling out red flags, as well as recognizing when symptoms are not driven by a mechanical cause. In many persistent pain scenarios, which has become a large group of my patients, it assists giving patients confidence to rule out structural causes of their pain. This can be key to allowing them to reduce fear and get back to activity.
What’s the most beneficial thing you got out of the diploma?
The diploma accelerated my progress at an incredible rate. I had done the Credentialing years earlier, and you learn through experience and your patients. But the rate of improvement in clinical reasoning, critical thinking and patient care was dramatically accelerated. I improved more in 2 years, than I had over a 10-year span of applying these principals on my own.
What advice would you give to something considering doing the Diploma program?
Invest in yourself. We come up with excuses about cost, time, and all these other barriers. Most people spend more time at work than at home or with friends. You need to love what you do, and the enjoyment you get from improving and further yourself is more than worth all the sacrifices. Great experiences are far more valuable than anything you can buy.