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With regard to the above, which I received via the discussion page, I
would like to offer my views. I would emphasise that these are purely
personal. Any other views can be sent to me and I will forward them
on to the, unfortunately, nameless enquirer.
I do feel however that it brings up a point raised by Pierre Filion
(see The stress of Fixation)
regarding the support available for frame wearers.
As supportive as families are, some times there comes a need for more
professional help. I would have hoped that the gentleman mentioned
above would have been given a series of physiotherapy exercises to
complete unless there was a sound medical reason that he should not
do so. Also that he is under regular medical assessment as to his progress
Much of course will depend on the placement of the fixator (upper,
lower or whole leg) as to the degree of mobility / exercise that can
be achieved. This should have been advised by the hospital carrying
out the procedure.
If the gentleman is personally depressed then I can fully understand
his belief that he can do nothing. Here is where professional help
should be sought. Following the original work by Prof. Ilizarov, it
was found that partial weight bearing actually helped the growth and
repair of the bones. But again, this point should have been discussed
with the medical parties involved in the fixator operation.
If he feels that he is 'TOO OLD' then, so did I, as old as I am, in
my mid forties. Then I met one of the King's patients who'd had an 8
ring frame fitted to his leg IN HIS 80'S. He had not
only healed 100% but was walking about better than many 'fit' people
of lesser age.
He used a stick. SO WHAT!. I will very likely have recourse to a
stick as my leg is still 1.5" short. But I repeat SO WHAT!. I
want to walk again without the crutches.Why?
Not to get back to work, not to rejoin the rat race, but to walk my
dogs, walk in my woods and fields, walk round the shops. To do all
the things I once took for granted.
I can lay in bed if I want if my leg aches (as it sometimes does),
but becoming totally dependant on people is just not an option.
[If my consultant ever reads this admission, he'll go mad] I've even
been known to hop, with the crutches, up on one step of a 3 rung
stepladder so that I can change a light bulb whilst holding the new
bulb between my teeth!
I know it's stupid, but it's like Everest and a mountaineer,
it's there and had to be done.
I'm not advising my sort of stupidity, but you have to push yourself.
But most importantly if you feel you can't do anything, then it's
time to talk to someone about it.
After the accident I was very self pitying. And, looking back to the
way my (now ex-) partner dealt with my demands, I can see she was
right. My hands weren't damaged, so if I wanted a cup of tea and, at
that moment she didn't then why shouldn't I make it myself?. I didn't
need two good legs to make and drink a cup of tea, so why should I
have expected total dependancy?
Unfortunately I was so self absorbed at the time that I didn't
realise she was being sensible By the time I did realise it, I'd
totally alienated her by moaning at her continuously and had then
thrown her out 'because she didn't care'. Probably one of the most
stupid moves I ever made!
Maybe the gentleman will need a bit of a kick like I had, to get him
going. Of course, as well as that he's got all the best wishes of the
Ilizarov and external fixator wearers pushing him.
He CAN do it, just tell him from me!
Slim Haines |
