>This situation has been a recurring one with several new amps. Is
>there any literature or other evidence that will indicate whether we
should get
>these people up on the legs regardless; should we wait (perhaps sending
them
>home until a full healing occurs)? Do we dress the lesion with a thin
>dresssing to protect it and continue with usual rehab? I need something
to show
>to the Nursing/rehab staff here so that they can see how others do
>things.
>Hope that you can help.
>Richard Ziegeler P & O
>E.C.A.T
>
This is just my opinion, but as both an amputee and someone in the
manufacturing side of the industry, I think we can sometimes do more harm
than good trying to rush things along, even in the interim regime.
How many times have we heard the medical community say things to patients
like “oh you’ll be back playing your favorite sport in 6 months!”. While
the attempt at a psychological boost is well meaning, it promotes the
idea that rehabilitation is an event rather than a process of slow –
often painful – continuous improvement. A fellow called me recently who
was in some distress because he was at the two year mark and still not at
full rehab. When I told him it took me three years and three surgeries
(to even get started well) he gained a new and encouraging perspective,
that he was on the road…that he was making good progress, and not to
worry so much because these things take time to work out.
I wonder if the rush toward immediate post op fitting is also, in part,
motivated by this event mentality? Yes I know there is evidence that the
pistoning action of the prothesis (or IPOP rigid dressing) can promote
circulation and healing. But does it not also do damage? The body takes
a long time to truly heal.
Against the advice of my prosthetist, I tried to get in my first leg
early. I walked for an hour, which was very exciting, and was then
sidelined for three weeks because I made hamburger of the suture line!
He was wise in his go-slow approach.
The issue is complex, and I know a perfect balance is hard to achieve.
Chris (CJ) Johnson
Director of Engineering,
College Park Industries, Inc. (see www.college-park.com)
(810) 294-7950 (at CPI), (616) 664-4173 (home office)
