I recently had the privilege to speak to a class of 60 physical therapy graduate students at The University of Florida. The students learned about my journey and the journey of two other amputees and how physical therapy made an impact on our overall recovery. Hopefully, this motivated and inspired them on the impact they can have on their patients, once they graduate. The dialogue was great and there was a ton of questions. It was such an inspiration to see their interest and enthusiasm.

I am a huge advocate of physical and occupational therapy.  Physical Therapist (PT) focuses on the large motor groups that contribute to walking, reaching, standing and physical activities. They work on strength, balance, and range of motion and to promote independence. Whereas Occupational Therapist (OT) help individuals achieve independence and improve one’s ability to perform daily activities and self-care. OT’s help patients learn to dress themselves, brush their teeth, and bath themselves, among other things.

I always knew Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists existed but really had no idea what they did or how beneficial they were, until I needed one (or a few in my case). Two Days before I was going to be released, my surgeon explained that I could go to Rehabilitation. We didn’t really understand what that meant, but I knew after being in the trauma unit for a week, I was scared and unprepared to go home in my current state. Looking back, it was one of the best decisions my family and I could have made and while I longed to be home, I also knew that I was having to adjust to a whole new way of life. I never thought about how difficult and how much effort it would take to safely do things on one leg, even with the assistance of crutches or a walker. Once I got my prosthesis, things such as proper walking gait training, balance, obstacle management, different walking scenarios, strength training, and even stairs came into play. And that is just a glimpse into what the first 30 minutes of my PT sessions looked like!

I spent seven days in the rehab hospital and it was time well spent. Not only for me, but it gave Kristine an opportunity to get the house ready for my arrival and also learn how to wrap and change the dressing on my leg. Because I also had a fractured hip, I was restricted from bending forward more than 90 degrees so I was unable to change the dressing and bandages on my residual limb. During my time at the rehab hospital, I had a daily dose of physical and occupational therapy sessions that increased in intensity as the week progressed. By the end, they had me in their mock apartment where I was tasked with making cookies for the staff, incorporating many of the techniques they had taught me during the week.

PT’s and OT’s are there to push you past your comfort zone but in a safe environment. They teach you how to assess and handle situations when they arise. That’s not to say that I do not hesitate sometimes when I am faced with a new challenge, but because of PT and the things we do in a controlled environment, I am much more equipped to identify an obstacle and understand how to safely negotiate it. To say I am fond of my physical therapist would be an understatement. Beth and her team have done so much for me and my family that we are forever grateful to them and their dedication to my healing; it was truly a team effort. My victories were their victories and we attacked each new benchmark in my recovery with a sense of optimism, except for the standing 360-degree jump. Sorry Beth, not sure I could have done that before I was an amputee!

There is one caveat however. As the patient, I had to do my part. Whatever they asked me to do, even if it felt uncomfortable, I did it. When they sent me home with workouts and stretches that I could do on my own to continue my progression, I did it. I understood that in order for me to be successful, I had to buy into the program 100 percent and I did. And this is true for anyone having to deal with an injury or condition. Doctors, therapist, nutritionist, do not have a magic wand they can wave to make everything better, it takes individuals to do their part as well. The professionals will give us the tools, it is up to YOU as the patient, to put in the work to be successful.

Here is an excerpt from my journal on my feelings about my last day of PT:

April 18, 2017- After almost a year of being an amputee, I am finally having, what could be, my last physical therapy session today. The plan is to take some time off to see how I do on my own then reengage if need be. A lot will depend on how I do on my own. It kind of reminds me of the TLC television series, “My 600-lbs Life,” which sucks me in every time I am channel surfing. The show follows the individual journeys of those who are medically classified as morbidly obese and who seek the help Dr. Younan Nowzardian (Dr. Now as he is referred to by his patients) in Houston, TX. People relocate to Houston from all over the United States seeking weight loss surgery from Dr. Now. Before the doctor will operate however, the patient has to get below a certain weight. While in the hospital, they are restricted to a low-calorie diet and the weight starts to drop off. The real test is when they get sent home to continue the diet until they reach their safe-for-surgery weight and that’s where the drama of the show gets cranked up. Seldom are any of those that are sent home are successful in their initial attempts to maintain a diet. They come up with a myriad of excuses on why they could not be disciplined enough to not eat an entire pizza in one sitting, which I will admit am guilty of in my college days! Fast forward to me, once sent on my own from PT, will I continue to be disciplined and follow the exercise routine that will be set forth? Will I take the time to perform the exercises to ensure my walking gait is true, my quads are getting the workout they need, my balance stays at a high level? Or will I make excuses as to why I missed my work out this day or that day. Will I justify in my mind as to why I could not perform my stretches for the day? Will I somehow start to regress in my walking gait or my balance. There is only one person that can answer those questions, ME. Just like those on the show, they control what they put in the mouth, I can control whether or not I get off my butt and keep moving and do the things I should be doing. You see, this is not a short-term gain, the habits I establish now will have lifelong implications for my overall health and mobility. Moving as an amputee does not get easier as we age, it becomes a little more difficult each year. Being out of shape and not doing what we are supposed to do just compounds that problem and I will have no one to blame but myself. So today when I leave the comfort of having my Physical Therapist assess my abilities and analyze how I am walking, will I “forget” about all the things I have learned and need to do to OR will I maintain my discipline and do what needs to be done for my long-term health? It is completely up to me……