Issue 13 - Winter 2011/12 - PACE Rehabilitation

MDT &
THERAPEUTIC
SERVICES
PACE’s services are established on
the proven multidisciplinary team (MDT)
approach to rehabilitation - ‘The whole team
for a whole person’. This is reflected in its
clinical assessments, patient provision
and outcomes.
In addition to the fundamental prosthetic/orthotic
and physiotherapy provision, PACE Counsellor
Sue Turner explains how therapeutic services
can contribute to achieving successful
outcomes for a patient -
“Therapeutic counselling provides a safe place
to offload, to voice the fears and anxieties that
can’t always be voiced to family or friends.
People are often fearful of counselling, they
are unsure of what counselling entails. The first
thing to remember is that the counsellor has
no agenda. In this type of counselling they
won’t be asking about your childhood, they
understand that what is going on for you now is
what is important, and you can say as much or
as little as you want to. It’s important to get
the right type of counsellor and at PACE our
counsellors specialise in trauma and can
answer the practical questions that the patient
doesn’t know who else to ask, or sometimes
just knowing that other amputees have felt
something similar is helpful. If specialist work
is required for anxiety, Post Traumatic Stress
or Phantom Limb Pain or depression this can
be incorporated into the sessions too.
“Meeting someone who has been through
a similar experience or has the same level
of disability is another good way to aid
rehabilitation. The PACE Rehabilitation Buddy
Scheme can provide this type of support for
both the amputee and their family. Initial
meetings with Buddies are facilitated by the
counsellor and all Buddies are well known to us
and are trained volunteers; they know what life
as an amputee is like and can offer practical tips
and understanding. The Buddy Scheme is also
open to anyone facing an amputation; this can
help reduce the fear of the unknown and the
anxieties surrounding a life changing operation.
“The ripple effect of trauma is often overlooked
in the need to support the patient. We all enquire
about the injured party but don’t think
to ask how the people around them are coping.
“After any life changing event or trauma, be it a
road traffic accident, an accident at work or a
planned surgery the practical and emotional
support the amputee needs takes precedence.
The wider circle of those affected, the spouses,
partners, and children or in some cases the
parents are often in need of emotional support.
The entire family is going through a grieving
process, be it for a lost limb, an identity or a
lifestyle. Their well-being and ability to cope
has a major impact on the rehabilitation of
the amputee, yet they are often overlooked in
the treatment process. Their world too has
been turned upside down but there is often
no space or time out for either party. This can
be both frustrating and daunting as both are
experiencing heightened emotions, fear of the
unknown and worries about the future and so
they all find it hard to communicate their feelings
to each other so they are left to fester.
“All therapeutic services provided by PACE,
including initial assessments, counselling,
E.M.D.R., N.L.P., C.B.T. and hypnotherapy,
are not limited to amputees but are open to
all victims of trauma”.
For more information regarding PACE’s
therapeutic services and Sue Turner can
be found on www.pacerehab.com.
PRODUCTS
FEATURE
NEW KNEES
German manufacturers Otto Bock, recently
launched two new prosthetic knees, with their
Genium microprocessor controlled device
and their Aqualine water activity unit.
The Genium offers even greater capabiliy than
their market leading C-Leg device, including
functions to step over obstacles and assist stair
ascent. The battery life is also significantly
increased, allowing 5-days before recharging is
required. One week trials are available at PACE’s
clinics for suitable patients.
The choice of components for trans femoral
water devices is limited. However, using the
new Aqualine knee, PACE patient Jon Bevan (58)
eagerly took delivery of his water activity prosthesis.
Jon was able to confidently and safely use the
device and after a day trip to Pendine Sands he
proudly contacted PACE via Facebook saying,
“Thanks guys, I did my first walk on the beach
and paddle in the sea for over 5 years today!”
Also commenting that at home, "Its provided a
wonderful feeling of freedom, to actually walk
into and stand up unaided in the shower!"