"Physio therapy I received."

I am a wheelchair user but I am able to walk around my home using two walking sticks. For those who understand - I am a C4 incomplete tetraplegic which means I have limited use of my four limbs and torso. 

Eight months ago I overbalanced in my kitchen and broke the neck of my femur (thigh bone). I was put back together with a plate and screws and given the very basic home rehab for six weeks. I was very disappointed. I was nowhere near my previous level of walking. Later I was told it would take six to 12 months!

Six months after my fall, I was lucky enough to get back into the NSIC (National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital where I was first taught to walk after my spinal injury) for intensive rehab. Unfortunately my three week stay was cut short to one week due to unforeseen circumstances but my physiotherapist at the NSIC was able to refer me to the Bromley Neuro Rehab Team.

I was visited by neuro physio Bev and her assistant Elena. They only had the usual six weeks to work their magic but Elena came twice a week and Bev popped in a few times to check on my progress. 

Elena was brilliant, she followed the program set by Bev. She was professional, yet very caring and understanding. She knew instinctively how far she could encourage me yet she didn’t push me too far so that I was over tired. She gave me advice on things I could do around the home to help with my exercise plan. Elena’s knowledge was much greater than the average assistant I’d had in the past. I was very impressed and pleased she was working with me. Elena’s help had definitely made a difference.

I knew from chatting to her that Elena was from Europe and only found out on her final day that she was a fully trained nurse in her home country. I realised straightaway that that was where she had gained so much of her experience and knowledge and why she was so good at what she was doing. I couldn’t praise her highly enough.

 My target set by the NSIC and now Bev had been to walk with crutches. It was week five when I started to use the crutches. I am still a bit wobbly and not quite up to my pre-break standard of walking with sticks but their help has definitely made a difference. Ideally I would have liked their help for a few more weeks as it’s much harder to do the exercises on your own. They hit the basic target but I would have preferred to be back to walking with sticks.