Rehabilitation cannot be rushed. Each patient needs to develop techniques to build the patience they need.
In Spring 2022, I faced the biggest setback in my rehabilitation journey so far. A problem with my leg splint meant that I was unable to walk for two to three months.
I learned plenty about myself during this interlude. While my orthotic was being replaced, I watched from my window while Spring became early Summer. I could not leave my bedroom for several weeks. Most importantly, I learned about my techniques for managing my frustration with my situation.
I had plenty of time to reflect upon my situation and to consider ways that might avoid this situation happening for others. Access to digital solutions such as neuroproactive.com from the outset will offer solutions for the patients of the future.
For the last eleven years I have focussed my energy on learning to walk again. Therefore, it took a substantial adjustment physically and mentally for me to adapt to being confined to one room without any possibility of walking anywhere. I chose to focus on two activities which were possible for me to do.
Firstly, I could still develop my cognitive rehabilitation through game-playing. I found several games I could play on my phone, including Wordle, Words with Friends and Solitaire.
I realised that Solitaire, also known as the English card game Patience, makes a good analogy for any rehabilitation journey. There is only one player in the game, and you can win or lose depending on your actions and choices. You cannot speed up the pace of the game, but you at least know where you are.
Likewise, in rehabilitation. Neuroproactive.com offers features that would have avoided some of my frustration this Spring. It enables speedy communication between clinicians and patients. I would have had an opportunity to track the progress of my replacement splint. And it would have been a single place for the orthotist, physiotherapist and district nurses to discuss my case.
I realised that a strength of neuroproactive.com is that it recognises the central role that a patient has in their rehabilitation journey. Consequently, the platform validates the patient’s experiences by giving them the ability so see and to help manage the input they need from their team of clinicians.
The other second activity was that part of the physiotherapy that I could still do – exercises in bed and upper limb work. My carers supported me by helping me to count and record my repetitions and by monitoring the quality of my movements.
How could neuroproactive.com have helped to improve my situation? My situation could potentially have been avoided through better
communication between my orthotist, physiotherapist, GP and my team of carers. Neuroproactive.com can act as a single shared space for each person to share updates and photos.
As more practitioners gain access to, and familiarity with, Neuroproactive.com and its features, new and exciting ways to use it will emerge.
We’re in the process of rolling out Neuro ProActive to 31 NHS Trusts.
You can find out more online www.Neuroproactive.com or connect with us on Twitter @NeuroProActive.
