Julian was talking to his wife on their family room couch before taking on an afternoon of housework. When he stood up, he felt a strange sensation in his left eye and sat back down. Then, all his strength drained from his body. Thinking little of it, he dragged himself to the bedroom to sleep it off. It wasn’t until hours later that he called 911 and was rushed to the emergency room at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre.

“Life suddenly changed. Everything changed,” says Julian.

Julian suffered a stroke that weakened the entire left side of his body so much so that he was virtually bedridden for more than a month. He couldn’t sit up or even raise his arm. Doctors said his stroke was likely caused by high blood pressure and his 30-year history of heavy smoking.

“I didn’t pay much attention to my blood pressure. Sometimes I didn’t take my medicine. I didn’t eat right. I smoked one-and-a-half packs every day,” he admits. “Now, all of my mind is on exercise, getting back my health and my capability of daily life.”

Julian rebuilds his strength and balance with physiotherapist Chaya Plonka at Sunnybrook’s St. John’s Rehab.

Since April, Julian has been working with a multidisciplinary team at St. John’s Rehab, including nurses, physicians, physiotherapists and occupational therapists, to regain his strength, balance and mobility.

“After a month, something in me changed. I tried to adjust my psychology to think in a positive way,” he says. Soon after, he made the decision to quit smoking and became determined to get moving.

“Every day I exercised,” he says proudly. “Eventually, I was able to stand up by the side of my bed. Then, I took a couple of steps. Gradually, a couple more. Then I pushed the wheelchair outside the room and walked down the corridor.”

Julian was still dependent on a wheelchair when he was discharged as an inpatient but continued his rehabilitation through the hospital’s outpatient program.

“About a week after discharge, I got rid of my wheelchair,” he says. “Now I barely use a cane. I’m almost back to normal.”

Back at home, Julian insists on going for walks in his neighbourhood every day and is determined to prevent a second stroke.

“The stroke was very bad for me and in a way it’s good for me,” he says. “After the stroke, I quit smoking and a lot of bad habits. On the whole, my body and health is much better.”

The post Julian says his stroke was a ‘wake-up call’ appeared first on Your Health Matters.

He offers these general tips to help you:

Talk with your care team

If you are in the hospital or starting rehabilitation, you can learn more about assistive devices and options by talking with your physician, physiotherapist and or your occupational therapist.

See your family doctor

If you are in the community, Giovanni recommends making an appointment with your family doctor to discuss next steps. They can refer you to a specialist or prosthetist. Giovanni recommends getting a physician’s referral because it is required when applying for funding coverage.

Check your private health insurance plan

If you also have health insurance with a private company, it’s important to find out what your plan may cover, Giovanni advises. “Always submit your quote [the potential cost of the medical device] to your insurance provider for a pre-determination first,” says Giovanni. “You may be asked to pay upfront, unlike your dental plan, but your plan may be able to waive this requirement depending on your situation.”

Bring all documents to your specialist appointment

“Patients referred to us at SCIL bring in all information in addition to their OHIP card and possible private health insurance coverage,” says Giovanni.

If you are receiving social assistance, he recommends that you also bring to your specialist, your most recent proof of social assistance to confirm that coverage. “That way, they have the complete picture. They are able to prepare the appropriate funding options based on your financial situation,” he says.

Learn about other potential partial funding sources

Charities are also a possible resource for additional funding assistance. They generously help specific patient populations and depending on your medical condition and assistive device need, you may be eligible for additional funding support.

The post Are you coping with limb loss and have questions about how to access a prosthesis? appeared first on Your Health Matters.

Dr. Amanda Mayo is a physiatrist who specializes in amputee care at St. John’s Rehab. Todd Domingo is an active amputee and a certified peer visitor who offers support to other amputees. Both share insights to help you along your journey.

A life-changing event

Says Dr. Mayo, “It is important to recognize limb loss is a life-changing event. Limb loss affects how you move and many aspects of your life. It is common to go through a period of grieving after loss of a limb, and you may have a period of developing a new self image. Having a good support network of friends, family, and/or healthcare providers can help with these transitions.”

Says Todd, “When it comes to body image, keep reminding yourself that value is about who you are and what you can do – and less about physical appearance. Though it takes a lot emotionally the goal is to try to get to a point where you can say, let me make something better of this. People will always stare: it is human nature. Use it as a positive teachable moment.”

Last year Todd had to have a left below knee amputation. “Losing a limb is similar to losing loved one – believe it or not,” he says. “Everyone experiences the process of dealing with limb loss differently.”

Recovery takes time

Dr. Mayo: It is a long process to recover from amputation. Be patient with yourself. It takes time to regain your strength, emotional recovery and for the residual limb to heal.

Patients have to wait at least 4-6 weeks after amputation before being measured for their first prosthetic device by a prosthetist.

Be open to new experiences

Todd: Over time it is then good to get to know the things you can do and to remain open to new experiences. I found it helped to accept that my prosthesis was not replacing my limb. It’s a ‘tool’ to help me do things.

Don’t be discouraged

Todd:  During fittings and adjustments, try to stay positive and get to know the differences between pain, soreness, discomfort and pressure. Acknowledge and address the discomfort and find a way to trust that your device will support you.

Seek support about the financial aspects of a potential device

Dr. Mayo: Patients also often face financial stressors at this time. Talking with members of your medical team – the social worker, the physiotherapist, the occupational therapist – can help you learn more about potential device options and how to navigate assistive devices funding.

Todd: Find out what your options are, and aim for a device that can help match the activities you want to do.

Become adaptive and active

Todd: Learn what being adaptive means. Ask yourself, how am I going to do this? in a strategic way to safely do it.  For example, instead of asking, how am I going to get in my car with my leg prosthesis on since it is low to the ground? Start by thinking how you can physically get into your car. Whether that is by holding on to the car as you sit down and swinging your legs over, it is all about taking that first step. You’ll soon figure out that adapting simply means doing things in a different way, but still getting to the end goal. 

Todd: Be active and involved. Be aware of the community of amputees around you. Advocate for yourself and have good, regular exchanges with your medical team.

The post Going forward after limb loss appeared first on Your Health Matters.

It’s mind-boggling: How can you feel pain in a limb that doesn’t exist? It’s a strange phenomenon for people with amputations, but phantom pain is real and can be hugely debilitating. While the pain is often treated with medication, an alternative method to manage the pain (believe it or not) uses a simple mirror.

“Mirror therapy” works like magic — you use a mirror to trick your brain into thinking your missing limb has reappeared and then (with a physiotherapist or occupational therapist) treat the limb as if it still exists.

Watch the video to see mirror therapy in action.

The post How using a mirror can relieve phantom pain appeared first on Your Health Matters.