Ever since the Para-Olympics in London 2012, the World of prosthetic limbs has become far more mainstream. Public figures such as Jonnie Peacock, Para-Olympic Champion and star of Strictly Come Dancing, have shown the world that being an amputee need not define you.
Working as a personal injury lawyer, specialising in representing injured motorcyclists and cyclists following road traffic incidents, means that I have experience and an understanding of how an amputation can affect an individual and the procedures they must go through to understand and process their ‘new life.’
It's not until an individual loses a limb that you begin to understand just how remarkable the human body is. How your ankle and knee joints move to allow you to ascend and descend stairs is not something we tend to think about, but it is something an amputee must consider when looking at the available prosthetic limbs on the market.
I recently attended Dorset Orthopaedic's Dynamic Rehabilitation conference in Daventry near Birmingham. This was my third year at their annual conference and every year I leave inspired by the people I have met over the two days. Although I can never begin to fully understand how it feels to lose a limb and really get my head around life as an amputee, speaking to Dorset’s ambassadors, all of whom have their own story and background, does allow me to expand my own knowledge.
Clearly, not every amputee wishes or is able to become a sportsperson and for many of my clients, they simply want to return to normality, get back to work and enjoy family life. The starting point is understanding what the ‘new normal’ will entail and having a discussion as to what they want to achieve out of life.
The US Military have invested a great deal of money into the provision of prosthetic limbs since the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan which in turn has allowed civilian amputees access to new technology. Arguably, the most significant being micro processing limbs. In the instance of a knee or ankle joint, these provide propulsion for the user to make everyday tasks such as walking up a slope or steps easier and have less of a detrimental impact on the user’s ‘good leg.’
A good fitting prosthetic can allow an amputee to return to the work place, their hobbies and their livelihood which is imperative to their mental as well as physical health, but it is not just as simple as providing a limb and allowing them to get on with the rest. The requirement for total rehabilitation cannot be overstated.
It can be extremely isolating for our clients going through the journey of an amputee. Therefore, we take the view that a full team rehab programme needs to be established. Having access to physiotherapists, prosthetists, occupational therapists and even a ‘buddy’ who can provide moral support can ease the pressure on the individual and their loved ones.
There is no ‘one size fits all’ and no two people’s journey will be the same. That can be said for all of us. However, when it comes to an amputee there also needs to be an understanding that the ‘superhero’ sportsperson also has their down days where the socket is causing sores and a wheelchair may be their only option. Once again, it is that team of support that will get you through.
Jodi Gordon - Partner