Cooma physiotherapist Edward Moore would probably prefer to forget the past six months – except that he has learned a lot in that time.
Last year Edward was skiing too fast in rough snow. He crashed and ended up being taken to Canberra Hospital where a broken tibia in his leg was reassembled and five titanium screws were inserted.
“I was then forced to watch the Olympics!” he jokes.
It took 16 weeks for his doctor to advise that his leg could again bear full weight. For the first six weeks it was unable to support any weight, then it was allowed to support about 20% of average weight, and then 50%.
Whilst Edward says ‘it sucks not being able to walk,’ he believes he has learned a lot during his recuperation that ultimately will benefit his physiotherapy patients.
‘I now have first-hand experience of the pain associated with having a fractured leg and having it repaired. I now know exactly what it is like to go through rehab, and I now appreciate how frustrating it is not being able to work as usual.’
“I received incredible support from my girlfriend who is a nurse, from everyone at work, and from my patients. And that support is continuing, as many patients have recently been remarking to him ‘Oh, you’re wearing a moon boot!’ and ‘now you REALLY know what it is like to break a bone!’
Edward strongly believes the physiotherapy he received while recovering from the surgery has helped hasten his recovery and that it has helped the healing process.
“I assiduously did all the exercises that a physiotherapist would normally recommend to any patient with a condition similar to mine, and I started strengthening exercises in the gym as early as I possibly could.”
“And those exercises will continue over the next six months because I plan to be back on my skiis again this winter.”
Appointments with the ‘now more sympathetic’ Edward Moore can be made by phoning Snowy Mountains Physiotherapy in Cooma on 6452 4203
