Torn cruciate ligament – The Sports Injuries Physiotherapist

“I tore my anterior cruciate ligament and came to GTG for my preoperative assessment. I saw a physiotherapist who specialises in sports injuries. She explained what to expect from my surgery, went through the postoperative protocol clarifying the timescales of recovery, taught me some exercises to help prepare for the surgery and answered all my questions allowing me to feel at ease. 

I then returned to see her postoperatively and felt very well looked after as she guided me all the way back to playing football again. The reception staff were welcoming and the facilities at the GTG clinic were perfect for my rehabilitation needs. I am very pleased with the care I received and will return in the future if ever I have another injury”.

Back Pain – The Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy Team

“I’ve had lower back pain, on-and-off, since I was a teenager. However, one year ago my pain flared up severely. I was unable to work for some time and was unable to continue participating in the yoga classes which I love. With the help of my physiotherapists who specialised in treating back pain at GTG I have been able to continue working and have returned to my yoga classes. I have found their hands on treatment and back fit classes to be really beneficial for improving my pain”.

Erbs Palsy (nerve damage in arm) – The Paediatric Physiotherapy Team

“Physio has made a massive difference to my daughter and has helped her to be able to have movement in the arm and to be able to grip.

All of the staff have been very helpful. My daughter’s physiotherapist has helped her come along way”.

Gynaecology problems – The Women’s Health Physiotherapist

“I was referred to a specialist as I had an anterior prolapse which caused me a lot of discomfort and embarrassment and was affecting my everyday life. It was suggested that I have an operation to repair the prolapse and a possible hysterectomy.

To prepare for the operation I was asked to attend physiotherapy sessions with the physiotherapist that specialises in Women’s Health at the Guernsey Therapy Group.
The sessions in the weeks leading up to my operation were invaluable in that it was explained to me exactly how the operation would affect my body and I was shown how to do Pilates type exercises to help strengthen myself in preparation for the operation.

The individual sessions with Lyndsay after my operation were vital to me. I don’t know how I would have managed without them. Lyndsay gave me so much support and as a result I was able to gradually get stronger both physically and psychologically. She gave me the tools to be able to help myself which made me feel positive, determined and more in control of my recovery.

I also attended a six week evening course given by Lyndsay. The thorough nature of the sessions made it easier for me to remember them and carry on with them at home. I certainly felt the benefit of the exercises and strongly believe that they have greatly helped with my recovery. I still do the exercises on a daily basis as I recognise how much I benefit from them”.

Post knee surgery – The Orthopaedic Physiotherapy Team

“Within 24 hours of having knee surgery two of the physios from the PEH based physio team came to the ward and got me straight in to exercises. The first thing was to tell me what they already knew…that I would actually be able to move my knee joint! They were right!

Every day truly became a step forward in my recovery. There is no question that the team played a massive part in getting me where I am now.

With their expertise, encouragement and can do attitude with praise given each time a milestone was reached the confidence in my own ability grew.

Each member of the team quickly tailored the exercises to my capabilities on the day. The element of surprise was not knowing what time or which team member or more would arrive on the ward and chivvy me along to give it my all!

It is great from a patient’s point of view to meet all the team and be offered individual variations on the style of exercises and with the added benefit of building friendly relationships”.

Broken Neck – The Neurology Physiotherapists

“In the first 45 or so years of my life, I fortunately had no need to ever visit a physio, despite lots of falling off motorbikes and other accidents.

In February 2011, having sailed the Atlantic with my family, we were enjoying a fun day on the beach in a little island called Fernando De Noronha, about the size of Alderney around 100 miles off the coast of Brazil.

I was messing about in the surf when I was hit by a monster wave which smashed me on my back and broke my neck. I came to, virtually paralysed, floating face down in the water. I soon gave up trying to hold my breath and started swallowing sea water, before passing out.

I came to, lying on the beach surrounded by people, having been dragged unconscious out of the sea by my wife Bridget (with help from others).

Fortunately there was a small health centre on the island which had an ambulance (the only vehicle on the island that wasn’t a beach buggy), and they got me off of the beach onto a government plane and to a hospital in Recife.

Fortunately (again), it wasn’t a complete break, but a disc pressing on the spinal cord at C4/C5 level which caused swelling leading to the paralysis. I was operated on the next day to stabilise the neck and take the pressure off the spinal cord.

The surgeon and physios did a fantastic job and over the next few weeks, I was gradually able to move to a chair and then take a few steps with the aid of a zimmer frame.

After a month, I was well enough to return to the UK on a commercial flight, albeit with a fair bit of assistance. We had a stopover in Miami and despite Bridget’s and the medical assistants words of discouragement, I insisted on sitting on a barstool and having a pint.

Once back in the UK, I had to wait a month in hospital for a bed to become available in Salisbury spinal unit. This was a very frustrating time, as I was in a general ward with no physio and just lying there all day long. I had to stay in hospital, as it was only possible to transfer to Salisbury as an inpatient, but we did workout that I was allowed out during the day, provided that I was back in my bed by 19.00, so Bridget would pick me up after the school run and we would spend the day together, have an early supper before dropping me back to my ward.

I was eventually transferred to Salisbury, where I again started having lots of physio, but not until I had been confined to bed for 2 days for them to undertake their assessments. All the time in Salisbury that I was not in the gym, I would be on the exercise bike trying to make my legs work.

I was discharged from Salisbury after a month, as they thought they had done everything they could for me and had more urgent cases needing the bed. I returned to Somerset where I was referred to the community physios there. Although they obviously worked hard, having been used to 3 sessions of physio a day, I ended up with 30 minutes every 2-3 weeks physio time, which was no more than a check on progress and a list of exercises to do.

6 months after the accident I started working again – commuting to Jersey for a 6 week commission, and 2 months later we relocated to Guernsey so I could start a new business.

I was referred by Salisbury to the Physio’s at the PEH and suddenly found there was so much more I was able to achieve. My sessions led primarily by Tomi or Kitty were fantastic for my development, they never turned out how they were planned, as something would be spotted that gave a new avenue for investigation.

A great memory was when asked by Tomi what I wanted to achieve, I said skiing, running, cycling and golf. Within a week Tomi had me walking round the corridors at PEH with my ski boots on.

My first ski trip was 2 years after the accident, and had some interesting moments, as I could only turn left, but we have been skiing every year since and although far from my pre-accident form, I have been improving year on year.

Tomi also coached me on the cycle ride round Guernsey, giving me his bike and running alongside when my one broke, and took me for my first game of golf. I am not able to run yet, but am still working on it.

Seven years on I am still doing physio, now with Anne & trying Botox to see if that can improve things, as I still have very overactive muscles and some sensation problems, but otherwise have a fairly normal life.

I am a very lucky person, and put my recovery down to the following top three people (in order of importance):

1. My wife Bridget – who fished me out of the sea, stopped me from dying and has never let me get away with not trying
2. My surgeon Claudio – who said I would make a full recovery (belief is everything)
3. The Physio’s at PEH – Who like Claudio and Bridget believe anything is possible, and have had the tenacity to keep looking for the areas to make the gains.

Many many people have also helped me over the years, and the prize is definitely worth the struggle.