We are located at 202 Scott Street- on the corner of Scott street and Alabama Road, Blenheim
In clinic and home visits in Renwick, Picton and Blenheim are available. The following story explains some of why Kaylene is so passionate about quality and consistent health care to all patients and especially in the field of podiatry...
TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE
In late 2013, the worst timing, as I was about to sit my final Bachelor of Health Science exams in podiatry I had a medical emergency occur almost out of the blue; Cauda equina syndrome. In short one of the discs in my lower back entirely displaced and compressed my spinal cord from L4 to S1. The result of this was extremely painful and resulted in the loss of mobility and internal functions. RECOVERY BEGINS
After surgery to decompress my spine I had two weeks in hospital to start the recovery. It quickly became clear that although the decompression was successful, the results of the spinal trauma was an unknown as only time would tell if I would regain what I had lost - mobility and internal functions. I was not entirely painfree as my left lower leg in the calf was still painful and it turned out this would remain for months to come. The hardest thing to wait for was the internal recovery, which was very slow. REALITY HITS HOME
As a podiatrist I was aware of the nerves and the different changes that can occur in the muscles, skin and with motion. To my horror even after successful surgery I had lost the use of my left leg and could no longer walk without assistance. My big toe (hallux) couldn’t move and neither could my lesser toes. My left ankle gave way at my first attempt to stand with assistance and to be honest I was disheartened as I realised the ramifications of what had happened to me. TAKING MATTERS INTO MY OWN HANDS
With some soul searching and a determination to play with my children again I put my podiatry knowledge to work and started towards my recovery - trying to engage my big toe even though it initially didn’t respond, trying to use my legs even though I had strict rules for 6 weeks following my operation to only lie flat, walk or briefly perch. My husband was granted nearly three months off work to care for me and our children, while I slowly recovered. Setting my alarm for every 30 minutes I used crutches to slowly walk down the hallway and back to bed, each time increasing in resistance and strength. Finally by week 4 I had not yet had any post rehabilitation care so I sort to devise my own regimen with the help of a doctor of physiotherapy. SEEING RESULTS
Over a few months into my regiment, my left leg became stronger and, although a long way to go, I was starting to become more mobile. Two years have passed. Seeing me now, no one would know how rough my recovery had been. I do still have loss of sensation to my lower left leg, but I can be active with my children and have recently started to play basketball in the Marlborough women's league and Men's B grade. EFFECT ON MY PRACTICE
My personal experience has heightened my determination to see other people more mobile and to do my part to ensure they receive the quality care that they deserve. Since completing my studies, I have seen hundreds of patients for various lower limb related conditions. My patients range from the very young to the elderly. Whether the foot problems are sports-based or related to a chronic disease, the quality of care has been the same - aiming at achieving the realistic goals of each patient. With my help, many of my patients are creating their own success stories. MY PROMISE TO YOU
To give you consistent, quality health care aiming to
reduce pain,
enable more mobility and
get you a step closer to realising your own goals to success.
