Susan Edge,
one of our newest recruits to the crucial role of Police Treatment Centres
ambassador has experienced, firsthand what it means to both a serving and
retired Police officer to have, at their disposal, should it unfortunately be
required, the facilities and expertise that the Police Treatment Centres in
Harrogate and Auchterarder have to offer.
Susan was
keen to share these experiences with ourselves and fellow members of the Police
family alike, here are some of her words.
“The injury
that changed my career occurred on the 31st of January 2005, a date
which will forever be implanted in my memory. I took a fall whilst training my
Police dogs which resulted in a triple fracture and dislocation of my right
ankle.
Following
two operations and over a week in hospital, my ankle was pinned and plated. I
then remained in plaster for over six weeks but despite this was unable to
place a toe on the floor, weight bearing was an impossibility and I remained on
crutches awaiting a second surgery. Following this second surgery I was
informed that it would be highly unlikely that I would ever return to work as a
Police Officer let alone as a dog handler, indeed, I may even be left with a
permanent limp. As you may imagine, I was devastated.
On the day
when eventually my plaster was removed, rather than being faced with a healing,
healthy looking lower leg, what was actually presented to me was what can only
be described as a swollen mess.
After being
told that the NHS Physio would “be in touch”, I decided to contact the PTC at
Harrogate and spoke to the amazing, wonderful, miracle worker Liz Light. There
really are not enough superlatives to describe this lady. I was promptly booked
in for a visit the following week as the team at Harrogate felt it important
that I be a priority and get my ankle moving to prevent any avoidable
complications.
I arrived
at the PTC in Harrogate on a Bank Holiday Monday morning, on crutches, with my
Husband helping me along. I was seen straight away by Liz who said to me (and I
shall never forget these words) “it looks like a lump of liver on the end of
your foot and whatever I am going to do, it will hurt…a lot” and believe me, it
did!
At the end
of my first day, I felt thoroughly sorry for myself and to be completely
honest, just wanted to go home. However, after a few more days I began to see
slight improvements and the reforming of the ankle itself. I had physio, ultra
sound, manipulations, treatments in the pool, acupuncture, Pilates, pulse
treatment, you name it, I had it. I could not believe the treatment, time and
effort that Liz put into getting my ankle back to normal. After the prognosis
from the surgeon, the thing that made most difference was the confidence the
team at Harrogate instilled in me. I WAS going to return to work, I WAS going
to continue to be a dog handler and I WASN’T going to be left with a limp.
At the end
of my two week stay I walked out of St Andrews on one crutch and with my right
foot on the ground, somewhat awkwardly, but on the ground.
After two
further visits to the PTC I was able to return to work in the June of that same
year. I was placed on light duties and in September I was contacted by the NHS
to see a consultant. They could not believe that after such a severe injury
eight months earlier I could be walking so comfortably.
Had I not
been given the treatment at Harrogate, I feel sure that my career would have
been over and that I would have been left with a limp. It wasn’t easy and there
were a lot of tears along the way but I made it. I completed my full thirty
years in GMP as a dog handler and I am now happily retired.
I would be happy
to support the Treatment Centre with any talks or would be available if anyone
at all needed a chat about the treatment offered by the PTC. I cannot advocate
it enough.
I recently
had a week in Harrogate in January after injuring my back. I hobbled in on the
Sunday afternoon and walked out on the Friday”.
<<Back