Many years ago, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Bertram Spetzler who practiced at Lewis-Gale, hosted two physician colleagues from Germany, who enjoyed touring the “Easy Street” facility at Lewis-Gale Rehabilitation Center. Ironically this is the very place where he has been receiving rehabilitation therapy following a devastating injury sustained in a bicycle accident two years ago. An avid biker and seasoned ballroom dancer, Spetzler was just starting down the driveway for a ride when his bike’s brakes failed. Losing control, he headed down an embankment, hitting his head as he tumbled into a shallow creek bed below.
If a neighbor had not spotted him, Spetzler’s life may have ended there; however, that day a car was not parked in its usual spot, allowing the neighbor a view of the creek. When paramedics arrived, Spetzler, who had regained consciousness, told them “don’t move me – I think I have a spinal cord injury.” According to one physical therapist, “his alertness, astuteness, minimized the situation.”
Dr. Deborah Mowery, his Rehabilitation Medicine physician at Lewis-Gale Medical Center, explains that the injury is actually “incomplete” (he is termed quadriporetic”). His case is not as severe as those that the public is more familiar with, such as Christopher Reeve’s. Still, Spetzler found that when he woke up, he “couldn’t move my legs or my arms. I felt a flicker in my thigh muscle – that’s all I had.” Dr. Mowery calls his injury a “hyperextensive injury – central cord syndrome. He was [initially] in spinal cord shock.” She calls Spetzler “a man of motivation – he goes further” than most, which has enhanced his recovery.
Spetzler has benefitted from the medical expertise of his doctors and physical and occupational therapists, as well as specialized equipment that uses electrical stimulation to teach muscles to move again. Mowery says improvement comes in stages; he first had to work on getting “core strength” which allowed him to begin sitting on his own, then to standing with aid. She says the “longer the nerve is from the brain, the harder it is to control.”
Denise Rose, Director of Rehabilitation, said that when Spetzler was injured, “it just devastated the Lewis-Gale community.” Everyone wondered “what is the purpose of this happening – to a brilliant surgeon.” Perhaps it is some consolation that the community has benefitted. Because of Spetzler, the Rehab Center was able to speed up the process of acquiring additional state-of-the-art equipment that Spetzler needed, but also is now available to all patients. According to Rose, Spetzler “advocated for himself to get this equipment,” because as Spetzler said, “I want to come back to Lewis-Gale. This is my hospital.”
While this particular patient is special to the Lewis-Gale staff, Rose emphasizes that the approach to his treatment is no different than that of any patient who is in need of similar care. “This is available to any patient who can benefit from it.”
Rose says that when Dr. Spetzler was practicing, “he was a patient advocate; you knew if it was his patient he expected quality care, and that’s what we wanted to give back to him.”
Spetzler calls the physical therapists who have helped him “the real heroes,” saying that they are always going the extra mile for their patients.
Some of the impetus behind sharing Spetzler’s progress now is that the Lewis-Gale Rehabilitation Center is preparing to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Although he said he “didn’t want to be the star of the show,” Spetzler is an inspiration. He patiently demonstrated the “FES” bicycle which uses electrical stimulation to cause the patient’s muscles to move and pedal the cycle. Over time the patient can do more and more of the work on their own.
Several on hand were moved to tears when Spetzler straightened up and left his wheelchair behind as he took slow, slightly stiff, careful steps with the aid of crutches, under the close watch of physical therapist Chris Berry.
Even Spetzler says that when his injury first happened, he “really did not expect to walk again.” His physician’s perspective comes through when he is asked whether he will dance with his wife Clarine one day; he seems at peace when he says “the reality is probably not.”
Spetzler has a new job, helping to determine who is eligible for disability benefits. He is able to drive a specially equipped minivan and says he is fortunate to be slowly “integrating back into life.”
Looking to the future, Spetzler says that “my best hope is to maintain progress and keep the things I have – to make it livable for my wife,” he says smiling. He is grateful that he finds “the community very helpful; I’m not embarrassed to ask for help. I just try to live life and lift up the people around me.”
Pointing out that “you can’t take back the injury, which is unfortunate,” Spetzler adds, “But yes, I am at peace with the situation.”
Dr. Spetzler will be one of the speakers at the 25th anniversary celebration of Lewis-Gale’s Medical Center’s Rehabilation Center Services on Sunday, Sept. 19 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Lewis-Gale Education Center Auditorium. Brenda Walker, the first spinal cord patient to be admitted to the Center (by her then-doctor, Bert Spetzler) will also be speaking.
By Cheryl Hodges [email protected]
Many Stroke, Cerebral Palsy, brain and spinal injury patients experience arm and hand movement impairment which makes daily tasks very difficult. Occupational/ Physical therapists have in their hand therapy repertoire several techniques to maintain and improve the patient’s finger and wrist movement ability including Neuromuscular stimulation and robot-assisted rehabilitation. Additionally an important component in achieving optimal rehabilitation outcome is intensive active movement practice together with task orientated training. The HandTutor is a biofeedback training glove and software that provides customized games and biofeedback to motivate and challenge the patient to do intensive active finger and wrist exercises and to achieve maximal functional recovery. The HandTutor trains sensory, motor and cognitive impairments and can be useed even if the patient has very limited hand movement. It is equally used by chronis and acute stroke patients who have arm movemnet difficulty. It has now been purchased by the Rusk Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine. I hope Walton Rehabilitation Hospital follow soon to allow patients access to the HandTutor which teaches the patient how to move their hand again.