Jeffrey's story
Jeffrey Rustin, 67, was alarmed, “almost terrified.”
After his spinal surgeon performed a complex fusion of Jeffrey’s spine from his neck to pelvis, he could not move his legs.
His health journey that brought him to this point in his life was complicated. Even as a retiree, Jeffrey was always active, enjoying photography, travel and time with his family. But he had scoliosis, an abnormal curvature to his spine. Years of pain in his hips and knees, compounded by scoliosis, gradually weakened his legs and made walking difficult. Getting around with his wife, grandson and dog was not easy. He made the decision to have surgery.
For two days, he could not move his legs. “Then, I waited another day, and my legs could finally move,” he said. “I was happy." Indeed, the moment he regained sensation was emotional.
Once Jeffrey stabilized, he was eager to rebuild his strength and to walk again. He chose Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation (KIR) - Saddle Brook for the next step in his recovery. "I wanted to get it done and get moving in the right direction," he said.
Upon admission to KIR - Saddle Brook, Jeffrey faced significant mobility challenges. His legs were weak, his balance was unsteady and he couldn’t walk more than short distances or perform basic self-care without assistance. Despite these hurdles, he remained optimistic and excited to begin rehabilitation. His goals were to regain the strength and balance he needed to walk.
Jeffrey’s physician-led care team developed a personalized treatment plan that included physical and occupational therapies so he could meet his goals.
Physical therapists focused on rebuilding his balance and endurance. Jeffrey started by propelling his wheelchair using his legs. This built both strength and endurance. When he began to walk, his physical therapists created obstacles using cones and canes for dynamic balance. He also worked on the ability to navigate stairs with a cane and single handrail. Jeffrey showed perseverance and determination during these exercises.
As he progressed, Jeffrey experienced pivotal milestones, such as walking down the hallway with contact guard assistance and navigating stairs. "Being able to walk made me realize that so many things you take for granted," he said.
Occupational therapists helped Jeffrey master essential tasks, such as dressing and bathing, while being careful with his spinal movements. His therapist taught him weight shifting techniques to enhance his ability to engage in balanced and prolonged sitting (supported and unsupported) for initiation of standing and lower body dressing and footwear tasks. He was introduced to adaptive equipment to assist him while dressing, bathing and safely reaching for items on the floor. Jeffrey was also introduced to deep breathing and relaxation techniques for pain management.
"My therapists were tough, but that’s their job," Jeffrey said. "They drove me hard, and that’s what I was looking for."
When he wasn’t in therapy, Jeffrey found strength in conversations with his wife, Lillian, who frequently called to check in on his progress. He also enjoyed group therapy sessions, where he learned to better care for himself and could share his experiences with other patients.
As he approached discharge, Jeffrey could walk confidently, perform exercises to maintain his strength, and tackle everyday tasks with reduced assistance. He committed to outpatient therapy to further refine his abilities and reclaim the life he loves.
"I feel so much better than I did when I walked through the door," Jeffrey said. "I’m looking forward to holding my camera again and getting back to photography."