In May 2010, whilst serving in the Upper Gereshk Valley, I trod on an IED; the resulting partial detonation shattered my calcaneus into nine pieces. Subsequent surgery achieved unity of the bone but left uneven surfaces that caused degenerative arthritis.
Physiotherapy helped me to recover and to learn to walk again, but initial surgical prognoses suggested that I would never be able to run again due to the complexity of the damage in the subtalar joint.
I was referred to a podiatrist, Mr David Hallowell, by my physiotherapist in a bid to initiate further progress in my rehabilitation. Although initially sceptical, I engaged with him and was given a set of orthotic insoles that made a significant difference to my daily level of comfort.
Mr Hallowell continued to re-evaluate my progress and adjust my treatment as necessary; I felt that I was being listened to and that it was a receptive and interactive process. The real difference was when he developed a rocker insole that was coupled with a leg-brace; this design gave me the confidence to run that I had not had since my injury occurred. The result was that I was able to complete the Belfast Marathon in a time of 3:57, a feat that I had been told was permanently beyond me.
Throughout the whole of my treatment for this debilitating injury, I can identify my treatment at the hands of Mr Hallowell as the single point of success; it feels like everything else was merely supporting this process which has given me the best chance of replicating my pre-injury existence.
Thank you for making a difference
Olly