April is Occupational Therapy Month and we are shining a light on our Anniston Orthopaedic Occupational Therapist, Karen Turgeon. Karen has been in Occupational Therapy for 26 years, and there’s no one better to answer your questions or help us understand a little more about this unique field.  Chances are, you’ve heard a lot about Physical Therapy.  If you or someone you know has ever incurred an injury or undergone a surgery on any major muscle or joint, you have likely either been to or heard of PhysicalTherapy (PT.)  But Occupational Therapy (OT) is slightly different.  Karen explains, “Occupational Therapy is a branch of health care that helps people of all ages who have physical, sensory or cognitive problems.  OT strives to help them regain independence in all areas of life.”  While PT focuses on improving the patient’s ability to move their body, OT focuses on the ability to perform activities for daily living.

The varieties of Occupational Therapy specialties are as wide-ranging as individual needs.  From Driving and Community Mobility, to Environmental Modification, to Feeding, Eating and Swallowing and so much more.  According to Karen, her specialty in Anniston Orthopaedic’s outpatient orthopaedic setting allows her to specialize in elbow, wrist and hand injuries.  “I see a lot of work comp injuries from Honda from repetitive work such as post surgical CTR, A1 pulley release and ulnar nerve decompression,” says Karen.  “I also see a variety of other orthopedic conditions such as wrist and finger fractures, tendon lacerations, crush injuries, etc.”

While some people know exactly what they want to do and how they’d like to specialize early on, that wasn’t the case for Karen.  Like many of us starting out in our profession, in the beginning, almost three decades ago, she was unclear on just how she wanted to specialize.  “I didn't know much about Occupational Therapy when I was deciding on a graduate degree,” she says.  “I went into an outpatient clinic to do some observation hours with two Occupational Therapists that specialized in hands, and I instantly felt like this was the place for me.  I have loved it for 26 years!”

Karen says that one of the most rewarding aspects of her job is watching the impossible become possible.  “The most interesting case I've treated was a gentleman who had stepped on a live wire and the electricity exited his body through his hand.  He lost his thumb, IF and LF—basically, half of his hand.  A hand surgeon removed his 2^nd toe and put it in the place of his thumb.  After many months of therapy, the patient had grasp back and very functional hand.”  These are the the kinds of stories that are abundant in Occupational Therapy.  These are stories of overcoming real obstacles with perseverance that leads to real results, all thanks to an Occupational Therapist who is committed to working with patients until the very best results are realized.  Thank you, Karen, for choosing Occupational Therapy, and thank you for choosing to use your talents and gifts at Anniston Orthopaedic Associates.

If you would like more information on Occupational Therapy, or if you are searching for an Occupational Therapist, please give us a call: 256-236-4121.

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