Burns are most painful to endure and recover from. Burns are varied according to their severability and treatability. First degree burn can be treated easily with time. Very severe second degree burn and third degree burn need full-fledged treatment and time dedicated for recovery. We assure you to get the best pain management in Chennai through our burn rehabilitation program. At JH rehabilitation centre in Chennai, we focus extensively on care post burns for faster and safer recovery. Pain management and rehabilitation for burns are tailored according to the degree and severity of burns.
In our burn rehabilitation program, we make sure you regain the original state of psychological, physical, and functional abilities. It can be due to various causes such as
- Chemical
- Thermal
- Electrical
- Radiation
SYMPTOMS AND MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS
Usually, individuals affected by these conditions can have
- Wounds due to burns are likely to become infectious if not treated properly
- Contractures of the joints especially if the scars pass through the joints
- Severe pain due to burns and nerve damage
- Heterotrophic ossification – a condition that causes stiffness of the joints
- Fractures and joint dislocations
- Difficulty in swallowing especially in case of a chemical ingestion
- Weakness of the muscles of the arms and legs
- Difficulty in walking and performing day to day activities are also some of the secondary effects of burns depending on the severity and location of the burns
Our comprehensive, interdisciplinary team approach (i.e. care being provided by various disciplines in a coordinated fashion) using physician (physiatrist), physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist, neuropsychologist, nutritionist and a nurse can help reduce your symptoms that are directly related to the injury as well as prevent and treat medical complications that occur as a result of burns. Our treatment is not a substitution for surgical debridement, skin grafting etc (when such treatments are recommended) but is a supplementation to such treatments to maximize your recovery. Not all patients will require all services and usually, a combination of these services is required for an individual patient. You will be evaluated at the initial visit to determine what services you require and a tailored treatment plan will be initiated.
Patients will be evaluated by the Physician first to determine the severity of the burns and it’s impact on the patient and then come up with a treatment plan that best suits them. Depending on the patient’s symptoms, the treatment plan will include prescribing various exercises and treatment modalities, which will be executed by the rest of the team.
A Physiotherapist trains patients on various physical exercises to improve strength in the arms and legs, improve walking and balance and reduce muscle or joint tightness. They can use splints and compressive garments lined with silicone to reduce swelling around the wound, prevent and/or treat hypertrophic scars, prevent and/or treat muscle or joint tightness and teach patients appropriate positioning to prevent contractures. They can also use physical modalities to reduce pain and inflammation, muscle and tendon tightness and treat and prevent muscle atrophy.
An Occupational therapist trains patients with severe physical impairment to be independent by teaching them various physical activities of daily living such as moving in the bed, transferring from one place to another, eating, dressing, bathing, toileting, and driving. The final phase of treatment involves patient training for successful community integration (education, employment etc).
Neuropsychologist evaluates patients with depression and anxiety, that is commonly seen after any major life-changing illness or injury and guides them through the process of rehabilitation thereby improving their quality of life through motivation and counseling.
Malnutrition or undernourishment is a common problem in this population. For optimal recovery, a Nutritionist recommends an appropriate intake of nutrition.
A Rehabilitation nurse performs and teaches wound care management for patients with wounds.
Expectations of Recovery
The Treatment duration and prognosis depends on the severity and chronicity of the injury. The Goal is to treat the wounds, decrease the pain, prevent joint tightness, improve joint stiffness if present, prevent and treat hypertrophic scars, increase muscle strength and improve endurance. The earlier someone visits our center after a burn injury, the easier it will be to achieve the goals. Our ultimate goal is community reintegration (i.e. return to work, return to driving, return to doing activities you did before).