Amputees Support Group
Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma or surgery. Many have undergone amputation or have been living with a missing limb since birth. In either case, life as an amputee can be challenging. This is the place to find others going through the same experiences as an amputee. Share your thoughts, troubles, and solutions with the community.
just wondering what the differece is between a gel liner and a silcion liner as my stump breaks down with agel liner and my leg doc want me to try a siclion liner for when i get my new leg,ajust being nosey over in america do you have to pay for your leg because here inaussie land our goverment pays for them i dont have to pay for anything for m stump not even my stocking all doc app are for free so was just wondering how it works for you
I think that the socks are made like a sandwich, with a silicon gel in the middle. I am not an expert and you would be best to seek advice.
I get my socks on the UK NHS.
I attend Seacroft Specialist Rehabilitation Centre, where I see a prosthetist.
The prosthetic department there is run by R L Steeper, which I believe is an American company.
RSLSteeper claim to be the UK's premier provider of clinically effective, cost effective and innovative Prosthetic, Orthotic and Assistive Technology Care.
The 'stump socks' that I have at the moment are called 'Streifyderm' , a sock with an integrated polymer gel layer. It is made in Germany.
I have found their website:
www.streifeneder.de
ps I will be in Australia for the New Year. I am hoping to be at Glenelg Pier for the fireworks.
http://www.ossur.com/pages/13399
Bake - Good Luck
I am an 2007 above the knee and have used the Iceross silicon liner from the beginning, so I cannot speak to the differences between the two type of liners. Hopefully my experiances will help you understand the silicon a little bit.
It took a while for my skin to adapt to the liner, develope a tolerance, a toughness. Each day a redness or rash would show up in one place or another, usually in narrow bands. Using a tip from my leg man, I treated these with A+D (A plus D) ointment - the same ointment used for diaper rash. Use the ointment sparingly or it will act as a lubricant and the liner will slip around even more. Not a good thing if the liner slips off - LOL.
For the most part, the skin irritation has been minor, but I did have one serious blister at the very top of the liner. It happened on one day of near constant use during the day and took several months to heal. I tried treating it myself and did not get medical help for a while and that set the recovery back.
Bake mentioned sweat buildup, and it does happen. I am a heavy sweater and when working in the hot, humid weather of the US Southeast, it is possible to pour the sweat out of the liner when I take it off. Stopping and drying and cleaning periodically is a recommendation.
My leg man told me to wash the liner in hot water every time I use it and spray it with a water/rubbing alcohol mixture every few days. I have two liners that are washed and sprayed with alcolhol every day. Every other week or so, they are washed in the washing machine.
My insurance has covered all of my expenses so far. The leg company has tried to bill me for the differences between what they bill and what is paid, but they have a contractural agreement to accept what is paid by the insurance company and I do not have to pay any bills beyond my per visit co-pay. So Far, so good.
I have nattered on, but I guess I am trying to say that there will be challenges and setbacks, but that if I can get through them, I have no doubt that you can too. Hang in there and make the most of every day.
Mark