I would like to know about the prostheis
Would anyone care to tell me a bit about the different kinds of prosthetic legs? BKAI'm working with some guy that comes to my house because he doesn't have an office, just a shop. Oh, and he's only in my town a day or two a week. That alone makes me wary. But, he's about the only one who will accept my lousy insurance (Physician's Health Choice), a medicare supplement. All he's told me is about a leg that works off some sort of pump mechanism and that it's not the kind he's going to make for me. No, I'm not kidding.What should I expect people? I'm really worried. I'm a large girl and need a heavy duty leg that's not going to fall apart on me. Should I make any special requests? I have no idea what I'm doing or what to expect.Help!
Replies
Ask the guy just what it is that he IS going to make for you, straight up.
I think that it is true that most folks don\'t start out with a vacuum socket as thier temporary leg, because your stump changes shape too much for the first year or so, and the vacuum won\'t hold. You will most likely get a pin system, where there is a silicone type sleeve that goes on your stump, that has a pin at the bottom. That pin locks into the socket of the prosthetic, which will have been moulded to fit the dimensions of your leg precisely. Attached to the socket will be the leg, of whatever the proper length is, and then an ankle and a foot.
There are a bunch of different combos of ankles and feet out there. Your choices will be limited by 1. your insurance, 2. your normal activity level. You won\'t get a boingy prosthetic leg that the runners have if you are normally a couch potato! There are different links on here, I think under advice or recommendations, that will take you to sites for prostheses and such. Look into those and educate yourself!
Also, not so many folks read each others journals, unless they are friends already. Go ahead and post questions like this in the Discussions page...
Also, see if you can have someone come over when ProstheticsBoy is there with you, so you have a second opinion that you are getting proper care.