Daily living should not be a repeated cycle of distress, discomfort or dissatisfaction. You probably got that prosthesis for guaranteed optimum living, marked by ease and mobility support. Well, here we are.
Socket Fit
A common cause of discomfort in prosthetic usage is socket fit – The precision of the socket fit is CRITICAL. The socket is the portion that comes into contact with the remainder of the limb you have left. That is why the fit and comfort of this part is so crucial, without it you can experience pain, sores, and blisters. It can make the prosthesis feel even heavier than it is.
A discomforting socket could be as a result of excessive end bearing, uneven skin pressure, frictional skin loss, loss of total contact, excessive impingement on a nerve, mal-alignment, etc. Some of the indications that your socket might be defective are:
- When the socket is big or bulgy and not snugly fitted on your stump.
- When your experience pain once you put it on
- Notice some redness or deep Impression on your skin once you take it off
- When the socket is cracked
Phantom Limb Pain
Residual limb pain, sometimes called stump pain, is a type of pain felt in the stump after an amputation. Which is a result of a mix-up in nervous system signals, specifically between the spinal cord and brain.
When a body part is amputated, the nerve connections from the periphery to the brain remain in place. some people experience pain in the part of the limb that’s no longer there. This sensation is phantom limb pain. The pain is real. The phantom part refers to the location of the pain: the missing limb or part of the limb (such as fingers or toes). Phantom limb pain ranges from mild to severe and can last for seconds, hours, days or longer. It may occur after a medical amputation (removing part of a limb with surgery).
Experiencing this pain could make your prosthetic usage quite discomforting and unpleasant. Ensure to consult your Doctor for prescriptions that could ease or alleviate the pain. Targeted Exercises and massage could provide relief.
Mal-Alignment Of The Prosthesis
Prosthetic Alignment is the relative position of different prosthetic components to each other. Starting from the Socket adapter to the prosthetic foot.
Naturally, our bodies have their own individual alignment that is unique to each of us. This position allows us to stand and walk using the least amount of effort and without losing balance. The prosthesis must be distinctly designed to maintain the body’s natural alignment of each user.
If the prosthesis is not correctly aligned, the body has to accommodate for this artificial position. This can put unnecessary stress on muscles and joints, making it harder to walk and can lead to complications.
Some of the features of a Mal-aligned prosthesis to look out for are:
- If you find yourself limping while walking.
- If you tilt towards a side when standing or walking.
- Feel pain on your back during prosthetic usage.
- Feel like you’re expending too much energy to walk with the prosthesis.
- If the prosthesis doesn’t look structurally alike with the sound limb.
Prosthetic alignment directly and dramatically affects on the amputees ability to balance, maintain an energy efficient gait and optimal mobility. If you believe you may need your alignment adjusted, it is important you discuss your individual circumstances with your prosthetist or you can reach out to us for a free evaluation and Re-alignment.
Weight Of The Prosthesis
Another reason why you might not be at your best with your prosthesis could be that the prosthesis is unreasonably heavy. Excess prosthetic weight is largely a function of the design and manufacturing of the prosthesis, so ensure to communicate extensively with your prosthetist if the prosthesis feels weighty on your body.
Your Choice Of Footwear
The kind of footwear you wear has a lot of effect on the dynamics amd mechanical function of the prosthesis. An ideal footwear is one that is not heavy, not too roomy, has a heel height of about 0.5-2cm and has a cushioned sole for energy return effects. If you would need to use high-heeled shoes you should communicate with your prosthetist to make adjustments to facilitate it or recommend an ideal prosthetic footwear that would enable you use varying heel heights.
Your State Of Mind
Amputation presents multi-directional challenges. It affects function, sensation and body image. The psychological reactions vary greatly and depend on many factors and variable. About ≥30% of amputees are troubled by depression, Psychological morbidity, decreased self esteem, distorted body image, increased dependency and significant levels of social isolation are also observed in short and long-term follow up after amputation. Getting and using a prosthetic limb has shown to greatly reduce these effects as the user becomes independent and mobilized. Not fully accepting your current realities and looking at the silver lining could keep you stuck mentally and physically even with a prosthesis, limiting you from fully harnessing your new self.
It’s important to remember that you’re not alone in navigating life after your amputation.
Speak with a prosthetist now for FREE to get more information on a prosthesis that will be best for you.
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