Things to Know When Getting Started With Prosthetic Limbs
Posted on: 28 September 2021
When it comes to rehabilitating patients with lost body parts, prosthetics technology has come a long way since its inception. One of the most common uses of prosthetic technology is to evaluate, create, and fit artificial limbs for patients who have lost one or more limbs. Prosthetic arms can empower you to reach, grab, and lift, while prosthetic legs can allow you to stand, walk, run, and even jump. These artificial limbs are known as prostheses and have proven invaluable for rehabilitating those with lost limbs. If you fall within that category, you may have been considering consulting your doctor about the possibility of using prosthetic limbs to enhance your quality of life. However, there are many things to know when getting started with prosthetic limbs.
Prosthetic Limbs Need Consistent Adjustment
Prosthetic limbs are not one size fits all. Many factors can affect your precise prosthetic limb needs. If you're a recent amputee, your residual limb will undergo many changes, especially within the first year or so after amputation. During this time, your limb stump will develop and grow over time into its final shape. These changes in form can affect the structure and dimensions that you require in a prosthetic limb. Also, if you experience any significant weight changes, your residual limb will no longer fit your prosthesis. These changes can cause pain, discomfort, and lack of stability. If you experience these signs, that means it's time to check in with your prosthetist for reevaluation. Your prosthetist can then work with you to create and fit a new prosthetic limb. For these reasons, patients are often given temporary prosthetic limbs immediately after surgery. During reevaluation, prosthetists will typically assign their patients more long-lasting limbs.
Residual Limbs Require Constant Care
When patients' limb amputation and rehabilitation period is over, they must still regularly care for their residual limbs. Patients often forget to maintain a proper care routine, but careless negligence of their residual limb's condition can have devastating effects on their life and their use of prostheses. Patients should remove their prostheses every night before bed. Removing the prostheses provides patients with the opportunity to examine their residual limb stump for signs of irritation such as swelling, sores, and wounds. To avoid these issues, ensure that the skin on your residual limb stump is moisturized and healthy, and clean the socket of your prosthetic limb with soap and water. Cleaning will remove bacteria, sweat, and other forms of buildup.
Conclusion
Prosthetic technology can be a great way to improve your lifestyle. Follow these tips to ensure that you get the most out of what prosthetic limbs have to offer!
For more information on prosthetics, contact a specialist in Greensboro, NC.
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