Volume 20, Issue 6 November/December 2010 –
by Nicholas LaRaia, PT, DPT, NCS –
Most will partly deal with the loss by attempting to replace the limb with an artificial one to regain function and/or the appearance of being whole or normal again. But, there are definitely some long-term physical effects of amputation, whether or not a prosthesis is used. Prosthetic use is not for everyone, and upper-limb amputees often are more likely to choose not to use a prosthesis than lower-limb amputees.
Myths and Truths About Social Security Disability Income
Volume 20, Issue 3 May/June 2010 –
by Gerald B. Kagan –
Certain benefits, known as Supplemental Security Income (SSI), are available to the very poor (those with less than $2,000 in total assets and a minimum monthly income threshold that changes annually – currently $640 per month). SSI benefits are not discussed further in this article, and you should call the Social Security Administration (SSA) if you think that you may qualify for such benefits.
Choosing the Right Shoe
Volume 20 · Issue 2 ·March/April 2010 –
by Séamus Kennedy, BEng (Mech), CPed –
Choosing the right shoe; what could be easier? Often, the decision depends more on your mood or your wallet than anything else. For amputees or people with complications from vascular disease, life is not so simple. Selecting the proper footwear may be an integral part of long-term health considerations, and this leads to more limited choices.
The Big Cover-up
Volume 19 · Issue 7 · November/December 2009 –
by Elizabeth Bokfi –
“Bad year, that 2007,” I tell people when they ask me what happened to my leg. It’s a generic statement I’ve seamlessly incorporated into my conversations now, almost 3 years since my amputation surgery. The discovery of a bone tumor in late 2006 left me a left-side, belowknee amputee in January 2007.
A Lesson on Insuring Your Prosthesis
Volume 19 · Issue 6 · October 2009 –
by Tammie Higginbotham –
One day while sitting down with our insurance agent for our yearly coverage discussion, I happened to bring up the question of purchasing a “personal articles” policy to cover my prosthesis. What ensued was a very enlightening conversation between our agent, my husband, Jon, and me.
Focus on Bilateral Above-Knee Amputees
Volume 19 · Issue 4 · July/August 2009 –
by Kevin Carroll, MS, CP, FAAOP, and Randy Richardson, RPA –
People who have experienced limb loss know that it only takes a moment for your life to be completely redefined. Yesterday, you were standing and walking. Today, you are in a hospital bed or a wheelchair. Tomorrow – well, tomorrow is uncertain and hard to even think about. Any amputation is life-altering, but people with bilateral above-knee amputations face a particularly complicated process of physical and emotional rehabilitation. The long-term goal is usually being able to walk again with prosthetic legs. However, even after months of rehabilitation, many people lose confidence that they will ever walk comfortably and independently. What can bilateral above-knee amputees do to increase the likelihood of getting their feet back on the ground? They can follow a graduated, four-step approach to becoming a prosthesis user.
Getting Appropriate Physical Therapy
Volume 19 · Issue 3 · May/June 2009 –
by Scott Waite, MPT –
Appropriate physical therapy is crucial to both the physical and emotional lives of people who must live with a residual limb after amputation. Without it, patients are in store for a wide variety of additional problems during and after their recovery. The use of a prosthesis to improve amputees’ functional abilities is becoming more of the norm than ever, and the time between the amputation and receiving a prosthesis should be used wisely to ensure the patient’s long-term well-being. In addition, physical therapy is important for people who already have a prosthesis but who spend long periods without using it due to health problems, a poor fit or residual-limb issues (skin breakdown, neuropathy, revision surgery, etc.).
Prostheses for Children With Limb Differences
Volume 19 · Issue 2 · March/April 2009 –
by Douglas G. Smith, MD, and Kellye M. Campbell, MN, ARNP –
Children with limb differences tend to adapt remarkably well to a prosthesis, far better than adults in most cases. But there can be bumps in the road, just like there are with almost every childhood and developmental issue.
Growing Up With Limb Loss
Volume 19 · Issue 2 · March/April 2009 –
by Élan Young –
Men and women, young and old, all suffer the effects of amputation, including its physical and emotional scars. Adapting successfully to life with limb loss depends not just on one’s inner resolve or outward physical strength – sometimes it’s a matter of environment. Men may also suffer socially because of limb loss, but women are more often judged on appearance and are more likely than men to be identified socially with their bodies. However, concerns about unattainable expectations might be even more painful in light of the permanent and noticeable fact of a missing limb. Messages from society are often internalized, and have an impact on how people see themselves. The further women feel from society’s inflexible standard of beauty, the more likely their self-image will suffer. Growing up as a female with limb loss provides a unique perspective on how to adapt successfully through the many challenges of youth. The three women interviewed here may help other girls and women see how a positive self-image is worth so much more than the pursuit of an idealized image of perfection.
Aquatic Therapy is Serious Fun
Volume 18 · Issue 6 · September/October 2008 –
by Elan Young –
For some amputees, getting in the water is the single most important part of their rehabilitation and recovery. A warm pool can offer soothing relief from aches and pains as well as an increased sense of balance. It can offer a chance to exercise freely without the burden of prosthetic limbs, and it can bring people together for meaningful social interaction. Those who have tried it swear by it, and physical therapists who use it in their programs have seen amazing results from a range of individuals with disabilities – especially amputees. Regaining the sense of movement can be a defining moment in the recovery process. When an amputee first slides into the water after an amputation during the recovery phase, he or she may experience water in wholly new and satisfying ways.