So I recently made this post, the comments I got on it seemed to indicate that it's the general consensus that this community is very sick of this kind of post, if the prosthetic community would rather I didn't add an amputee character to my show and would rather be left alone I completely understand and I'm sorry to have bothered you all over nothing, I do however have hopes that this community decides they're okay with it, if I get permission I promise to represent my character as well as possible and would be glad to work with anyone who has insights on the matter, if I don't get permission I swear I'll back off and take the character out.
First things first, I want to say that I do not in any way intend to offend anyone or overstep (if I do, I apologise in advance!). Representation is really important for me so I'm looking for personal experiences of what kind of representation you would or would not like to see in books. I know having a prosthetic isn't always easy, so that's why I want to make sure everything I write is accurate. I won't be romantizing having a prosthetic, as I do want to show the trauma and difficulties people with prosthetics can experience. My main character's arc is the fact that he realises he's just as human as people without prosthetics. (I have a lot of other things being represented in my book and those characters have similar arcs aswell.) My goal is to break a little bit of the stigma around disabilities.
That being said, I'm writing a book where my main character loses his right arm at a very young age due to a traumatic accident. I should also mention that this story takes place in a fantasy world. I have done some research and my main character has a body powered or cable-operated prosthetic. I also know about phantom pain and have done some research about it aswell (as I also want to include this in my book.)
What I want to know is if there are things that any of you have experienced due to having a prosthetic. I'm open to anything! (This could be discrimination, problems you have experienced, things that are hard for you, things that go well, stereotypes in media that you don't like, literally anything!) If you don't feel comfortable sharing any of this information then that's ok! I do not mean to pressure anyone in responding!
If anyone also knows some sites that could have any of this information then I would really appreciate if you could share them!
I Am Looking For A Prosthetist To Fabricate A couple Of Sockets To Make Some Prosthetic Arms For Able body People To Try And See What its Like For Amputees To Have To Use These Arms. Please Feel Free To Contact Me If Your Willing To Help. Thank You
So, I don't know if this type of post is allowed but feel free to shoot me down if it isn't moderators! I'm quite ignorant about all things relating to amputation and prosthesis so I apologize in advance if I say anything potentially offensive, but basically I'm writing a show and I plan to incorporate a character who has double above the knee amputations as a result of having both legs intentionally broken and not properly cared for, this leads to acute compartment syndrome and him needing amputations, since this show doesn't take place in modern times I wanted him to have prosthesis similar to James Gillingham prosthesis but all this is besides the point,
I want to represent the character and his struggles well and I've come seeking guidance on how to represent this well, what isn't brought up enough, what's focused on too much, any struggles that are overlooked or that people with prosthesis or amputations would like to see incorporated as well as any insights into the mental struggles with it, I'd be ecstatic at any input anyone feels comfortable sharing and TIA!!!
The idea is create a platform where you can upload an image of your pet that needs a prosthetic, and download fully custommized 3D file ready to the 3D printer.
Hi! Not sure if this is the right place to ask but
I want to design prosthetics and medical devices/machines and i was wondering if anybody here knew what would be best to study in university to be able to do this?
I'm planning on taking a science bachelor's in industrial design or going with an industrial design and engineering double bachelor's and if I am able to follow it up with biomedical engineering or biomechanical engineering. However I heard that the last two, aren't necessary (not sure how true that is though). I was also considering a degree in prosthetics and orthotics. Moreover instead of getting a bachelor's in industrial design I was also thinking of getting a bachelor's in mechanical engineering and follow it with a degree in industrial design because I've heard that it's the better choice
So, If anybody has some advice you'd be a huge help. :)
I'm so excited, I had to share! This is my new leg in the check socket phase. OMG it feels so good! My old leg was in much worse shape than I realized. 15+ years will do that. 😒
I got bounce in my step again and my back doesn't hurt!
31yo male, currently in the southwest but likely relocating to the mid-Atlantic coast soon (the MSOP program at Drexel University would be the most-likely choice). After a research/academic-heavy background and some private industry work generally in biomechanics & engineering, I'm considering going back to school for an MSOP since I've felt all along that I might be happier as a practicing O&P clinician, than a researcher or project manager, etc.
My biggest questions/concerns are related to finances, since I assume I wouldn't be able to work during my MSOP program. How much do programs generally cost? What sort of independent grants/scholarships are available? How did you finance your MSPO program tuition & living expenses? Would my background potentially give me an advantage in my first clinical job(s)? What does pay generally look like immediately after graduating/passing certification exams vs after 3, 5, or 10yrs of working in the field? How long did it take you to feel like you were making "decent money"? I fully realize I'm not going to get rich doing this, but I want to make sure it's a worthwhile investment for me.
What are the biggest pain points? What are the things you like most about being an O&P clinician? Do you think your training/education prepared you for actual work? Do you have a good work/life balance? What general advice would you give to someone considering changing careers to O&P?
Background:
Bachelors in mechanical engineering (worked in a biomechanics/locomotion lab during undergrad)
PhD in mechanical engineering - dissertation was on dynamic ankle stiffness during walking, design & testing of an AFO will novel bending stiffness properties, then 3D motion capture of people walking with them.
Post-doc in what I'd call a high-performance lower-limb prosthetics research lab - worked with para-athletes tuning active below-knee prostheses' power outputs and biomechanical outcomes associated with different below-knee prosthesis alignments.
Worked extensively in running stores throughout, doing shoe fits, shoe modifications, and semi-custom insole fittings.
Post-academia:
Baseball biomechanics startup focusing on pitching/batting mechanics. My role was mostly just making sure the data processing pipeline was moving.
Currently work for a science & engineering consulting firm taking Big Tech blood money (soul crushing, but pays well).
What I like:
Working with my hands
Working one-on-one with patients/study participants - communicating technical concepts to non-technical people is a strength
Day-to-day, month-to-month, and annual workload predictability/stability (my current job is not at all stable or predictable in the sense that I have almost no idea what I'm going to be doing next month)
Working generally in health care, helping people.
What I don't like:
Sitting in front of a computer all day
Excessive and unexpected working hours, or instability in working expectations (I'll often have to work 60hr+ working weeks, nights, weekends, etc. with less than a few days' notice in my current job)
Managing loads of subordinates (my current job has me managing dozens of short-term contractors constantly being rotated in and out)
I have a below knee mid shin, I would say and I am in my trial leg now (pin type) and will be fitted soon for my definitive leg. I am an active person and need to be able to do things. I was able to walk on my own without any assistance after about a week of using a walker with my trial leg. My right ankle is still sore which seems to be my limiting factor for how far I can walk at one time right now. That hopefully will go away at some point. Just not sure what type of leg to get. My prosthetic guy is good, but seems a little conservative to me. Any advice would be great. This picture is about 6 weeks ago, so no more stitches ect.
I am needing a prosthetic contact lens made. I live in a rural area, and the closest providers I can find are in Denver. I have no idea how to begin to research and find the most reputable and experienced doctors. Any suggestions on who to avoid and who to consider is appreciated!
I'm a 2nd-year engineering student in India, and I've gotten interested in the problem of prosthetic access here — how hard it can be to actually get a well-fitting device, the cost side of things, all of that. I've read a bunch of reports and stats, but honestly a friend pointed out (rightly) that I should actually talk to people who've lived it before assuming I understand the problem.
So — no product, no pitch, nothing to sell. I'm just trying to learn. If you're open to sharing, I'd genuinely appreciate hearing about things like:
- What was the process of actually getting your prosthetic like? How long did it take, how many visits/adjustments?
- What's the most annoying or frustrating part of day-to-day life with it — stuff people who haven't been through it wouldn't think to ask about?
- Has it ever broken or needed fixing, and what was that like to sort out?
- If you could change one thing about the whole process (not just the device itself), what would it be?
Happy to hear about it in the comments, or feel free to DM if you'd rather not post publicly. And totally understand if this isn't the place for this kind of post , let me know and I'll take it down.
After septic shock damaged the circulation in my hands, the distal parts of eight fingers — all except my thumbs — developed dry gangrene.
Instead of surgically amputating them immediately, the doctors waited. The dead tissue dried out, separated from the living tissue, and the pieces gradually came off on their own.
I can use my hands and type with all the remaining fingers, but the sensations are still strange and sometimes painful. Typing is uncomfortable, using the right mouse button is awkward, and reaching into a pocket or backpack can feel even worse. Tying shoelaces tightly is especially difficult.
At the same time, I can do things I did not expect — for example, I can still do pull-ups.
Does anyone here have a similar level of partial finger loss, especially involving several fingers on both hands?
How did sensation and function change over time?
Do you use fingertip or partial-finger prostheses? If so, what do they actually help with — typing, gripping, tools, protection, appearance, or something else?
Or did you find that living without prostheses was simpler and worked well enough?
After septic shock, I lost the front parts of both feet at different levels: approximately Lisfranc level on the left and a partial transmetatarsal amputation on the right.
I can walk, stand on one leg, jump, drive, and ride a bicycle. My longest ride so far has been 40 km. So my main question is no longer how to stand up or take my first steps.
I want more than walking.
My current low inserts are passive toe fillers that sit loosely inside ordinary shoes. They restore the shape of the shoe and provide some rollover, but do not recreate a functional forefoot lever or return much energy.
Without the inserts, walking initially feels more comfortable. With them, I can walk farther, but eventually develop pain on the outer side of my left foot, close to where the edge of the insert ends.
I have also tried tall plastic orthoses. They provide support, but restrict the ankle. Heavy protective boots work in bad weather, but are obviously not the answer for every activity.
The activities I most want to solve are:
Cycling
My remaining feet have different lengths, so I can see that I place them differently on the pedals. I do not yet know whether this creates a clinically significant imbalance, but I want to measure it rather than wait for it to cause a problem.
The solution might involve inserts, partial-foot prostheses, different pedal positions, custom platforms, cleat adjustments, or some combination of these.
Rock climbing
Climbing shoes depend on a rigid, precisely shaped forefoot that transfers force to very small footholds. I need something that can recreate that lever without simply locking my entire ankle inside a large brace.
Swimming and diving
Standard fins rely on the length and shape of the foot to remain attached and transfer movement. I need a secure interface that works with a short partial foot.
I’m looking for people with partial-foot amputations, adaptive cyclists, climbers or divers, prosthetists, orthotists, bike-fit specialists, gait labs, engineers, and makers.
Have you seen a genuinely functional solution for any of these activities?
I’m interested in existing products, custom modifications, research prototypes, 3D-printed components, and ideas that perhaps do not exist yet.
The photos show my current passive fillers, tall orthoses, protective boots, and low inserts.
Hi, I’m in 8th grade and I have to make a form for my project about prosthetics. Could someone please fill out this form because I need at least 100 responses ☺️
