Artificial and prosthetic limbs are a fact of life for amputees. Whether you lost a leg or an arm due to an accident, diabetes or an infection. It's what you need, if you wants to get back to living a fruitful life.
That joy of getting an artificial limb or prosthesis can sometimes be short lived, when it becomes unconformable to use the prosthesis. It feels as if you finally have your life back just to have it become uncomfortable to live in.
This discomfort is sometimes caused by an uncomfortable socket.
The socket is the cup shaped plug that connects the body to the prosthesis.
Each time you wear your prosthesis, it constantly bruises or chaffs you. Making the idea of putting it on a dreadful experience.
The chaffing and bruising, is caused by tiny nicks in the interior face of the socket. These nicks are usually defects that occur during the production of the socket and its use over time.
There are ways to counter this.
1. Cloth or nylon material
Clothe and Nylon materials are common among artificial limb and prosthesis users in developing countries, where better and cheaper options are not readily available.
People use pieces of old clothes or nylon shopping bags tied around their stumps before wearing their artificial limbs. Its cheap but not very effective as it usually causes sweating and infections of around the stump.
It also can cause the stump to loose shape over time, this will make wearing the artificial limb a problem.
2. Stump Socks and Cotton Stockinette
Cotton socks are better, they are easy to use.
Some come like a pair of long socks, while others like the stockinette come in rolls that are open at the bottom.
This allows you to layer as many times that is needed to fit into the your artificial limb comfortably. They are not advisable for diabetes patients who constantly have issues with their stump.
3. Dermal seal Sock
Dermal Seal sock are the new kid on the block. It’s used with suction sockets where they act like a plug in the socket. They give a far more better grip that the cotton socks. As it feels like your skin and the socket are one.
4. Liner
Liners and sleeves are like dermal seal socks, they are used for both suction sockets and for by the newer shuttle lock sockets for artificial limbs. They are much more comfortable and more skin friendly. They are made from various materials, Silicon, polyurethane, Copolymer. Each providing a different level of comfort and wearability.
Which should you use
The decision of which to use depends on your comfort and theirs.
Before your prosthetic leg is built, you can ask your physician or certified prosthetic and Orthotist, what option would be the best pick for you.
Has anyone had problems using any one of the above options?
Tell us about it.
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