That’s a quote from one of my neighbors and it is a compliment. I am stumbling and walking better and with less discomfort. And I think we have finally zeroed in on a socket system that will work best for me. I had been testing two and both have certain advantages but I have chosen one with a urethane liner and vacuum legs. They are hotter but more comfortable for the things I do besides just walking.
I am keeping my old feets but with the new socket system. They will be used in environments where expensive electronic feets don’t dare tread. Namely Rehoboth Bay.
What’s the difference between the original “mechanical: feets and the new microprocessor Proprio Foot you might ask. Besides the $40K cost?
As previously reported the Proprio Foot takes 1600 commands per second, anticipating foot movements that a real human foot would do by getting commands from my leg action. If I go up or down steps the foot adjusts (ankle and toes) whereas with mechanical feet I had to roll over the flat foot and muscle my way up and stumble my way down.
Today I conducted a little experiment. I rode the Life Cycle in the old feet (that now have an identical socket system as the Proprio Foot). For the same time and with the same effort (as measured by heart rate and calories burned) I covered one and one half mile less than I have been doing with the Proprio Foot. That’s means the Proprio Foot is at least 15% more efficient than the mechanical foot. And it feels far more dramatic when I’m climbing and descending stairs or slopes.
If all goes well with the current fitting I will move from the test sockets to carbon fiber sockets in a week or two. That would seem to be a photo opportunity so you will be able to see the bionic feet for yourselves. w
Last Sunday, unfortunately in the same time slot, both NBC’s Dateline and CBS’s 60 Minutes featured stories on wounded warriors. Namely amputees.
Dateline did a story on Col. Greg Gadson, a bilateral above the knee amputee who has a significant role in the upcoming movie spectacular “Battleship”. Col. Gadson is a patient and friend of my prostestist Mike Corcoran. Last weekend Mike flew out to LA to attend the opening of the film.
60 Minutes did, in my opinion, an even better story on Gary Sinese and his efforts to raise money for wounded warriors. Gary is a star of CSI NY but his efforts on behalf of soldiers is due, in part, to his role as Lt. Dan Taylor in the movie “Forest Gump”. Lt. Dan you may recall lost both of his legs in Vietnam, was initially extremely depressed but came out of it and became a success. The soldiers who benefit from Gary’s efforts are also patients of Mike Corcoran.
I see Mike’s partner Ian on Friday in Silver Spring, MD to further tweak two different socket systems that I am currently testing. w
I’ve reached new heights. My golf, new lows.
That added leg length and new height that seemed so wonderful last week? Turns out there are a few drawbacks.
1) The length of my pant legs are a bit short. Not shallow water-wading short, but unfashionably short. I ain’t pretty anyway so its OK.
2) It is now a bit more difficult to get in and out of the car.
3) My golf clubs are too short. Took me until the 16th hole to figure it out but I am definitely an inch and one half further away from the ball. Anyway, that’s my excuse for yesterday’s horrible round. And, I’m stickin’ to it.
Left socket still barks but no D.C. trips this week because Ian is out of town. We may scrap the new urethane liner/socket system. It is wonderfully comfortable for an hour or so but as the day and/or physical activity progress the sockets and liners get hot, sweaty and painful.
The new bionic feet are great. Haven’t done squat for my golf swing but they make getting to the ball easier. Which is a good thing because I need to get to it a lot more times than previously. w
I just returned from yet another trip to the prosthetics genius bar. Ian tweaked the cranky socket, installed new vacuum pumps and a new system for sweat removal. Best of all I’m now one and a half inches taller (read that 1 1/2”) than a week ago. It’s all because the new vacuum pumps (necessary to keep the limbs tight in the sockets) are part of a new set of legs. Longer legs. So I therefore am taller.
I like it up here. Even though the trip to D.C. still sucks. w
I just returned from Medical Center Orthotics and Prosthetics located in the DC suburb of Silver Spring MD. That’s twice this week and it is not my favorite drive. Monday was the worst because I had to hit both Baltimore and DC rush hours AM and PM. Today was an emergency socket adjustment that only required a few hours so I missed the nastiest jams by coming and going mid morning and mid afternoon.
Unfortunately the trip was not as successful as hoped for. Seems the left socket rubs the tip of what’s left of my tibia. Although Ian, my prosthetics guru (Mike Corcoran’s partner), came up with a solution, it only worked for a little while. It now hurts like hell again. Last night I couldn’t walk on it. As we speak I’m back in the wheelchair, giving the feets and my sore leg a rest. Hopefully once the hot spot gets a rest Ian’s fix will work. Either that or I go back into my old feets sans microprocessors, vacuum pumps—and pain. w
Or maybe a more accurate descriptor is “crash test dummy” Billy. As of yesterday I am equipped with micro processor-controlled feets as well as a whole new vacuum liner and socket system. The objective of all this is better control with improved comfort and safety. And, a lower golf handicap.
The feets are made by Ossur and known as the Proprio Foot. The socket system is made by Otto Bock and is a new polyurethane liner and vacuum/socket technology that minimizes leg movement in the socket. Sort of like a really snug ski boot.
The downside is more gear to deal with: batteries to charge, vacuum pumps and micro processors to program. Since 3 year old Sadie shows me how to use the i-phone, I will no doubt screw up the feets programming. If you see me walking backwards down the street be assured it is a programming and not a product error. w
I promised myself I wouldn’t do it. Post more grand baby photos. But I’ve had two special requests for Easter photos and I’m flattered that i still have readers in these blessedly boring times.
We celebrated at the beach where the weather was mostly beautiful but a bit cool and breezy. Sasha showed off her new walking skills (already better than grand dad), Ozzy and Sadie entertained and tortured each other and the adults ate and drank. A lot. w
