Last post Mon, Jun 09 2008 1:09 PM by karen30s. 20 replies.
I have worker's comp insurance for my prosthetic services and I'm wondering if this is part of the reason the care I'm receiving form my new prosthetist is so bad.
Our first session he took my cast, and I asked him to repair my old foot from my old prosthetist that I'm walking on right now since it's too short and needs a longer pylon, but he rushed me out the door before doing this. I saw him me one week later and he had his new foot in finished form, without even having tested it on me yet. The socket turned out to be a bad fit (to be expected the first fitting but why did he expect me to walk out on it that day?), and on top of this he had made me a pin system when I wanted a suction system. He hadn't even discussed what I wanted.
I had some real quality care with my last prosthetist so I know what it should look like, and this guy is far from it. When I told him the socket was too tight at the top in back and that was why I couldnt get my stump into it, he thought a longer pin was the solution. I told him I dodn't want a pin system. So this week he just took out the pin from the liner, loosened up the socket so I could fit down in it, and he is trying to pass this off as a proper suction system. I would have to use liners wiht the hard plastic piece at the bottom but with the pin taken out.
He made a sort of soft inner socket and just cut holes in the hard outer socket where sores often form in poorly fitted sockets. He cut out the part around the bone that sticks out near the top of the knee on the outside, and cut out the part on the one the stump in front of the bone. This might not be a problem for a pin type socket but now he's trying to use it as a suction type socket, and it doesnt' hold as well as it could. I'm just completely unhappy with the socket and he tried to pass it off as a finished product today.
I'm 24 and active and he told me he is going to start me off on a foot that's not right for me. It's foot that has a lot of twisting and flexibility and give. It has like a rubber blue ball near the ankle. It's a foot that is too soft and doesn't offer any resistance, only cusioning.
He told me to take this mess of a leg home to try out for a week before I do any further objecting, and he didn't even adjust it one bit, he just slapped the foot on the socket and looked at my hips and said that looks pretty good. I get home and take some time to have a good look at it myself and the foot is almost an inch too short and twisted too far to the outside. He didn't even try.
He was trying to get me to sign some papers today for workers comp so he could gee paid. I signed one that I think only said that they were not liable for any changes anyone else makes to the foot. He wanted me to sign one saying that I was happy with the care I was given, but I am not at all and I didn't sign that one. Am I commited to being his patient? He's been a prosthetician for 28 years so he should know what he's doing but I think he is taking every possible shortcut he can, but I also think he is very incompetant.
Also, this experience is making me wish this I could just do it myself. Anyone know what it takes to become a prosthetist?
Hey there,
I too have work comp for my prosthetic. There's no way you should have to endure substandard care, especially if you have work comp, because the prosthetist KNOWS their going to be paid. I would simply look for another provider, heck you could even call work comp and ask them who is recommended, or call other providers and ask to speak with clients to get a feel for their work. Or look for amputee support groups in your area and ask them.
The worst thing is a crappy prosthetic. Personally, I don't leave til I'm happy with my fit, alignment, etc. Its his JOB to make you happy and comfortable. He should do what you ask for, no one knows how the prosthesis feels but you, and if he won't listen to you then go somewhere else. Some times you just have to put your foot (bad pun) down and tell him that he did a bad job. There's no way someone can tell me what sort of set up I need for my foot. I know whats comfortable and whats not, not the prosthetist.
Sounds to me the like the guy has no clue.
And as far as becoming a prothetist, just search the internet for programs. Its basically like going to college, there's programs all over the country. Oh and adjusting the angle of the foot and the length and such isn't that hard if you have simple hand tools. I tweek mine all the time.
Hope some of that helped.
Nathan
Thank you Nathan. I was hoping to find another person on workers comp because I have some more questions about how it works. (My last prosthesis was donated)
I will ask my caseworker to be sure, but I have some questions that are on my mind. Will workers comp be reluctant to let me change prosthetists if I've already recieved services and a prosthsis from this guy?
How nice of equipment can I expect worker's comp to pay for? Could I get a flex foot? Will workers comp pay for additional feet such as a swimming foot, a shower foot, or a sprinting foot?
Thanks again
I'm not on workers comp - but i've learned through the years TELL THEM what you want- and don't just go along with it!!! change people - or ask for quotes and what they can give you - and tell them you'll be "shopping around" for the best "deal" - Some people I think don't understand how much it impacts our lives - and just kind of say "here" and as for me NO WAY!!! Especially if you are active - you'll want at LEAST a flex foot etc!!! and suction is the way to go!!! Good luck!
Harold,
Wow, you really have a bad prosthetist. My experience is almost the exact opposite of yours. I'm afraid I don't know anything about worker's comp. I just wanted to offer my support. I'm a right BKA of 3 years. You shouldn't have to accept that prosthesis. He sounds like a crook to me. Good luck. Hope everything works out for you.
Work comp should have no say in who your provider is. Their job is to pay the money, not tell you who can care for you.
With the guy who does mine, he deals with work comp approvals, and he's good at it. I have top quality stuff because he, not I, justify it to work comp. And if you think about it this makes sense, better stuff costs more money... so by doing the extra work he's ensuring that I get a better prosthesis AND he makes more money from the parts.
Absolutly DO NOT let work comp tell you who to go to. If you find someone who you think is good, THEY will deal with work comp, not you.
One thing I would do though is have your work comp case worker send you a letter stating what your life time maximum benifits are. Mine are that I only get three complete legs in my life time. I'm on number two and I'm 34... So what my prosthetist and I do is just change out one part of my leg at a time, so its NEVER a new leg... just repairs on the old one. That way I can basically have benifits forever since the dollar amount is not capped, just the number of NEW legs. Some work comp benifits are capped by state law as well, so I would really encourage you to have them spell out your benifits in black and white. This will help you and however you choose to do your leg to map out a plan for life to ensure you will always have coverage.
Hope that helped a bit more. I'll keep my eye on the thread, if you have more questions.
Yo, I would be all over the new prosthetist idea. Im lucky in that my prosthetist was my friend before I was an amputee so I know I get the best care. I also was workers comp but there was no cap on cost. And for the long pin, sounds like he is using it as a cop out. Cant get you in the socket so lets use a long pin and draw it in. Not understanding how bad that hurts and the big hickey that it leaves.
Not that I am trying to steal the thread, but what is the difference with suction? I mean in regards to feeling and use. I know what it is but I have only used a pin system. Does it help with pistoning in the prosthetic? I end up pistoning really bad at the end of the day and it kills the distal end bad. I read that it help with consistant volume.
Harold, I have been a double amputee for 26 years now and have seen first hand how the industry has changed. I got into the field a year after I lost my legs for this very reason. You do not have to put up with sub-par workmanship. It takes six years of study to become a certified practitioner from A.B.C. This guy may be the low bidder to workmans comp. unfortunatly that is who they try to use most of the time with no regard to how well they do it. Make sure you don't sign any paperwork untill you are happy with the prosthesis.As far as suction verses pin susp. it all depends on the fit and your body. I use suction because I don't have a lot of distal tissue to protect the pin type from causing me pain by the end of the day. But one is no better than the other if the fit is not right. As far as the feet,that is somthing you can try usually for 30 days and return if you don't like it and try another one. Hope this helps... Bill
Well he is no longer my prosthetist. Today he gave up on me. He was trying to tell me that this Ceterus foot was top of the line, energy storing, but it was the only foot he could get for me. I told him I don't buy that and that it didn't seem like an energy storing foot to me. I told him I wanted to try a flex foot. But he told me the Ceterus was the only option I had, when earlier he had said that I could try out different feet (told me what i wanted to hear). I kept wanting to talk about the foot and he kept trying to change the subject.
After my appointment I asked his receptionist for a copy of the paper I signed last week. I heard her go in back and mumble with the prosthetist and he came out to the lobby shortly after. He sat me down and told me that his wife and his daughter were having mental health issues and he didn't think he could give me the care I needed, that he want's to wish me well and send me on my way. It was wierd.
He said he doesn't recommend anyone local for care. Maybe he knows something? Oh and get this... then I asked him if I could get a Flex Foot with workers comp from someone else and he says "Oh sure," as if it would be no problem at all, just go in and tell them exactly what I want.
I want to go to another local place, but I want to avoid this situation again. I will tell them what foot I want and that I want as much time as it takes to make me a well fitting socket. I will tell them exactly what I expect. I wonder what are some good things to ask the next prosthetist to avoid going through this mess again? Thanks everyone for the words and advice you gave me. You gave me the confidence that I was getting bad care and the confidence to not stand for it.
Glad to hear you were able to get out from under all that mess. Now you can start over. Sounds like he was trying to get away with doing the least he could for the most money. He should be reported to the state licensure board, but it sounds like he has all the problems he needs right now. Now you can start over. You have to be assertive some times to get what you want. It sounds like you know exactly what you want.
I have the flex foot, I think. It's made of carbon fiber and um, flexes, ha-ha. I love it. It feels and looks like I am walking normally. I do have problems with balance though, but it's sooo much better than a stationary foot.
Good luck to you!
Hey Harold,
Where do you live? I'll call my prosthetist and ask if he knows anyone in the area if you want.
I live near Mansfield, Ohio and there are three prosthetists in town but one of them was that guy, and he recommended against the other two. I don't know why he recommended against them but people in the same industry all know each other's reputations so maybe he knows something, or maybe he want's to protect his own reputation, I don't know. So It would be nice to hear if someone else knows anyhting about Mansfield's prostheticians. He did recommend one person in Columbus- Capital Orthotic and Prosthetic. Columbus is an hour and 45 minute drive though and that will add up with all of the trips that it takes to make a foot. If you or your prosthetist know anything I would love to hear it, thank you.
I just read your post and man, it sounds like you have had a bummer of an experience. I see you are a recipient of a bonebridge. How fortunate are you?!! Mind if I ask who did your surgery?
As you probably know, someone that has received a bonebridge can be and really should be fit somewhat differently than someone who has received a conventional amputation. ( I mean this in a good way) I have seen a lot of bonebridges. You are definately ahead of the game in that department. And that gal that said suction is the way to go, I agree with her completely! One thing you may check into that is some what like suction but a little more agressive for suspension is a negative pressure socket. Its like suction on steroids! No pistioning, minimal volume changes and just awsome suspension. You mentoned not having a choice of foot, just know you really have lots of choices. By the way, a great place to find prosthetic practitioners experienced with the Ertl bonebridge is ertlreconstruction.com. They are listed by state. Kentucky is not that far away (hint hint) :)
Good luck!
Rob
Hey Harold, First let me introduce my self. My name is Andre, and I have been a amputee for about 43 years. My first prosthesis I was 2 years old. I didn't know who made the first one, but as time went on I foud out that Kargs Prostethtics was making them. And they did for quite a while. I didnot have any problem with them, even tho I was still young durning that period of time. But being athletic as I tried to be I was wearing them out more then I was getting them, it seems as tho during that time they were not making legs durable enough to take as much pressure as they may do now. Now as I got older I began trying different prosthetic places to see if they could make me one that would last a good 5 to 7 years, but having low medical insurance such as medi-cal, they would only pay for what I was worth sort of speak. When I moved to Riverside where I now reside, I found a pretty good prosthetic place in Loma Linda California. It was named Adept Prosthetics behind the Veterans Hospital inwhich they also made prosthetics for the vets as well. Now not only did they make me a few of them, the doctor, and onwer of this place taught me how to make them as well. It was difficult at first, but as time accumulated I began to learn how to make one. As I ask the doctor what do I have to do to learn how to become one he told me that I would have to go to college for about 2 to 4 years, of course a AA degree would help as well. Now I dont know if anyof this would help you any, but if I could help with anything else you need to know please feel free to write me back. God Bless You and take care of yourself, and remember we are the best
Rob,
I really am fortunate to have a bone bridge and it's nice to remember that. As for who did my surgery, it was Dr. Brian Davison at Grant Hospital in Columbus. It was only his second ertl surgery. It was Mr. Raymond Francis of Ohio Willow Wood who convinced him to use the ertl surgery. Immediately out of the hospital I was under Mr Francis' care and he gave me some great care and I am lucky to have had such a good prosthetist right off the bat, so that I know what good care looks like. Here's to good prosthetists! Thanks for the link, I think I will check out the American Orthopedics in Columbus. I am interested in negative pressure sockets but I can't find much info on the web about them.
