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Posted on: Wed, Apr 16 2008 6:52 PM

Posted by: HaroldLloyd Posts: 7

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?  

Posted on: Wed, Apr 16 2008 11:03 PM

Posted by: NathanL Posts: 8

 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 

Posted on: Thu, Apr 17 2008 1:37 AM

Posted by: HaroldLloyd Posts: 7

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 

Posted on: Fri, Apr 18 2008 3:54 PM

Posted by: Missspunky99 Posts: 146

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!

Posted on: Sat, Apr 19 2008 3:32 AM

Posted by: Becky Posts: 1,547

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.

Posted on: Sat, Apr 19 2008 1:21 PM

Posted by: NathanL Posts: 8

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.

Nathan 

Posted on: Sun, Apr 20 2008 11:07 PM

Posted by: Hoppy27 Posts: 2

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.

Posted on: Mon, Apr 21 2008 3:47 PM

Posted by: crazylegsBley Posts: 41

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