What happens when something traumatic happens to your limbs, something so bad that the dreaded option of amputation becomes the only way out of this conundrum? Can prosthetic limbs be a good option?
It is terrifying to think about this, but modern medicine has solved this orthopedic problem through the idea of prosthetics. Almost everyone has (to a certain degree) an idea on prosthetic limbs but to better simplify it, we can say that prosthetics are artificial or man-made parts designed to look like their organic counterparts and solve the same problems of mobility that the organic parts solve.
They are attached to the joints or limbs which have been lost to amputation from sickness or accidents. Prosthetic limbs are always joined to joints to promote further mobility. You might have perhaps seen prosthetic limbs used on amputates in real-life or works of fiction, they generally play the same role of getting the patient literally bouncing back on their fit if handled correctly.
Ordinarily, this should serve as a worthwhile solution to orthopedic disorders of severe cases but the perception of the general public and the idea existing within the collective consciousness on prosthetics is not enough to encourage its acceptance and development.
Why? Because common misconceptions linger on artificial limbs. In this article, we will identify and clarify a few of these conceptions.
Prosthetics do not work like magic
Having a prosthetic limb attached to your amputated joint is not an automatic guarantee that you can use that particular joint instantaneously. The general idea is that artificial limbs give you complete control and use of your limbs to move with.
In reality, complete rehabilitation has to be done on the affected limb to ready it, prepare it, and even strengthen it for musculoskeletal activities. The goal is to help make the limb healthier for movement.
Rehabilitation is done by a team of doctors and physicians during exercise, treatment, and practice of healthy habits until your legs or arm (depending on what limb needs the prosthetic) are strong enough for use.
Prosthetics are not indestructible.
Prosthetic limbs are prone to damage, wreckage even wear and tear. Most users of artificial limbs complain to their doctors or physicians of pains that come after long use of their artificial limbs. The pain arises from the need to stabilize, readjust, change or correct a fault in the limbs.
Sometimes prosthetics need to be changed from temporary limbs to a more efficient type. This is not saying that artificial limbs can last forever but modern orthopedic medicine has designed prosthetics for longer services.
Also Read: Orthopedics Disorders: What You Need to Know
Learning how to walk or move with them is harder than you think
Oddly enough, it is not uncommon to find health problems arising from patients with prosthetics helping them to move especially those who have it freshly attached to their limbs.
You should also note that this does not mean that artificial limbs are bad entirely; what it does imply is that it takes a toll on the body to learn how to use them.
Patients can experience numbness in their limbs with artificial parts attached, pain while moving and a possible change as the slowly regenerating tissue tries to fit in, literally.
Orthofit Orthopedics provides prosthetic rehabilitation and care to all afflicted patients through the provision of artificial limbs guaranteed for efficiency.
Our team of physicians and doctors work tirelessly with patients for care.
What a great article prosthetic limbs. So educative and informative. Orthofit Orthopedics obviously is the best in orthopedic patient education and amputee rehabilitation in Nigeria.