The process of acquiring a prosthetic may not be easy. After an injury or amputation, you have to go through the recovery process to enable the surgical scar to heal properly. After recovery, you can begin the rehabilitation process and practice using prosthetics.
Nowadays, amputees have a wide range of prosthetics they can have. Because of the variety, acquiring the right prosthetic may not be easy. To enable you to enjoy using your prosthetics, you should ensure you make the right choice depending on the following factors:
- Priorities
Before acquiring any prosthetic from a prosthetic design company, you need to ask yourself what purpose it will serve and how you will use it. Your answers will come from your priorities. If you are an individual who loves exercising and can’t do without it, then you will have a different prosthetic, someone who loves fashion and style.
Some people may have two different priorities that are equally important to them. In such cases, you can choose multiple prosthetics to accommodate the lifestyle you want.
- Level of amputation
The level of amputation dramatically determines the prosthetic to choose. For instance, individuals with below-the-knee or below-the-elbow amputation may not require prosthetics with joint movement. But it may be essential if you are above-the-knee or above-the-elbow amputee.
- Wearing Schedule
Getting used to using prosthetics may take some time and effort. You have to undergo a healing process and physical therapy before you begin fitting a prosthetic. You will make several adjustments and refits before you complete the fitting process.
Most prosthetic specialists always prescribe a wearing schedule to ease discomfort before a patient gets used to wearing the prosthetics. Patients are advised to use prosthetics with minimum wear-time, which will increase slowly as the patients adapt.
- Environment Condition
It would be best to always consider your environment before acquiring a prosthetic. The dry, hot, and cold climates can all affect the performance of your prosthetic. Dry skin can lead to friction with the prosthetic, resulting in irritation, and heat can accumulate sweat, thus causing discomfort. You have to ensure that you properly observe your environment and choose a prosthetic that works better in such an environment.
- Affordability
Another essential factor to consider before ordering a prosthetic is the amount you will use to acquire it. Different prosthetics have different purchasing prices. Luckily, most insurance providers have coverage for the acquisition of a prosthetic, and you might be lucky if it includes what you want. Therefore, talking to your prosthetic provider will help you determine your prosthetic scope and the cost to pay.
Some advanced prosthetics can be costly. For instance, artificial bionic limbs are more expensive than mechanical prosthetics designed for high usage levels.
When choosing a prosthetic, ensure that it offers the proper comfort you deserve. You must look for a prosthetic design company that provides good quality products to ensure you get the correct value for your money. Although most prosthetics are costly, you should consider shopping around for different prosthetics companies to find those that offer quality products at a reasonable price.
