Check out all the terminology or watch my video below!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BK (Below Knee) – also called a transtibial amputation<\/p>\n\n\n\n
AK (above-the-knee) – A specific level of amputation\u2014also known as transfemoral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
AE (above-the-elbow) – A specific level of amputation\u2014also known as transhumeral.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BE (below-the-elbow) – also known as transradial.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Bilateral amputee – someone who is missing both arms or both legs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Digital amputation \u2013 Amputation of a toe or finger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Gel liner – this is what rolls directly onto your limb.\u00a0 Needs to be nice, tight perfect fit.\u00a0 Made out of silicone, TPU, or sometimes other custom materials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Socket – arguably the most important part of the prosthesis.\u00a0 The correct fit of this is essential.\u00a0 Typically made from polypropylene plastic.\u00a0 Amputees typically need a new one every 3 to 5 years, depending on how long you\u2019ve been an amputee and if you\u2019ve had any significant body changes like weight loss or gain.\u00a0 Typically I’ve found that weight loss or gain of over 10lbs can start affecting the socket fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sock – A stump sock that slips over the liner.\u00a0 Use this when the size of your leg changes.\u00a0 Can be weight loss, temperature, or even just changes over time.\u00a0 Measured in ply.\u00a0 I typically use a 1 ply sock.\u00a0 But have used up to 10 ply before.\u00a0 At that point you\u2019re probably in desperate need of a new socket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pylon – attaches the socket to the foot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Note this is just a BK prosthesis and AK prosthetics are far more complex. Primarily the more complex reference that you will hear will be regarding different types of knees which, from my understanding, can vary widely!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Alignment \u2013 The way the prosthesis is set up, mainly referring to the angle of the socket and foot.\u00a0 If you\u2019re out of alignment, it can throw you off completely!\u00a0 Back pain, hip pain etc<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Check or test socket – a temporary\/plastic socket used to test the fit of a socket.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ampuversary – Many amputees celebrate or commemorate the day they lost their limb. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Life Day – This is what I call the Ampuversary because it\u2019s the day I almost died. So it\u2019s the day I lived. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Phantom pains – Really is pain in a limb that isnt there. Seems to differ per amputee but doesn’t correlate with any injury or visible damage.\u00a0 In my case I tend to get it if I’m sinking too low into my prosthesis and hitting the bottom with the tip of my stump anyways, when that happens I tend to get hot stabbing pains<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Pistoning – this can also cause phantom pain. Is when not fitting in the socket properly and start pistoning up and down<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Atrophy – limb muscle will atrophy since it\u2019s not being used in the same way as before<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Osseointegration – thats where someone literally has surgery to implant a titanium structure so that it integrates with the person\u2019s body and the prosthesis can be attached permanently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n