Hi guys, I am currently working on my bachelor’s in kinesiology and working a full time job at the same time. I am hoping to get in to NorthWestern in Chicago for their masters program in prosthetics and orthotics. According to their website, most of their applicants have 200-300 hours of shadowing in the field. So if I did this all in person I would need to take 6 days off per year to get those hours. Since they count virtual shadowing, I am looking to get some hours in that way, but have not been able to find anything. Does anyone know of any virtual shadowing opportunities in this field? The closest I found was orthopedics :(

I am 20 and I was born with Amniotic band syndrome (ABS), with my pinky, ring, and middle fingers only having one bone length. My index finger is two bones long. My thumb is normal. I am now working on making myself some prosthetic fingers. The process of learning how to make my prosthetic has been really fun. Learning how the tendons pull in the finger and trying to replicate that in a homemade device is great fun. So, is there any advice for learning more about how the body moves and how people replicate these to make prosthetics? I am obviously more interested in hand and finger-related prosthetics; however, legs and arms are also something I would find fascinating to look into. Maybe it will help me make my finger prosthetics as well. 

Sorry if I get any of the technical wording for stuff wrong. I don't know how else to describe my finger length beyond one bone length or one joint, one-third of a finger.

I personally never really talked to another person who is missing limbs, and when I did, it was never really a long or deep conversation, so I must ask how other people cope with missing limbs. I personally make jokes about my hand. Calling my right hand The Claw from Detective Gadget. For kids, I either do the classic trick of pulling off my thumb, but instead, I pull off my pinky, ring, and middle fingers, and kids are always so amazed at the fact that I actually made them disappear. For the more annoying kids, I tell them that I was feeding the squirrels when a squirrel attacked me and other creative stories like that. I make sure that I do it in a light-hearted manner. To my friend, I always say puns and jokes about my hand. For example, when I was playing a card game, I told them that I had been dealt a bad "hand."

One last question is, do you feel like a part of you is missing? I can't quite describe it. I was missing it from birth. I do not believe there are any connections between my brain and the missing part of my hand, so I don't have a phantom limb; however, there is this sense that there should be more. I think it may be more intellectual than physical. I know that there should be more, but there never was. The more I think about the fact I don't have fingers on my right hand, the stranger it feels. Writing this made me sound like Lovecraft.

God bless you and have a good day! (:

Edited: Hi there, I make my own character (OC). I have this character with two over the knee amputations, and I am having a hard time finding out what type of prosthetics I should give them, so I came here for help to pick one.

Please help how do I fix this or tell them how to fix it? It makes me so self conscious. I understand it’s like that to make it stable or something. At this point I don’t care about that I just want to feel okay about it. Please help.

My dad had his accident in 1990. He’s been using the same equipment since then.

How would I go about 3D printing him a new prosthetic? Or does anyone know any doctors in Mexico?

Does any one else have internal jointed prosthetic? Not typically joint replacement. Say a stud with platform and composite extension to stryker or don joy joint then to warner or zimmer extension. Between 14 to 18 “. Adhesive attachment no screws or pins.

Anyone have stories or suggestions on how to control your prosthetic with a very short stump?

I don't have much trouble with the foot, all of the control issues are at the knee - socket joint.

Hi Everyone, I'm working on a project training a small group of therapists and clinicians on the treatment and management of phantom limb pain and associated PTSD (the application has a narrow focus to specifically these two areas). The project has only recently started and we aim to have it completed by November this year.

I am seeking the participation of individuals who have undergone amputations to share their experiences with our trainees. We believe that firsthand accounts of the challenges, misunderstandings, and errors encountered in therapy/treatment can greatly inform and improve our practices.

Our objective is to equip therapists and clinicians with the knowledge to avoid potential pitfalls in treating these complex conditions. Your insights will be invaluable in fostering a deeper understanding and sensitivity among our trainees.

The details of the project are here: https://integraleyemovementtherapy.com/iemt-mvf/

If anyone would be interested in helping this project, please email me directly: associationforiemt@gmail.com

Thank in advance,

Andy

Hello 👋 My amputation is a below the knee type of amputation where I have my ankle and some of the foot not much. I have been thinking of making a foot where it is strong enough for exercising but where I can have the foot motion to move it up and down.

Next year I want to go and take motion capture classes. Would you guys have any on how to design/make a foot like that?

I wanna be a prosthetist when I graduate college, but I’m having trouble picking majors. Im trying to figure out the career part of this project, but I need help with the education part.

Hello,

So prosthetic making is something that has really piqued my interest but I unfortunately live in the great state of Idaho where the closest technician program is in Spokane. Is there anything else I could study to make me stand out and give me a leg up? Or am I just gonna have to do something else?

I need help and Reddit is the only place I could think of to get some. My nephew lost his leg almost 10 years ago. He has grown into a couple different size prosthesis over the years , but now his leg is swollen from cellulitis and the swelling has not went down in a couple weeks . I’m hoping someone has some advice or could possibly point me in the right direction for an answer. Thanks and please remove if this is not the right sub for this question .

Good afternoon all, I am a rbka. I have been trying to get a prosthetic since December last year. My insurance keeps denying my ankle and foot. The socket and stalk are approved but the ankle and foot recommended by my prosthetist are K3, and insurance is saying that the K3 is not justified therefore they have denied it twice and a third party has now denied it as well. I have seen used k3 feet and ankles for sale on Ebay for less than $1000.00. Is this something that I could add to my socket setup and not have to deal with insurance for my ankle and foot. Any help, advice, or suggestions that you guys can give would be greatly appreciated.

My wife is a double amputee AK and BK. We are military family and just stationed in DC. She had been using fourroux prosthetics for 15 years based out of Huntsville AL. She has currently lost 70lbs and her prosthetics no longer fit and her Orion electronic knee is nearing warranty expiration and is malfunctioning. We traveled to Atlanta to work with fourroux as they are not in the DC area, to make new sockets and do a warranty check and any calibration updates on her Orion knee. After traveling to Atlanta they informed us the cannot work on the knee as we are not local to GA and we would have to find a different prosthetics company to work on the knee. Due to insurance issues and prosthetics companies policies you cannot have one company work on the socket and another work on the electronic knee. As they cannot make adjustments or modifications to other companies work. We are in search of a very good prosthetics company in DC area that can do both the sockets and adjustments to the electric knee. She has been in pain for the last 4 months and due to appointment scheduling and bureaucracy with fourroux it has got to the level of desperation. Insurance is Medicare and Tricare.

I accidentally stripped a screw in my leg and was wondering if anyone knew how to get it out without any power tools so I can replace it

hi!! i'm an 18 year old who is being pushed to take prosthetics and orthotics by my strict parents right now haha, honestly i've always considered taking advertising arts or medical technology since they're my actual passion, but my parents keep pushing me to take Bachelor of Science in Prosthetics and Orthotics since the college near us is the only school that's offering the course, and so they think i'll be making big cash in this country with this course 😅 i'm alright with the course since i can see myself developing an interest in designing prostheses, but i still feel like something is missing or like, there's not much excitement and passion when i think about my course. even so, i am willing to spend countless nights with the lack of sleep due to studying so i can help people in the rightest ways possible.

i was hoping to hear answers to my question "what got you into prosthetics and orthotics?" and hopefully, everyone's interest and passion will rub off me and i will still feel happy and content when studying BSPO for my family and possible patients and hopefully make lives easier to live. thank you and have a good day :D

UPDATE: it's not that i want to make a lot of money, but i do want to help people through medical means i am confident on changing their lives for the better. it's just unexpected for me and others to be pushed onto a course that i am interested in, but not passionate about as of now, but i was hoping that researching right now and getting advice from people to help me in developing more motivations and passion. i did not consider convincing my parents (that i am scared of) about changing my course when making this post at all, it was wrong for me on this part

i am also very sorry for making a post that is offensive and one that looks like i don't care for people with amputation or that i was getting into this field without wanting the best for people. i'll be careful about asking for advice next time and try not to inconvenience anyone 🥲❤️

UPDATE 2: thank you, thank you for the sound advice, words of encouragement and caution 😭❤️ i've been deliberating over this the whole day, and i've come in terms with the fact that always felt the love for helping others. like what other commenters said, there is some sort of artistry [combined with engineering (i also love the idea of engineering, i think i got it from my engineer parents haha :D) and the technical/mechanical aspect of it] in the field and it gives me even more reason to carefully consider P&O. i also did a bit of research on the subjects and watched some related videos.. and after asking myself a few questions, i'd say i can study this program for 4 years while being highly motivated for my interest in developing supportive devices and my desire to help others and give others even more opportunities to do what they love, hopefully i will be able to work and help with the lovely people on this subreddit. thank you again super!! ❤️ it's 12 AM while i'm writing this so i will reply to everyone else when i wake up i promise.. :)

My mom is having issues with sweating in the gel liner of her prosthetic leg and is genuinely embarrassed, because it makes a farting noise when she walks. She’s worried she can’t use anything on the inside, because it’s gel. Can anyone steer me in the right direction? She can’t get new liners for 3 months.

U.S. 19M barely in my second semester of college studying Computer science, but I'm not enjoying it honestly. I have experience working with CAD and mechanical engineering due to highschool so I'm interested in pivoting back to that. What exactly would I need to study and major or minor in to work in this field? I'd like to make Prosthetics cheaper and more widespread but that doesn't seem very likely unless I run an insurance company. Please give it to me straight how I could break into this field along with honest advice and wisdom.

I basically have amniotic band syndrome and only have 3 fingers and two severely undeveloped ones. That being said, can I play the piano with prosthetic fingers implanted into my hands?

Hello everyone! I'm currently working on my thesis in the field of biotechnology and the creation of robotic prothesis and I'm in need of participants to fill out a short survey (so i can get a good grade and graduate ksks). The insights gathered will be invaluable to my research and I would greatly appreciate your time and contribution. The survey is designed to be quick and straightforward, and it would mean the world to me to have your input. If you're interested in helping this is the link (https://forms.gle/BGBi9rvytu1QsPhn8). Thank you so much for considering this request. Your support is crucial to the success of my thesis!

Is this area a good choice? I’ve seen some recoomeding against. Originally I was attracted due to job stability, the ability to help others but without personal care, and the practical nature of the job. But I’ve started to read that there’s not that many jobs and I’d likely have to relocate? Which I would certainty like travelling but woudnt want to have to relocate to get a graduate job

Hi everyone! I want to get a master degree in Biomedical Engineering in Europe, especially in Germany or Austria to get knowledge about developing prosthetics. Maybe, you have any info about programs, courses in universities are targeted in the prosthetics area.

Best regards)

Hi all. I’m here for some advice because idk where else to go anymore. I also want to apologize if I mis speak or use any words wrong, as I’m still new to this. My boyfriend got in a car accident years ago in which he had to have both legs amputated. One below knee one above. Actually they were both below at first, but he said one of them got infected because they didn’t close it right or something, so they ended up having to take it above the knee. This was all before I met him. He gets a check the first of every month but he’s looking for a job. He said he’s been looking for one ever since but people see disabled on the application and don’t want to call him. He basically walks fine he can even walk without crutches or a cane or holding onto walls if the surface is flat and stable, to the amazement of doctors and his trainer at the gym. Going up and down stairs is hard for him and if he’s walking across a bumpy or hilly area he does need the crutches. Usually what he does is he just brings his cane with and carries it while he walks, so he has it if he needs it but he really tries not to use it. I’m proud of him for everything he’s trying to do and all the work he’s put in. I don’t want him to feel like he has to work and I’ve told him he doesn’t. He said he wants to work for his own sanity and stop just driving Uber which is what he does right now. He has also commented that his monthly check isn’t enough to cover everything he needs. He’s also diabetic and has a pump and stuff. To put it plainly he’s been through the wringer and he’s putting up one hell of a fight. But I fear he’s getting close to his wits end. People avoid him even sitting at the same table. They talk across him to someone else. He feels like people don’t care. People at his old church didn’t want him to do anything not even mow yard with the riding mower because they said it would look bad if someone saw they have a disabled guy mowing the yard. He can’t even get a call back from simple office jobs, receptionists, even call centers who are so desperate they normally hire literally anybody can’t be bothered with him. I don’t know what to do. I’ve made recommendations but they never pan out. Always the same old thing. He also said when the accident first happened they wouldn’t put him in an outpatient rehab program because they said there was no point. They said he’d never walk without his crutches and that he’d have a hard time walking with them even, forever. So he’s had to do all this himself, most of it way before he met me which I feel bad about. I recommended the Texas workforce commission and he said he tried that already. At what point does this become straight up discrimination? But he said he doesn’t want to get lawyers or the news involved either. If I just knew which direction to walk, I could figure it out. But I literally don’t know what to do anymore or who to ask, other than y’all. We’re in East Texas if that matters.

So me and my friends have a genuine question relating to prosthetics. Does losing an arm impact the users ability to masturbate? I.e. are prosthetic arms sensitive enough to not cause damage to the user and do the materials themselves have any impact on the experience? Thank you for putting up with my silly question 😅😂

so long story short I was born with microtia on my right side ear , to fix it you have to had surgry which is so expensive , so the right decision was to have silicone prosthetic ear which they don't make in my country , so I found tutorial on how to make your own prosthethic ( it was vid on how to make silicone human part for movies ) the problem I'm facing right now is how the heck do I FLIP The left ear mold to become right ear ! do you guys have any idea on how to make that ?