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Post by allenuk on Aug 27, 2009 1:27:38 GMT -7
Hello.
I was ALMOST having a conversation with (hope I remember rightly) Iwtaj a couple of weeks ago, just before the old site disappeared up its own socket, about Socks.
They seem to be key to a lot of things.
I wear a liner, plus one thin sock, plus one thin cuff. The cuff gets used as a regulator, so occasionally it is down towards my stump, other times it is up around the knee, and so on.
Two thin socks is too many. Feels very full, although it does avoid the base of my shin rubbing against the socket.
How does it work with fluid, and thus stump size? Does the fluid sink, through gravity, during the day, or does it get squeezed UP by pushing your leg down into the socket?
(I am sending a message to Ted to see if I can get him to take up residence here!)
Allen.
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Post by tedatrowercpo on Aug 27, 2009 8:37:21 GMT -7
Although there is always the exception, most amputees experience a loss of limb volume thru the day due to fluid moving out of the limb under weightbearing and ambulation forces.
The force on your prosthesis when the heel hits the floor in walking is roughly 3-4 times your body weight. Divide this number by the surface area inside your socket (an "average" amputee has approx. 100 square inches in the socket) and you can get a rough idea of the pressures within your socket when walking. These are more than enough to push the water in your limb uphill and out of the socket.
An individual who is extremely vigorous in using the muscles within the socket, or one with serious kidney dysfunction, may see an increase in limb volume, but they are the exception.
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Post by ann- on Aug 27, 2009 10:34:07 GMT -7
Hello. I was ALMOST having a conversation with (hope I remember rightly) Iwtaj a couple of weeks ago, just before the old site disappeared up its own socket, about Socks. They seem to be key to a lot of things. I wear a liner, plus one thin sock, plus one thin cuff. The cuff gets used as a regulator, so occasionally it is down towards my stump, other times it is up around the knee, and so on. Two thin socks is too many. Feels very full, although it does avoid the base of my shin rubbing against the socket. Allen. Hi, that was me you spoke to Allen. Gets confusing seem to have different names on different forums. LOL Yep, I am doing the same as you on the side I am wearing a liner, currently have a thick sock, thin sock and a cut off half sock round the top bit, probably too many socks, but its comfortable and not causing any problems. I think sometimes the problems are with the socks themselves, more than the legs, you wear/wash them regularly and they get thinner, so your leg may accommodate that, then you get new ones and they seem thicker, or you find your provider has changed manufacturers, or whatever, and they are a different texture etc. I find its all just trial and error to see what works, not very scientific, I know. Ann |
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Post by allenuk on Aug 27, 2009 13:03:22 GMT -7
Hello Ted, and it's great to see you here! Thanks for coming.
Have you ever seen/handled/otherwise got involved in the things that Michael Love pushes on his amputee website, the "Michael Love Pump-up socket"? He says he fits it to lots of patients, but unfortunately it doesn't seem to be available anywhere except through his workshop.
Is the idea sound, do you reckon?
Allen.
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Post by tedatrowercpo on Aug 27, 2009 19:57:21 GMT -7
Hello Ted, and it's great to see you here! Thanks for coming. Have you ever seen/handled/otherwise got involved in the things that Michael Love pushes on his amputee website, the "Michael Love Pump-up socket"? He says he fits it to lots of patients, but unfortunately it doesn't seem to be available anywhere except through his workshop. Is the idea sound, do you reckon? Allen. I've read his article on the subject and understand the technique. The idea is sound but I believe that it is a very small group of amputees who need the the type of volume adjustment that this system offers and an even smaller group for which it will work well. |
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Post by allenuk on Aug 29, 2009 6:47:24 GMT -7
Thanks Ted. Useful.
I wonder what it is with the likes of me and Ann, then. Have we just got poorly-fitting sockets, do you think? We both have to fiddle about trying to get our socks 'right', and often fail. (Even as I type, I've just slapped some more painkiller ointment onto my stump due (I think) to having the wrong amount of sock/cuff for the past few hours!)
Allen.
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ann58
Female Member 
Posts: 278
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Post by ann58 on Aug 29, 2009 7:34:10 GMT -7
Allen, what type of pain killer do you use on your leg? No pills ~ We have been having alot of rain & damp days lately...maybe something like that would help. ann  |
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Post by tedatrowercpo on Aug 30, 2009 8:41:36 GMT -7
Thanks Ted. Useful. I wonder what it is with the likes of me and Ann, then. Have we just got poorly-fitting sockets, do you think? We both have to fiddle about trying to get our socks 'right', and often fail. (Even as I type, I've just slapped some more painkiller ointment onto my stump due (I think) to having the wrong amount of sock/cuff for the past few hours!) Allen. I have a few clients like you and Ann. I really don't know why your limbs seem to fluctuate so much and to be so tender. In my experience this condition seems to far more common in traumatic amputees then in those with vascular problems. Though I have seen a similar problems in amputees on dialysis or with serious kidney problems. Seems to me that somehow the problem is one of deep tissue inflammation rather than edema, but that's just my personal impression. Some people have reported good results in such cases using one of the elevated vacuum socket systems but there is no guarantee you could tolerate that either. |
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Post by ann- on Aug 30, 2009 9:08:45 GMT -7
Thanks Ted. Useful. I wonder what it is with the likes of me and Ann, then. Have we just got poorly-fitting sockets, do you think? We both have to fiddle about trying to get our socks 'right', and often fail. (Even as I type, I've just slapped some more painkiller ointment onto my stump due (I think) to having the wrong amount of sock/cuff for the past few hours!) Allen. I have a few clients like you and Ann. I really don't know why your limbs seem to fluctuate so much and to be so tender. In my experience this condition seems to far more common in traumatic amputees then in those with vascular problems. Though I have seen a similar problems in amputees on dialysis or with serious kidney problems. Seems to me that somehow the problem is one of deep tissue inflammation rather than edema, but that's just my personal impression. Some people have reported good results in such cases using one of the elevated vacuum socket systems but there is no guarantee you could tolerate that either. I don't personally have a problem with wearing a cuff sock Ted, the limb isn't unduly tender (actually much better since a recent revision) and doesn't fluctuate very much on a daily basis, but would rather have the option of adding or taking away a cuff sock than a lining. Given the problems I have had with this stump, skin grafting, spurs, neuromas etc. and a revision where there was a possibility I could have lost my knee, I am over the moon that I am currently as mobile as I am, and an extra cuff sock, doesn't seem too much of a big deal. |
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