Hello and any advice

[margaret]

Hi there-

I’m Margaret. I’m a partial foot amputee for almost 4-1/2 years now. After my accident and recovery, I put on a bravado about the whole aesthetic change, acting like it didn’t matter what I looked like so long as I found a comfortable prosthetic that allowed me to be active. I actually scoffed at a prosthetist when he said something along the lines of “as an attractive young woman you’ll want a silicone foot prosthesis” . It felt sorta sexist, and maybe it was, but it turned me off to the whole silicone foot thing. But recently I’d started researching how to make myself arubber cup to fit over my partial foot so that I could walk around comfortably at the beach or in the water with uncomfortable stones. And it brought me to some YouTube videos of silicone feet prosthetics. Suddenly they didn’t seem so silly, but actually incredibly practical. And cooler in hot weather! And permissive of regular shoes and maybe even flip flops!!! I guess I’m looking to see if anyone knows much about these, and what their experience has been like them. And how much do they cost? And how do I know my practitioner will make a good one? Help! And hello 👋 🙂

[cherylm]

Hi Margaret and welcome to the Forum! I'm not going to be much help on the silicone foot prosthesis, as I'm a below-knee amputee...but I can offer a little advice on deciding on "cosmetic" improvements to a prosthesis and doing your best to decide if your prosthetist is likely to be able to make you a good one.

Are you currently wearing a "shoe filler" or do you have some sort of actual "attach to the foot" device? (Mostly just curious here, as I once lost just one toe, and there was some consideration about my needing a "shoe filler." I'm also thinking that having an option to not need to wear shoes at all times might be a real advantage for you.)

ANYWAY...you have every right to have your prosthesis look and function any way you want. After my below-knee amp, my leg guys insisted that they would make a cosmetic covering for my new leg that would "look perfectly natural." I really didn't care...I just wanted something to walk with. But since everyone I was talking to wanted to be assured that my leg would "look normal," I went with the cosmesis and wore it for about five years. It did occasionally make it easier in business meetings, but I was still pretty indifferent about it. The first prosthesis I needed after I retired, I wanted the cosmesis GONE. It just seemed like silliness to me...but I DID want a leg that was both practical and PRETTY. Fo me, that meant having a nice piece of fabric laminated onto my socket for decoration and my pylon and ankle joint exposed. Some of my family and friends still don't understand why I don't have my "normal looking" cosmesis any more...but my leg now feels like ME to ME.

Your foot should feel like YOU to YOU, be it for practical or aesthetic reasons, or a combination of both. Do whatever research you need to determine whether a silicone foot will meet your requirements...DO check into how much it will cost and whether your insurance will cover it in full or partially...and if all of that checks out for you, go for it!

And if you go for it, talk to your practitioner. Ask him/her how much experience they've had in building silicone feet...ask if there's another client you can speak to about their experience with a silicone foot...and then be VERY involved in the fitting of that silicone foot. If you don't think your practitioner is listening to you or is trying to "force" you into something you don't feel comfortable with, walk away.

I really hope that you can get in touch with someone who's currently using a silicone foot...that's the very best way to figure out what you'll want to do. All the best to you as you make your decision!