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Post by allenuk on Nov 30, 2010 1:23:16 GMT -7
I'm currently breaking-in a new combination: Echelon, topped by a pinlock system with an additional distal cup. He's also used an 'old-fashioned' white plastic for the inner socket, which reacts to quite low temperature changes. So when it's been off my leg for a few hours, it is harder and thus uncomfortable, and when it's been ON for a couple of hours, it is more malleable.
Overall effect: not good. I think the Echelon (and probably any foot) needs to be on the end of a firm leg, and this set-up isn't firm. You hit the ground with your heel, and the overall softness of the distal cup etc. means you seem to 'drop' another inch before hitting bottom. Similarly, it rocks and rolls left and right, too.
Okay as an 'old man's leg', for mooching around the flat, but I don't think it's an 'active' leg. And worse, I think I'm losing the benefits of the top-dollar Echelon.
It has managed to stop my tib point from hurting, but I've got a feeling that a 'window' cut into the hard socket on my OLD leg would have done the same job. (My old leg was an orthodox set-up, i.e. no distal cup, just pinlock liner, slightly flexible inner socket, rigid outer - the only real problem has ever been that darned tib point).
Ah well, it's snowing in London, so at least it's a pretty picture through the window.
Allen, bka.
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ann58
Female Member 
Posts: 278
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Post by ann58 on Nov 30, 2010 7:23:45 GMT -7
Oh Allen, I love snow....if I can watch it from inside...I used to love to go out in it. Now I watch very carefully when out. How much snow do you normally get in London? I love my echelon foot, but don't care for the side to side action. I imagine thats the ankle. I am not as stable as I once was.
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Post by ann- on Nov 30, 2010 9:05:35 GMT -7
Goodness you must be getting really fed up with all the things they are trying out Allen .... good thing is they are keeping trying but hope you are still able to get about ok on what you have got.
Snowing here on and off all afternoon as well. Freezing cold though and have not been that well with a really bad throat etc, so been lazy this afternoon sitting in front of the fire, watching a christmas film on TV, writing christmas cards and watching the snow falling.
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Post by allenuk on Nov 30, 2010 13:42:27 GMT -7
I don't mind the trying-out part; in fact, (pace Oscar Wilde), there is one thing worse than having things tried out, and that is not having things tried out.
Yes, it would be nice if something worked, but where there's hope...
Snow? Usually in London, very little. An inch or two and it all grinds to a halt. In the north of the country, and Scotland, they are more used to it, but still transport comes to a halt. The UK always seems surprised in winter when it gets cold and snows!
Allen
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Post by barclay on Dec 1, 2010 22:16:05 GMT -7
Can you work a combination of legs ? I'm wondering about have a leg just for activity and one for the rest of the time (for mooching around as you say) ?
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Post by ann- on Dec 2, 2010 3:27:15 GMT -7
Can you work a combination of legs ? I'm wondering about have a leg just for activity and one for the rest of the time (for mooching around as you say) ? I am aware people do have different legs for different activities, ie. running, swimming, skiing etc. ..... I persume you'd need to keep wearing them all fairly regularly though ..... personally have never managed to get any activity legs from the NHS |
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Post by allenuk on Dec 2, 2010 7:45:53 GMT -7
Yes, certainly, in prosthetic terms, you can have slightly different set-ups for different activities. But what you will find is you have one decent walking leg, and the other one(s) will be okay for say cycling, or swimming, or whatever, but not a lot of good for walking!
This has been fairly common practice in the UK (i.e. in the NHS) up till now, but with the current austerity measures (well, someone's got to give the bankers a good Christmas) it's going to get more difficult to get a 2nd leg for anything (although most limb-fitting centres will expect you to have a leg and a spare).
Allen.
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Post by ann- on Dec 2, 2010 9:50:30 GMT -7
Yes, certainly, in prosthetic terms, you can have slightly different set-ups for different activities. But what you will find is you have one decent walking leg, and the other one(s) will be okay for say cycling, or swimming, or whatever, but not a lot of good for walking! This has been fairly common practice in the UK (i.e. in the NHS) up till now, but with the current austerity measures (well, someone's got to give the bankers a good Christmas) it's going to get more difficult to get a 2nd leg for anything (although most limb-fitting centres will expect you to have a leg and a spare). Allen. Not sure if it has been common practice in the UK to fund activity legs Allen, or maybe its because I am bilateral .... in 40 yrs I've never had any activity leg ... do usually have a spare pair though they are usually the old pair that don't really fit properly any longer. |
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Post by allenuk on Dec 2, 2010 13:46:13 GMT -7
I suppose it must depend on the health authority, Ann. I know people from Stanmore, Harold Wood, and Roehampton who've got more than one leg for different purposes, but there are some rotten tight-fisted places around!
A
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Post by ann- on Dec 3, 2010 5:20:55 GMT -7
I suppose it must depend on the health authority, Ann. I know people from Stanmore, Harold Wood, and Roehampton who've got more than one leg for different purposes, but there are some rotten tight-fisted places around! A yep ... am aware of that Allen, its a bit of an unfair system isn't it? |
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