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Post by allenuk on Sept 8, 2011 6:56:52 GMT -7
I know it's the same general topic as the last couple of threads, but I thought it was about time we had a new one.
I'm being recast next week with a different type of pinlock liner - this one is graduated, so the bottom 100mm is 9mm thick, then it drops to 6mm, then 4mm, and finally 2mm at the top.
So what we're doing is taking the idea of the extra gel pads I was using, and regularising them - I'll let you know, of course, if progress is made, but the idea certainly seems sound, and it's about time I was recast, as this current socket is 18month/2 years old.
Allen.
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Post by ann- on Sept 8, 2011 8:35:31 GMT -7
Good luck with this liner Allen, sounds good with the extra gel at the end and then gradually thining down, glad also that they are recasting first, I just got given a new liner to try with existing socket and of course it didn't fit, so sticking with old leg and existing liner which at the moment is doing ok...ish most of the time.
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Post by allenuk on Sept 8, 2011 8:57:43 GMT -7
Same process here, Ann - couldn't use the graduated liner on my current socket (or rather you COULD, but it wouldn't work properly), hence the recast.
A.
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Post by ann- on Sept 8, 2011 9:35:35 GMT -7
Same process here, Ann - couldn't use the graduated liner on my current socket (or rather you COULD, but it wouldn't work properly), hence the recast. A. Yep, think that shld have been the case with me, but to be honest prefer the old liner. |
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ann58
Female Member 
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Post by ann58 on Sept 9, 2011 5:52:16 GMT -7
I am sure I have used those.....worked out well. Gave me alot more padding on the end of my leg & worked out great. The last one wasn't and I didn't like it that much...cheaper made. They do anything to save a penny & probably charged me the same price  Hope this one helps U. |
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Post by allenuk on Sept 9, 2011 7:05:06 GMT -7
Well, luckily (and I really don't mean to rub it in) as yet the buggers don't charge us in the good old UK - but the same penny-pinching mentality is starting to creep in, so I still might end up with a cheaper liner!
A
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Post by barclay on Sept 9, 2011 8:10:45 GMT -7
What if we would be compensated for the troubles which come from "saving money" ? Might change the account balances a bit!
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ann58
Female Member
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Post by ann58 on Sept 10, 2011 10:32:19 GMT -7
Well, luckily (and I really don't mean to rub it in) as yet the buggers don't charge us in the good old UK - but the same penny-pinching mentality is starting to creep in, so I still might end up with a cheaper liner! A I hope not...Most of mine was covered w/my own personal insurance plan. Would rather have the insurance I have now rather than the "obamacare" which is being offered to us in the US. Personally its a bunch of 's$$$t' !! |
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Post by allenuk on Sept 10, 2011 12:31:11 GMT -7
Fair comment.
I'm no supporter of Obama, either. To me he was no more representative of black America than Thatcher was representative of women.
But our National Health Service has worked for decades, and (still!) anyone who needs treatment gets it free, rich or poor.
A.
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ann58
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Post by ann58 on Sept 10, 2011 13:35:07 GMT -7
How do they pay for it?
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Post by kapteenkoukku on Sept 10, 2011 18:39:11 GMT -7
Getting political!!! Everyone knows that they pay for it with money collected using taxes, which means someone has to pay that much more tax that healthcare requires. I cannot resist from mentioning in this juncture that in Singapore there is such social security net in use that forces all working people to save to their accounts money for healthcare, retirement, etc. The system is called CPF and the abbreviation comes from the name of the statutory board in concern, the Central Provident Fund. Everyone has an account, and moneys there are accumulated from monthly percentage payments of the salary, a part from employer and the other part from employee. Self-employed also have the scheme, but they pay the whole sum themselves. CPF contribution is compulsory for all. The downside of this system is that if one is unemployed, he cannot contribute. |
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Post by ann- on Sept 11, 2011 0:57:15 GMT -7
Well, we 'do' pay for it Ann, its not entirely free really. People are paying NHS contributions and of course are taxed, its collective contributions, and free on the point of need (at the moment). |
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Post by allenuk on Sept 11, 2011 3:43:38 GMT -7
The philosophy behind the NHS is that health, like (for instance) education, roads, police, libraries, and so on, shouldn't be up for grabs as a profit-making exercise, because they are part of our national structure, part of how we look after each other; so we pay taxes. Not a perfect system, by any means, and over the years many politicians have tried to cut bits off it (so that they can spend more on essentials, like baling out the bankers), but the mass of the British people are behind 'their' health service. Even my parents, (now long dead), and Conservative (= right-wing) voters all their lives, were immensely proud of the health service.
Allen.
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Post by ann- on Sept 11, 2011 11:25:18 GMT -7
The philosophy behind the NHS is that health, like (for instance) education, roads, police, libraries, and so on, shouldn't be up for grabs as a profit-making exercise, because they are part of our national structure, part of how we look after each other; so we pay taxes. Not a perfect system, by any means, and over the years many politicians have tried to cut bits off it (so that they can spend more on essentials, like baling out the bankers), but the mass of the British people are behind 'their' health service. Even my parents, (now long dead), and Conservative (= right-wing) voters all their lives, were immensely proud of the health service. Allen. I think you are right Allen, and often heard it said that we were (not sure if this still applies) the 'envy of the world' with our NHS. I am certainly very grateful to it, as it saved my life and has kept me going since, (give or take a few lousy prostheses). In my early days of being an amputee I remember speaking to what then seemed like an elderly lady <grin> she was probably about my age now <grin> who told me as a child amputee she wasn't allowed a prosthesis until she had stopped growing at about 18 yrs of age, and got her first after the second world war, through the new NHS. So think we all have got a lot to be grateful for ... but just would like the government to stop mucking around with it and trying to make profits from it, or parts of it. |
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Post by barclay on Oct 4, 2011 20:22:11 GMT -7
Getting back OT - How are the liners working for you Allen ?
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Post by allenuk on Oct 5, 2011 1:49:48 GMT -7
Hello Barclay.
Still going through the process of recasting, test sockets, etc., so haven't actually worn it yet. Next stage is proper take-it-home and try it leg, which will be in a week or so, so I'll report back after that...
A,
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Post by allenuk on Jan 8, 2012 8:39:11 GMT -7
Looking back at this thread, which I started four months ago (!), maybe the British health service ain't all I crack it up to be, as I'm still waiting for the sodding leg!
No, that's not strictly true. I'm still a staunch supporter of our health service, and I have enormous sympathy with my limb-fitting helpers. It's not their faults that our present government has decided that health services can get by on less money than before (hence staff not being replaced, etc., and short delays becoming LONG delays).
I should be getting that longed-for leg in the next week or two, after another rebuild, so will report on it as soon as I can. You DO learn patience as a British amputee.
Allen.
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Post by ann- on Jan 8, 2012 9:44:37 GMT -7
Lol, can empathise Allen as have been in a similar position to you, though I suppose I am trying to get two made which I suppose has twice the difficulties .... I took delivery of a new pair just before christmas .... this time the fittings went quite smoothly and to plan ... though I have had a few minor probs since I had them but they are not really socket related ...... and just needed tweaking around the knee trimlines and alignment ... so for the first time in about two years, two different centres, and about 3 different prosthestists but I am feeling more positive .... but like you say we do learn patience!
Do wish you all the luck in the world getting your longed-for leg. We hear such a lot about different sorts of legs these days that let you do this that or the other, but many of us just want a leg we can comfortably walk in, don't we?
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Post by barclay on Jan 10, 2012 6:51:02 GMT -7
Completely off topic, but your new pic look great :-)
Looking forward to hearing about the leg...gute dinge brauchen weile (let's hope anyway)
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Post by allenuk on Jan 10, 2012 7:37:50 GMT -7
Hello Ann, and thanks Barclay!
As far as the leg goes, I'm being worn down by time and age, I think. Because I can get around on my bike still (far more than I could just by walking), I tend not to worry about the fact that I CAN only walk a few hundred yards.
Shouldn't give in to it really, I know, as apart from anything else, the muscles and tendons in my amputated leg are getting weaker by the month, which of course in turn contributes to the fact that I can only walk a few hundred yards.... and so it goes. (Cycling puts quite different demands on your legs, of course).
Allen.
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Post by barclay on Jan 10, 2012 21:05:15 GMT -7
If you can bring yourself to try it, Pilates is pretty effective and works the muscles without putting much strain on them. I can't do the kneeling exercises, but most of the other floor exercises work OK, though sometimes the leg comes off (the one w/o the pin). I can recommend the Pilates for Dummies video, it's straight-forward and the woman teaching doesn't use too much hype.
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ann58
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Post by ann58 on Jan 12, 2012 10:37:55 GMT -7
Allen, I also have alot of weakness in my good leg. Makes it very hard to do stairs. Maybe we should try Barclay's Pilates for Dummies video....I would imagine "I" qualify!!
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Post by barclay on Jan 12, 2012 22:09:18 GMT -7
It works for me :-)
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Post by allenuk on Jan 13, 2012 3:51:52 GMT -7
I'll look around for the dummies video. Sounds about my level.
A
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Post by allenuk on Mar 8, 2012 13:38:41 GMT -7
Yipee. Finally, six long months after they started making the bleeding thing, I have my new pinlock leg with its graduated liner.
Not too sure whether the graduated liner does any good - but what my guy has done is to try and transfer my weight-bearing areas from their original position - so rather than round both sides of the stump, top and bottom, he's tried to put more of the load at the top end, either side of my knee, with less pressure at the bottom end.
This was because I'd had trouble for years with the front base of my stump getting sore.
Anyway, all these means is that I'm relearning how to cope with all sorts of new stresses, having had the 'normal' ones for six years, and it is a bit painful, although getting better day by day.
I am optimistic (nothing new there, I always see life through rose-tinted specs), but this time I might have better reason.
Allen.
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Hope this one helps U.
