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Post by divadancer on Apr 17, 2014 7:21:20 GMT -7
Hello all,
I'm a newbie and a left below knee amputee.
In a short time I'm due to go to Stanmore Limb Centre for an MOT. I use the suspension system with an over the knee leather strap and am wondering if the pin and lock system might be more secure for me? - As I get older I find the strap a bit more difficult to fit due to arthritis in my fingers. Would you think the pin system to be easier or not? Any advice would be appreciated.
 KatieG |
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Post by ann- on Apr 18, 2014 9:46:46 GMT -7
Hi Katie, I can't really comment on the pin lock system, as don't use that myself, but just wondering if you have tried any of the sleeves and whether they would be easier to pull up than having to do up the leather strap. I am currently using an Alps Easy Sleeve which goes on and rolls up a lot easier than some sleeves I have tried.
Back in the day, before all the current suspension systems for b/k's I used to use an elastic stocking to hold on the legs, and whilst it sounds a bit antiquated, it did work pretty well for me, for many years.
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Post by allenuk on Apr 19, 2014 4:32:33 GMT -7
Hello Katie.
I'm at Stanmore, too.
I am bka, and have used pinlock over the past 9 years. A couple of years back they did try suction instead, but we didn't get anywhere. Apart from it leaking which could have been traced and fixed, it was SO hard to get on \ the only way we could do it was with Christophe (the chief prosthetist) kneeling in front of me pulling the liner over my stump. And I've got big strong hands!
So I can sympathise with your problem. I would certainly ask them (fairly strongly, on the basis that if you don't ask you most DEFINITELY don't get these days) to try a pinlock. Maybe it isn't quite as secure as the suction system, but it depends on your lifestyle. It is definitely easier to get on and off (about 60 seconds on or off), and requires very little hand or wrist strength.
If you're otherwise happy with your socket, they could fairly easily make a pinlock version for you.
Excuse any errors - I'm gone (hopefully) temporarily blind, although I can still see enough to use my computer, but my typing and spelling might be getting dodgy!
Might see you at Stanmore sometime (I've got a beard and a white stick).
Allen.
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Post by cherylm on Apr 21, 2014 0:45:35 GMT -7
Hi, Katie -
Allen's right about the pinlock suspension being very easy to don and it's quite stable. I wore one for about eight years and was basically very pleased with it. At the moment, however, I am using a vacuum-assisted suction suspension and think it's a vast improvement on the pinlock. However, I'm not sure if your NHS would be willing to cover the cost of the electronic vacuum pump (I got mine through a combination of my U.S. insurance and a "modeling" gig for an Otto Bock seminar on casting for this system.)
Anyway, the "upside" on the vacuum-assist suspension is that I think it is MUCH steadier to walk with and the pump does away with the leakage problem Allen encountered. The "drawbacks" are the expense and the fact that it does indeed take a looonnnggg time to don the leg. (It took me a full 45 minutes at first. I now have that down to about 10-15 minutes...which I'm willing to deal with because the leg feels so darned good, but it IS a really long time.) With my old pinlock, I could easily get it fully on in less than two minutes...and I could get to the point where I could at least hobble to the bathroom in the middle of the night in under a minute.
I hope you can get something that works well for you!
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Post by vader7 on Oct 24, 2014 9:22:50 GMT -7
For me the pin system was just something else to break, and I broke several. Stopped using the pin system right away and never looked back. Using a leather and velcro strap when I need it to stay on. 99% of the time my socket just stays on due to a tight fit. Pin systems are nowhere near as comfortable than a strap, for me at least.
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