On Aug. 15th, I had a doctor’s appointment with Hanger Prosthetic and Orthotics, and got the casting part for my new prosthetic leg started. When I arrived at the doctor’s office, my Doctor said my insurance was approved and we could get started building my new prosthetic leg.
The casting process consisted of me taking off my old prosthetic leg and sitting down in a chair in just my boxers and a t-shirt. My Doctor had to wrap my lower body and midsection with saran wrap. Then he dipped plaster bandages and wraps in water and wrapped them around my lower body and midsection.
While the plaster was wrapped around my body, it started to get hot and got hard. When the plaster got hard, and my lower body and midsection became a sculpture. This process is reminiscent like an artist with their creative project.
The sculpture of my lower body and midsection will make it easier for my Doctor to have the correct measurements while putting my new prosthetic leg together.
When it was time to take the plaster off my body, my Doctor tried to cut it off with scissors, but the plaster was too hard to cut through. Then he asked his assistant for the power saw.
I said, “Power saw!”
My Doctor said this special small power saw wasn’t going to cut through my skin. He also showed me a demonstration by attempting to cut his own arm with the saw to show that it doesn’t cut through skin and to give me peace of mind. The plaster became so hard and strong that only a power saw could cut it off me.
The final step was to get some last measurements with measuring tape around my lower body and midsection.
The whole process of getting casted took about 45 minutes, and my Doctor said by next week my new prosthetic leg should be in the office, and I could possibly walk in it for the first time.
My Doctor said my new prosthetic leg will be a little bit lighter, but I also hope it will be a little more comfortable so the pain won’t be as severe like what I’ve been experiencing since my first prosthetic leg in 2003.
I’m excited because I’m closer to getting a new and improved prosthetic leg, which has been a long time coming because a new prosthetic leg is much needed right now.
To check out my experiences and realities of becoming a hip amputee at 17 years old, click here: http://www.calmandstrong.net/becoming-a-hip-amputee
* On Aug. 17th, I visited my Grandmother and she asked me do I still feel pain when I have my prosthetic leg on. I told her yes, and that I’m always in pain when I have it on because it is very uncomfortable, but over the years I’ve learned to adapt to the pain. I told her it will always be this way for me, and she said that’s a long time to always be in pain. I agreed with her and said there is nothing I could do about it, but it’s always forward I’m moving, never backwards.
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