Prosthetics

JerseyGirl1962

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I rarely post my own thread, but here goes.

In my 2nd WIP, I have a character who has lost a leg and has been fitted with a prosthesis - at least I think that's what it's called. It's one of those downhill ski-type devices that usually has a curve at the bottom (I've seen them on runners in the Paralympics, for example). The character is a soldier, home from Afghanistan.

My questions:

1. Does the U.S. military fit their soldiers with this type of prosthetic, or do they use some other type?

2. Does it make sense for the guy to use a cane occasionally to help him around? He's had the device for only a few months, and my thinking was that he's still getting used to it and needs a bit of help.

3. What about sex? (No, not with you! ;)) Srsly. Would he need to take off the device just before? Half an hour before? I can't imagine him keeping it on while getting down and dirty, but what do I know?

4. The prosthetic I'm talking about - what is it made of? Some kind of polymer? Just need the basics here.

Many thanks to all who can straighten me out on this. :)

Nancy
 

Maryn

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I can only answer #3. (Is there anything I haven't done?) He will remove the prosthesis before sex. Just before is fine; if the stump can handle his body weight in walking and such, it doesn't need any recovery time after the device is removed.

The truncated limb means some positions are no longer possible--but new ones are.

Maryn, thinking of Bill...
 

JerseyGirl1962

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I can only answer #3. (Is there anything I haven't done?) He will remove the prosthesis before sex. Just before is fine; if the stump can handle his body weight in walking and such, it doesn't need any recovery time after the device is removed.

The truncated limb means some positions are no longer possible--but new ones are.

Maryn, thinking of Bill...


Thanks, Maryn. :)

Nancy
 

PinkAmy

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I can only answer #3. (Is there anything I haven't done?) He will remove the prosthesis before sex. Just before is fine; if the stump can handle his body weight in walking and such, it doesn't need any recovery time after the device is removed.

The truncated limb means some positions are no longer possible--but new ones are.

Maryn, thinking of Bill...

Amy, amazed at the number of things Maryn knows.
 

Drachen Jager

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1. Does the U.S. military fit their soldiers with this type of prosthetic, or do they use some other type?

I think the answer is here.
http://www.prosthetics.va.gov/

2. Does it make sense for the guy to use a cane occasionally to help him around? He's had the device for only a few months, and my thinking was that he's still getting used to it and needs a bit of help.

No, he needs to learn to walk properly with the prosthetic. A cane will only cause him to develop bad habits.

4. The prosthetic I'm talking about - what is it made of? Some kind of polymer? Just need the basics here.

Carbon fiber and steel mostly.
 

JerseyGirl1962

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1. Does the U.S. military fit their soldiers with this type of prosthetic, or do they use some other type?

I think the answer is here.
http://www.prosthetics.va.gov/

2. Does it make sense for the guy to use a cane occasionally to help him around? He's had the device for only a few months, and my thinking was that he's still getting used to it and needs a bit of help.

No, he needs to learn to walk properly with the prosthetic. A cane will only cause him to develop bad habits.

4. The prosthetic I'm talking about - what is it made of? Some kind of polymer? Just need the basics here.

Carbon fiber and steel mostly.

Drachen,

This is exactly what I needed - thanks! :)

Nancy
 

skylark

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My questions:

1. Does the U.S. military fit their soldiers with this type of prosthetic, or do they use some other type?

I can't answer your US-specific question here, but I think you may have missed a trick. Those carbon fibre runner's legs aren't something the amputee athletes wear all the time - they switch them with more "ordinary" prosthetics when they aren't running.

http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/15.03/blade.html

and note the comment on "tossing his legs into the grass".

Apologies if I'm misinterpreting your wording and you knew this all along :)