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Recovering from amputation and coming to terms with the new reality takes patience and time. Only later can you start thinking about a prosthesis that will replace the lost limb and allow you to return to your daily duties and normal life. Unfortunately, it is not enough to enter a prosthetic facility, choose a prosthesis and start using it. Prosthesis is a long and demanding process, which in many ways is an individual matter.

Lower and upper limb prosthesesare devices that replace fragments of damaged parts of the body structure or lost organ functions. One of the factors determining the course of prosthesis is the moment of amputation itself. The progress of convalescence depends on it, as well as the patient's subsequent gait. Mechanical injuries are easier to treat and the recovery period is much shorter, but after similar injuries, the stump is very often uneven, which makes it difficult to choose the appropriate prosthesis suspension. In turn, vascular injuries, which are the cause of about 80% of amputations in Poland, are characterized by difficult to heal wounds, swelling and pain. This state of affairs may prevent the denture preparation process from starting for many months.

Lower and upper limb prosthesis - who to choose?

When the patient manages to fully heal the amputation wounds and is ready to start the proper process of selecting the prosthesis, he will have to choose the appropriate workshop to do it. There is no shortage of prosthetics in Poland, but the choice is not easy at all.

- I have been working in this industry for 3 years, I am an amputee myself, I met 50% of orthopedic clinics in this country personally and helped about 100 people with prostheses, but I still have the impression that there are not many really good bets - he says Piotr Sajdak from the Poland Business Run Foundation, which organizes a charity run every year, and donates the collected funds to people with motor organs disabilities. - The most important thing when it comes to choosing a place is our intuition - do we feel good here? Do the people we talk to seem honest and qualified to us? I know from experience that first feelings can tell a lot. Another thing is asking a lot of questions about the prosthesis to find out how long the equipment has been serviced, whether the prosthesis has a guarantee, what is the cost and possible solutions - he adds.

It is worth visiting several places that offer prosthesis, download a detailed quote for different options and simply compare each of them. Finally, you can check opinions on selected prostheses on the Internet.

Lower and upper limb prosthesis - types of funding

After choosing the right solution and prosthetic facility, you already know exactly what money you will need to make them. The cost of a leg prosthesis at the level of the shin ranges from PLN 18,000 to PLN 36,000, and at the height of the femur - from PLN 45,000 to even PLN 100,000. When it comes to upper limb amputations, the matter is much more complicated - the cost of the cosmetic arm starts at PLN 10,000, electronic solutions cost from 30,000 to even 200,000. Prostheses using the 3D printing method are also entering the market, the prices of which will oscillate around PLN 20,000.

Regardless of the choice of solution, you should take into account the cost of several or several dozen thousand zlotys. Unfortunately, most people simply cannot afford it. However, with a little work, by applying to the appropriate places, you can raise money to buy such equipment, even without your own contribution. Each insured person in Poland is en titled to co-financing of up to PLN 3,500 from the National He alth Fund and - depending on the level of amputation - from the PFRON program - "Active Self-Government" (PFRON) between 16,000 and 26,000. Following the trend of online crowfunding, it is worth creating fundraisers on special portals. This usually allows you to collect over PLN 10,000. The next step should be to find the right foundation.

- Some organizations help to start a fundraiser, provide an account for 1% of the tax, while others can donate funds directly to the prosthesis - so it's worth talking to a few. Our Foundation helps to finance some or all of the cost of a prosthesis, we also support people in need of rehabilitation. After this year's record edition of the run, we will be able to help over 70 people - says Marta Hernik, Global Project Manager Poland Business Run.

Lower and upper limb prosthesis - first fitting

The day has come, the treatment is over, the right place has been chosen, there are measures and nothing prevents you from starting the first try-ons. In the beginning, it is very important to tell the prosthodontist about your feelings.

- I remember a patient who felt enormous discomfort when taking his first steps because the funnel was rubbing his groin. The prosthetist was so experienced that after a while he noticed his conservative gait due to pressure and asked why he had not reported that the crutch was painful. "I didn't want to benaughty… ”he heard. And yet the prosthesis will serve an amputee for several years, so a perfect fit is essential! The prosthodontist may not guess some things that will be very disturbing later. Proper communication will facilitate his work and allow him to choose the best prosthesis - says Piotr Sajdak from the Poland Business Run Foundation.

Temporary denture

At the beginning, a temporary funnel will be made that will allow you to initially move. Under its influence, the stump should change - it will even shrink by several sizes. Placing a funnel may cause postoperative swelling to persist for a very long time. Stabilization of the stump size is a sign that the preparation of the final funnel can begin. The initial abrasions and blisters on the leg are normal, but distressing. In some they do not occur at all, while in others they may appear notoriously. It is worth taking care of them properly, especially if the cause of amputation was cardiovascular disease. Seemingly innocent abrasion can lead to a nasty infection that will prolong the prosthesis process and may temporarily prevent you from moving around on the prosthesis.

- In my case there was some trouble with the healing itself, but in retrospect it didn't last very long. Three months after the operation, I used my first prosthesis with quite good practice. It doesn't mean that I was jogging or walking for days without remembering that it was a mechanical leg. This stage will come later, as my more seasoned colleagues assure me. But I was able to walk several hundred meters without falling over or severe pain - recalls Patrycja Żytkowska, beneficiary of the Katowice edition of the Poland Business Run.

Receiving a ready-made prosthesis - is it over?

Assuming that the whole process went smoothly, after passing all the stages, it is time to collect the correct prosthesis. This is not the end, however. The first prosthesis is like the first car, without driving lessons we'll get it. In order to use your full potential and your prosthesis, you should constantly train and improve your gait. The most important thing is to work with your own body and a new limb.

- Although the help of a rehabilitator in getting used to the prosthesis is not a necessary condition, it can greatly facilitate the return to everyday functioning. That is why, in cooperation with the Buma Group, we decided to open a Rehabilitation Center for people after amputations, where we will provide beneficiaries not only with the necessary physical assistance, but also psychological support. This will enable their professional and social activation, so that they can return to independent life in a world without barriers - explains AgnieszkaPleti, president of the Poland Business Run

Foundation

As you can see, the process from amputation to obtaining a finished prosthesis is not as simple as it may seem. Each limb is custom-made after individual selection of the method, materials and components included in it, so be patient when starting prosthesis.

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Anatomy