We hope you will find comfort and encouragement in knowing you are not alone. Many others have successfully regained mobility, and through the support of your physician and rehabilitation team, you too can regain independence and continue living a very positive, active and productive life.
Appointment # 1
At your first appointment, your prosthetist will evaluate, measure, and may cast your residual limb. The casting process consists of wrapping the residual limb in a plaster or fiberglass wrap; which is removed after it hardens. From the cast, the prosthetist will create a mold of your residual limb in which a test socket will be fabricated from. (Casting of the residual limb is occasionally postponed if the patient has edema. If this is the case, shrinkers will be provided to the patient to wear, which will decrease the edema in the residual limb and casting will be delayed until the next appointment.
Appointment #2
At the second appointment, the prosthetist will assess the fit of the test socket (with or without componentry attached). If the socket fits well and another socket is not needed; a final prosthesis will be fabricated.
Appointment #3
At the third visit the patient will have either another test socket fitting, or delivery of finished device.
Appointment #4
Regular follow-ups will be necessary to maintain appropriate fit and function of the prosthesis. For a new amputee, a replacement socket is often needed approximately 6 months following the original fitting (due to atrophy of the residual limb).
