What images does March bring for all of you? I see March as a time when nature is quietly planning its rebirth. The weather is beginning to gain a degree or two of warmth. The air smells crisp and fresh, giving us a sign winter is beginning to exit.
We think about spring cleaning in the spring - why not time for your spring device checkup! This is a good time to assess how your limb supplies are doing. It is a time to examine your sleeves and liners to see if they may need replacement. How is your socket fitting? How many ply sock are you wearing right now? it is a good time to check in with your care team so that you are ready for spring - to get back outdoors once again and enjoy all the outdoors has to offer.
You can call your primary care doctor, and at your visit let him or her know what your replacement needs are. Insurance requires a new prescription and a face-to-face visit with your doctor. It is important your care provider understands what your level of activity is. Do you work outside of the house? Do you go to the gym? What activities do you do in your daily life? If we make a list, even we might be surprised how active we are! You need to tell them if you do all of your household chores, and outdoor activities, like yard care.
This information is put into your clinical note so that when your prosthetist sees you, they can write their note to support your doctor’s clinical assessment of you. This creates a solid picture for your insurance company of what your needs are. It is sometimes difficult to get our insurance companies to approve what we ask for, as they sometimes feel we need less than we think we do. It is up to us to show them that we need to be able to function in our daily lives as we did pre-amputation. This is self-advocacy; it makes it more difficult for them to say no.
Self-advocacy is one of the most important tools you can learn to be a successful amputee. The Amputee Coalition has a ton of great information on being your own advocate, or you can request a great publication on how to advocate to your insurance company so you have a successful approval, not an instant denial. Self-understanding of your daily needs also helps you communicate better with your prosthetist. Your prosthetist needs a clear picture of what your daily activities are, and if you are interested in adding some new activity to your life. For example, will you be returning to work and what will you be doing? Will your job entail a lot of walking or standing, or does it include lifting? Do you want to return to a sport, or learn a new sport?
These are all important things to know to help your care team give you the best possible outcome. Reach out to your care team members today!
These tips are informed suggestions. If you do not feel comfortable with them, please do not attempt them. Instead as always contact your medical professional or your prosthetist for help and advice.
If you have a question for me about living as an amputee, ask! And if I don’t know the answer, I will find it for you, and I will leave no stone unturned to help you find your own personal new normal. If there is a topic you would like me to feature please let me know! I want us all to grow strong together. Email me at Dawn@dankmeyer.com. This email is not secure, so if you wish to keep any specific health information private, you should call Dankmeyer!
Dawn Miranda joined Dankmeyer, Inc. over two years ago as a Prosthetist Assistant after relocating from San Antonio, TX. Dawn recently left Dankmeyer to return to nursing, but still lives in the area, and continues with us as a guest blogger.