Hilli’s story
I have been a prosthesis wearer for half a century now. I have functioned reasonably well with my prosthetic legs for many years. I am a visual artist and teacher, have an active life and a standing profession. I have also always traveled a lot. I always had a lot of wounds in my groin, but I kept going. I simply just want to do things and not always be busy with the prosthesis and be limited by that. Over time, however, my hips and back started to bother me a lot, and it took a lot of energy and pain to continue living my life as used to and desired.
C-leg
In 2012 I was ready for a new prosthesis and I had heard about the C-leg. That gave me a lot of hope for better and easier functioning in the future. Strangely enough, in order to qualify for this computer-controlled knee, I had to follow an extensive rehabilitation process in a rehabilitation center as a ballot. I didn’t need rehabilitation at all, but I wanted that knee, so I adapted to that process. During that trajectory I didn’t have the C-leg yet; this was just the preliminary stage. This was followed by a short trial period of 12 days with the C-leg, which was not really representative. To make matters worse, the health insurer rejected the C-leg after all those efforts. That unleashed a lot of anger in me: first finance such an expensive rehabilitation process and then reject a C-leg for financial reasons. I didn’t leave it at that and eventually got a C-leg.
Bad alignment
To my great surprise, I couldn’t handle it at all. It seemed as if the prosthesis was misaligned and the lower leg was behind the upper leg. After so many years of experience with a prosthesis, you feel it. However, my instrument maker insisted that this feeling was wrong, that this belonged to the C-Leg. So I muddled through. You simply adapt to the circumstances. In the end, the C-leg didn’t offer me what I expected. I already suspected that this had to do with the alignment, but I was not listened to properly.
Hilli is happy that she was finally asked what she wanted with her prosthesis.
Advice
In the end I decided to ask Protec for advice. I found it difficult to tell this to my instrument makers. You have built up an intense bond with them. To my amazement I was able to get in the day after I called. I fell off my chair in surprise. At all my previous instrument makers I had to wait at least one or two weeks before there was space for me. After that I fell from one pleasant surprise to another here. During the first appointment I mentioned that I did not like the alignment of the prosthesis. After a short check, the instrument maker found out that this was indeed the case. So it was immediately clear here. My feeling had not failed me.
I was the focus here
What I found perhaps most impressive was that the prosthetist asked me what I wanted with the prosthesis, what type of person I was and what my day-to-day life looked like. No one had ever asked me that before! It was about me and not about the prosthesis. The prosthesis was immediately realigned and a new socket was made. I was also advised to wear a liner, because I always suffered from inflamed hair follicles and wounds in my groin. This has also turned out to be a huge improvement. I found the people very knowledgeable, decisive and customer-friendly. At first the intention was that I would go back to my own instrument workshop with the advice, but I wanted to stay. I am happy to travel the 170 km.
We are only happy when you are
"After my accident, I was looking for something to hold onto. After such a traumatic event, you’re often not mentally strong. Fortunately, I came out of it well. I’m back working in construction, swimming, riding my motorcycle and climbing mountains. I want to show others that all of this is possible. I’m happy and grateful that I found my way to Protec."
Read David's story
"Our son Lucas has been wearing the Talee helmet for over two months now, and so far, the experience has been amazing! Lucas loves seeing his orthotist every time we have a check-up. We would definitely recommend this helmet to any parent who is about to start using a correction helmet for their child."
Read Lucas's story
"I arrived in the morning and left the house at four o'clock with a new prosthesis. At other instrument makers I was cast in plaster, I had to wait weeks for a tube and I had to make adjustments all the time. This was good at once. I could walk away with it right away, the tube fit like a glove. This prosthesis is attached to my leg and feels like one whole. That is quite a progress. Even though I don't walk much, I want to walk stable and good and I can do that again."
Read Marcel's story
