Tips For New Prosthetic Leg Patients
Posted on: 25 August 2015
Share
Losing your leg can be an extremely difficult loss to experience. In addition to the intense pain and stress this causes, it can make daily life far more difficult. Fortunately, prosthetics have experienced numerous advancements in recent years that have helped improve the quality of these devices. However, if you have never been around prosthetic legs, you may not understand what to expect from these devices. By using these following tips, you can avoid some routine sources of issues.
Invest In A Waterproof Cover
Your prosthetic leg is not designed to get wet, and this can create numerous issues for it. For example, exposure to water can cause certain components to become extremely rusted, and this may severely impact the functionality of the leg. Also, there may be cloth components that can start to grow molds or other bacteria that can pose a health concern.
To minimize these risks, you should invest in a waterproof cover that can wrap around or slide over your prosthetic leg. These covers are designed to minimize the amount of water that comes into direct contact with the leg, but it should be observed that they will not make your leg fully waterproof.
Regularly Clean The Pad
The pad that supports your organic leg must be regularly cleaned. Over the course of time, your sweat will cause bacteria to start growing on this pad, and this may make it possible for you to develop a skin infection or rash from using the leg. Luckily, cleaning these pads is a relatively straightforward task.
You will want to avoid getting the pad excessively wet, because it may take several days to fully dry. Rather, you want to apply a disinfectant to the surface of it and wipe it away using a clean cloth. Alcohol is often a suitable substance for this task, but if your pad is made of synthetic fiber, you will want to make sure that alcohol can be used on it before cleaning. It is possible for alcohol to dissolve some materials, and if your pad is made of these substances, you will need to use a special cleaning solution that will not harm it.
Your prosthetic leg may be the best option for restoring your freedom. However, you may not be sure of the type of care that your leg will require. By understanding the benefits of using a waterproof cover and cleaning the support pad with a disinfectant, you can help ensure that you avoid routine issues that prosthetic legs can experience.