Amp U T chat is for amputees.

AMPUTEE CHAT NEWSLETTER

IN THIS ISSUE

1. NOTES FROM John Meyer & Joyce Meyer
2. "LETTERS TO THE EDITOR"
3. GENERAL INFORMATION
4. HINTS and TIPS
5. QUOTE/THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

1.) NOTES FROM John & Joyce

Apologies for the long silence. Summer is our busiest season and this one is especially hectic. we're still "alive and kickin'."

ENOUGH TO DRIVE YOU NUTS
by John Meyer

((LONG...but fun))

SCENARIO: You are ready to drive home from work, only to find your car has been stolen! You call the police and fill out a ream of paperwork, you contact your insurance company. Your insurance company informs you that you are covered, but they have to wait for more information from the police.

A few hours pass and you receive the "good news/bad news" from the police--"Good news! We found your car. Bad news, there is nothing left but the frame and the serial number."

Your insurance agent faxes all the necessary paperwork to the insurance company. The insurance company offers a quick and reasonable settlement (no, this isn't fantasy, it's just rare.) All that appears to be left if for you to shop for a new car.

You contact your boss and explain that under the circumstance you'd like to take your accumulated 1 month vacation, starting immediately, if possible. Because you live close to mass transportation, and had planned to just kick back and stay at home for this vacation you have no immediate necessity to hurry down to the car lot. So, you have some time to research models and makes in Consumer Reports, TV ads, and check dealers. You also received some pamphlets and videos from various manufactures.

After examining all the information available, you decide to buy the "AJAX ROADSTER."

There are two AJAX dealers, both have the same reputation but neither have the "ROADSTER" in stock. You decide on the dealer closest to you strictly for convenience. A few days later you are notified that your new AJAX ROADSTER has arrived. With 'great expectations' you hurry down to the dealer to accept delivery on your new car.

On the way home, you realize you probably should have done a "test drive" before signing the dotted line, as the seats aren't very comfortable. However, due to the fact the dealer was out of stock and there were none to be test driven, you shrug it off and decide to live with the seats. You know from experience that there are going to be some new car "bugs" that will have to be worked out even though your AJAX ROADSTER was a special order and semi-custom.

The next morning, you decide to take a nice drive in the country in your shiny new ROADSTER, with the sticker still on the window and the temporary tag displayed in the rear window. You start the engine and it purrs like a kitten. You put the car in drive and off you go... >>>>Zoom>>>>

You come to a stop light and your brakes make a loud squealing noise (like an old Volvo.) Pedestrians and motorist turn theirs heads...and your face turns the same shade of red as the new ROADSTER. Ooops...

As you accelerate slowly from the light and turn right, a loud thumping noise commences in the front. You've never heard a noise quite like this in the past cars you've owned. Happily the thumping noise disappears and you decide to take the Roadster up on the Interstate to "see what'll do." With radar detector turned on you "hammer down." Due to the engine high performance rating, you knew that it was going to idle rough--you'd read this in Consumer Reports--but with the turbo and the 4 OHC you figure this baby's gonna' scream. You are not disappointed... :D YAHOO!!!

As the G's press your belly button into your spine, you watch the telephone poles pass like picket fences. And you're grinning ear-to-ear thinking "Wow, what a cool car!"

Unfortunately your grin drops to the floor (along with the rear view mirror) when the engine cuts out. Hunting a safe place to pull over the engine suddenly springs to life and your back on your way.

You decide to call the dealer as he told you he would immediately take care of any problems. You "immediate" appointment is three weeks from Tuesday. After talking with the salesman they agree to take the car in sooner...a few days, but you'll have to leave it, of course. They offer to get you a loaner. You assume they can repair the mirror, and probably the thumping with out much of a problem, however you are skeptical about the engine cutting out because it is an intermittent problem.

You pick up your car from the service department and notice a new rear view mirror has been installed. The thumping is less noticeable but still there on right turns. You look under the wheel well and discover the service department had replaced some suspension components--it helped, but it's still not right. :( The engine still cuts out... :(( Several more visits to the service department fail to resolve the problem. :((( [grrr...]

You've had enough. You ask to speak to the service manager and the general manager of the AJAX dealership requesting that the factory representative attend the meeting. To your horror you learn that absolutely no one involved in your automobile, from start to finish, had ever driven an automobile!!! Not only did they not have a driver's license, they had never even been in an automobile. The car was conceived, proto-typed, manufactured, distributed, sold and serviced by people who have had no experience in driving.

This would explain some unusual features of your AJAX ROADSTER: doors that opened toward the roof (which seemed like a cool idea, but made entry cumbersome), a radio that was only accessible from the passengers side, and a huge windshield which was angled to the point of nearly 0 visibility (like a Dolorean.) Apparently the company either refused or didn't think of getting input from experience drivers, they just decided to build THE car.

SUMMARY: I tried to help you visualize, by relating this tale to something most people have experience with--most of us at least know someone who has had a new car nightmare. Now, substitute NEW PROSTHESIS for NEW CAR... and the metaphor takes pertinent form.....

1. The insurance company was not the bad guy. They simply needed documentation which was supplied by appropriate authorities.
2. While there was time to do research before the purchase, your sources of information should have been from other AJAX ROADSTER owners, instead of just the manufactures brochures, videos, and test reports.
3. While an amputee, generally can't "road test" (though there are a few companies that are exceptions) a prosthesis, the amputee can talk to as many amputees as available to help determine pros and cons of different components.
4. The prosthetic companies should survey amputees. (I realize I'm going to get feedback about this comment. In spite of what many prosthetic component manufactures would tell you, almost none or a very small percentage of their staff, are amputees. This does not include the amputee factory rep--who is often an athlete. I have seen many, good marketable designs, by amputees that were either ignored or purchased to be shelved.)
5. While it is ludicrous to expect someone to become an amputee just to gain actual experience, I don't think it would hurt the industry to survey AND listen to their consumers. (Some non-amputee developers make efforts to "simulate" amputee conditions.--For example, AWARENESS TRAINING as described in a previous newsletter.) [[SIDENOTE: I recently purchased a new, inexpensive VCR which came with complete instructions AND a consumer survey card, post-paid. LOL...the remote control has an eject button, however, the remote control won't change cassettes for me--duh! Talk about a useless feature.]] I have 3 myo-electric arms, 2 body powered arms, and several legs and feet. Guess what? No instructions or consumer survey cards come with these.
6. Your prosthetist, most likely, is not an amputee, and therefore relies on extensive training and patient input. TELL HIM/HER WHAT YOU THINK...if you don't give input, then it is probable that everyone involved is going to be disappointed. (Of course it would be nice if you could be tactful, discreet and as specific as possible. <g>)
7. There is usually a delay between surgery and prosthetic fitting. After coming to terms with the amputation, the amputee should use their time wisely and gather information, from whatever sources are available, particularly other amputees; the more sources, the better.

In the automotive scenario the consumer is responsible. In the acquiring of a prosthesis, the consumer is also responsible.

(NOTE: The above, is one perspective and is not directed at any one particular person, company, or profession.)

Because of the Olympics and difficulty with telephone connections, we are note going to hold a chat tonight, but hope to resume in a few weeks.

~~Joyce & John

2.) "LETTERS TO THE EDITOR"

We had no LETTERS TO THE EDITOR about PET PEEVES--So I provided one in the above NOTES. We are still receptive to letters about PET PEEVES.

3.) GENERAL INFORMATION

THE ADVICE (DISCLAIMER)

Please be sure to read the information at this link at least once.

4.) HINTS AND TIPS

TIPS

Upper extremity

CABLE BREAKAGE AND SLEEVE FRAYING(body powered units): If the cable mount is located to close to the terminal device (near wrist area) then the outer cable will kink, causing premature inner cable breakage. If the cable mount is to near the elbow, then the cable will fray sleeves/cuffs. If you live in a warm climate and normally wear short sleeved shirts anyway, ask your prosthetist to mount the cable anchor nearer the elbow. Remember, the less outer cable housing you have, the friction on the inner cable.

Lower extremity

Many lower extremity patients experience frustration when the are first re-learning how to walk; they become disheartened that they aren't making progress. If they have access to a video camera they can set the camera on a tripod and video tape themselves walking at set intervals (weekly, bi-weekly, etc.) then after three or more of these video accumulate they can play back the tape and see the progress of their own gait. It should give them encouragement.

Have a hint, tip, or suggestion? Please email us and we will consider it for use in the newsletter or chat room.

5.) QUOTE/THOUGHT FOR THE DAY

"When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on."
--Franklin D. Roosevelt (On Survival)

© Copyright July 24, 1996 J. Meyer. All rights reserved.