The prosthetic process starts when your doctor clears the amputation site for weight bearing for lower limb amputations and pressure tolerance for upper extremity amputations. Therefore the start date is dependent upon each individuals healing time. Dysvascular patients typically heal slower than patients who have no vascular problems. Step one is to have a shrinker sock applied to help shape the limb, reduce swelling of the limb, and to get the patient to start handling their limb. For most new amputees, their first prosthesis is measured, fit, aligned, and delivered in their home. After about two weeks the limb is ready for measuring. The prosthetist will take your mold and make a diagnostic test socket. Once the socket fit is comfortable the test socket becomes the mold for the prosthetic socket. When the socket is finished the prosthetist will come back to your home with your components (foot and or knee) attached to it. The prosthetist will now get you standing and possibly walking that day depending upon each individual’s capabilities. If all goes well, the prosthesis is ready for delivery, and the patient is ready to be trained by a Physical therapist. From shrinker fitting to delivery it is usually around 6 weeks for new amputees. This time frame can be drastically reduced to about one to two weeks for experienced prosthetic wearers.

You can start the process as early as you like, pre or post amputation. We recommend speaking with different providers before ever getting your limb. Once you are comfortable with your prosthetist, the process begins. MedEast will perform an in-depth evaluation of your goals and your physical capabilities. Based on our findings, we will recommend various components, and suspension systems. As long as your wounds are healed and you are permitted to weight bear through the limb, you are ready to start walking.

Most insurance policies cover prosthetics. The out of pocket costs, deductibles, and copays vary greatly. MedEast participates with most insurance companies in the tristate areas. In order to be 100% sure, we recommend contacting our billing team and they can give you a definitive answer specific to your policy.

The right prosthetist is the one you are most comfortable with. It is an important decision since this will be a long term relationship because prosthetic care is lifelong. Prosthetic facilities and the prosthetists they employ can vary greatly. At MedEast we offer no obligation consultations to amputees that wish to learn more about our approach to prosthetic care and customer service and to meet our team.

The rehab process can last as long as you continue to set goals and achieve them. If your goal is simply to walk around your home, your rehab process will be of shorter duration as opposed to someone whose goal it is to return to work as a carpenter or to run a 5K race.

Once your prosthesis is completed, you should attend physical therapy to learn how to use it to avoid injuring yourself. For new amputees it is imperative that they receive PT. Physical Therapists will teach patients how to properly put on and remove the prosthesis, how to adjust the fit using socks, and how to properly clean the prosthesis and supplies. They will teach new patients how to negotiate walking on level surfaces, uneven surfaces and ramps and stairs, and any other goals a patient may have. PT’s are also usually the ones that will notice a problem and will call the prosthetist to adjust the prosthesis.

The standard set by Medicare guidelines is for a prosthesis to last 3 to 5 years. But this is only a guide. A prosthesis or its components can be replaced more frequently as determined by a physician when there is a change in functional activity level, a change in the residual limb, when a component is broken and out of warranty, or if there is any other medical necessity which requires a new part or limb. It is imperative for amputees to see their physician regularly so that when a situation arises that requires a prosthetic change there are sufficient clinical notes to justify medical necessity. If something is not medically necessary, it will be denied by the insurance company.

This is completely determined by your insurance company’s reimbursement rates. For specifics please contact our billing team. Self-pay rates are available on an individually based determination.

The American Board for Certification in Orthotics and Prosthetics (ABC) under which our practitioners and facilities are certified, requires all services provided by out practitioners to be prescribed by a certified physician. We will work with you to get the proper paperwork need to get services covered by your insurance carrier.