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Limb Loss and Toxic Positivity

Posted on Nov 1, 2024Nov 2, 2024 by webadmin

Limb loss is a significant life event that can profoundly impact individuals both physically and emotionally. While it’s important to maintain a positive outlook, the pressure to be relentlessly optimistic can sometimes lead to “toxic positivity,” which can be detrimental to the healing process.

What’s So Toxic About Toxic Positivity?

Hiding negative emotions behind an artificially positive facade is supposed to be bad for you. But when I did this after limb loss, it actually helped…until it didn’t.

As I write this, I’m deep in preparation for the LSAT, so everything looks like a multiple-choice question to me. Here’s how I’d present the subject of toxic positivity and limb loss, in standardized-test format:

Q: How are you today?
A. Blessed! Disability is a superpower! Let me recite all the ways in which I am thriving!
B. How am I? My socket doesn’t fit, my insurance won’t approve a new one, my liner farts with every step I take, and men are repulsed by my stump. My life is hell!
C. Fine. How are you?

At first, I assumed that toxic positivity is defined by A—the kind of obnoxiously perky greeting that makes you want to run away because you’re feeling rather unblessed and can’t hold a smile for longer than three seconds without feeling nauseous. But the more I looked into it, the more I realized that toxic positivity is defined less by picking A and more by rejecting B at all costs, especially when B is how you actually feel. And that brings us to C, the nonanswer that many amputees (including me) so often default to when we want to avoid B.

In other words, I think they’re all correct. (I wish every LSAT question was like this.)

Confused? Me too, so let’s dig into it. This is obviously a more nuanced subject than it seems on the surface, especially for people with disabilities (because nothing can ever be simple for us) and legal thinkers (because we thrive on complexity and bill by the hour).

What Is Toxic Positivity?

A positive attitude is generally a beneficial thing to have. The good-vibes approach only turns toxic when it entails the militant rejection of everyone and everything with bad vibes. It’s not healthy to regard depression, anger, anxiety, frustration, despair, bitterness, and whatever else Pandora unboxed as dangerous emotions that you should shun, instead of natural human feelings that you should feel.

In short, when you deny negative thoughts to the point that it causes harm, that’s toxic positivity. “Causes harm” is the key distinction here. I didn’t recognize this when I first started hearing about toxic positivity. I assumed positivity couldn’t hurt anyone except the Negative Nancies who are tired of being told to smile all the time. To quote Disney’s Cinderella, “You can’t order me to stop dreaming!”

Cinderella is actually a great example of how positivity can slide into toxic territory. Yes, her upbeat attitude allowed her to endure her objectively terrible life. But it also allowed her oppressors (sorry, her family) to walk all over her indefinitely. It wasn’t until she had a complete mental breakdown and got honest about the suckiness of her situation that things started changing: Her fairy godmother arrived, dolled her up, and helped her bag a rich husband.

The point being, toxic positivity is like a fairy tale: completely unrealistic. It’s like trying to solve the nuclear arms race through the lens of “It’s a Small World After All.” It’s the lesson Joy spent the entire first Inside Out movie learning. Apparently, Disney was built on a swamp of toxic positivity.

Here’s another Hollywood-friendly metaphor for toxic positivity: Botox. Injecting Botox is like putting on an artificially happy face (literally and symbolically) 100 percent of the time. People often use Botox to ward off something they perceive as negative but that is actually completely natural—aging. The wrinkles are going to keep forming, because aging is unstoppable, and the illusion’s just going to get harder and costlier to maintain. Ultimately, too much Botox causes real harm—the definition of toxic positivity—because it makes you look like AI Photoshopped your face. You can either accept the imperfections of being human, or you can cease to look human.

A quick aside: If you’ve used Botox to reduce sweat in your residual limb, that’s different. That’s a functional use, not a cosmetic one. That’s addressing a problem head-on, not running away from it. So using Botox that way is no harm, no foul.

Positivity Is Like Pain Meds—Toxic in Excessive Doses

Hmm, this got slightly off-topic. To get things back on track, I’ll use my own experience as an example.

I think of myself as a fairly positive person. I certainly prefer sunshine and sparkles to smog and sawdust. That’s the mindset I defaulted to when I fell 40 feet while rock climbing. As my belay partner stood over my broken body shouting, “I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!” I chose to stay shiny. Positively shiny.

“It’s OK!” I reassured him as I bled out on the ground, the jagged edges of my left shin bone glistening in the light of day. As the men around me panicked, I stayed cool.

“What should we do now?!” they asked after I directed them in calling the ambulance and collecting my bags.

“Um, I don’t know—maybe just talk to me and keep me distracted while we wait for the paramedics?” With my body on endorphin overdrive, I wasn’t sure if I could feel my legs, so I tried moving them. The searing pain was horrid reassurance that, yes, my sciatic nerves were intact.

“What should we talk about?!” they asked.

“I don’t know,” I responded with as much honey as I could muster, editing out the negative “you incompetent buffoons” predicate.

“Right! OK, so, uh, did you watch the Grammys?”

“The Grammys? Who watches the Grammys? Did you watch the Grammys?”

“No….”

“Pick a different topic!”

Okay, maybe I did get a little spicy. But in my defense, I had a shattered back and crushed ankles and full consciousness. You try nailing a nice girl act with your lower half in pieces. But despite the unbearable pain, I made a conscious effort to be as positive as the circumstances allowed—and not just with my less-than-ideal climbing partners. I also tried to be positive with the paramedics in the ambulance, the nurses in the hospital, and all the friends and family who cared for me in the months afterward.

I doggedly clung to positivity despite circumstances that cried out for a bit of unhappiness. Was that toxic?

I was definitely trying to deny some major negative feelings. No question. I don’t think anyone would have faulted me if I’d shouted long streams of expletives in between opiate trips. But here’s where “causes harm” comes into play. If it causes harm, it’s toxic. And that’s a matter of interpretation.

Right after my fall, I stayed positive because I wanted to minimize harm to both me and the people around me. They needed my delusional optimism more than I did. Sure, my foot was practically detached, but with my broken back, I couldn’t sit up high enough to really see it. The guys at the climbing gym, however, got a horror show the MPAA would have rated R only after demanding some cuts. They were terrified for me. So my instinct here is to say no, I didn’t cause myself or anyone else harm by faking a demeanor of calm reassurance. I’d say the same about my attitude toward the hospital staff, who deserve nothing but sunshine and sparkles 24/7 for the work they do.

To this day, I’m proud of how kind and upbeat I tried to be, especially around my loved ones. But what am I proud of? What was motivating me to keep it unreal? And why do I consider it such a strength that I did?

This is where it maybe started to get a little toxic.

Psychology Today’s definition of toxic positivity acknowledges that sometimes you need to set aside your difficult emotions temporarily. Denial is a recognized part of grieving. And I wasn’t the only one grieving my injury and denying the implications. Everyone I loved also grieved my loss. They also were, and needed to be, in denial. We were all looking for hope and reasons to be optimistic. We all needed sunshine and sparkles.

Where it got toxic was my delusion that I had to keep delivering the sparkles, and that if I ever paused—if I let a mere hint of sadness, anger, discouragement, or despair slip out—they’d ditch me. Stop visiting, stop checking in, just stop caring. The herd would move on without me, leaving me behind for the wolves to devour.

That was a toxic, and completely unrealistic, thought. Staying positive is good, but suppressing negative emotions because you think they’ll make you repulsive to other people? Not so good. Trusting that people will stick with you even when you’re spewing smog and sawdust is much healthier. The key to avoiding toxic positivity is to accept other people’s sawdust and trust that they will accept yours.

Headed to Detox

For the record, I didn’t succeed in being positive all the time after my accident and subsequent amputation. My mom reminds me that after each surgery (I’ve lost track of how many there were), in the honest haze of anesthesia, I was a seething grouch, spitting venom that was extra dry after I abstained from food and liquids for hours.

And in the years since, I have definitely not been able to sustain the sparkles. Like Cinderella, I needed to admit things sucked before they could get better. Unlike Cinderella, I had a fairy godmother with a PhD in psychology and sliding-scale fees.

I started therapy much later than I should have—it’s hard to find the right therapist! I knew I’d found a good match when, during one of our early sessions, she asked if I was angry about what had happened. When I said I wasn’t, she pushed back. “Well, even if I was angry,” I explained, “what’s the point of feeling that way?” There wasn’t anything productive about anger. It didn’t feel good. It wouldn’t fix my legs. And it might devastate the people around me who wanted me to be happy.

“That’s all true,” she said. “But you can still be angry.”

“OK, fine,” I said. “I’m angry! What do I do about it?”

“You don’t have to do anything. Just feel it.”

So I did. I soaked in anger, grief, frustration, and every other negative feeling I hadn’t granted myself permission to feel. I sat in the dark crying, sleeping too much, journaling my most wretched thoughts. I started to share how I was feeling with the people closest to me.

There were plenty of times close friends and family waved my negative feelings aside with platitudes of the “It’ll be all right” variety, even though I didn’t believe it would be all right. That type of response is often cited as a textbook definition of toxic positivity, but I have to disagree: I don’t find this behavior toxic. It’s annoying, sure. Maybe a little demoralizing. Might make a girl feel defective when she thinks, “You’re saying it’s going to be all right, but I don’t see how it possibly could be, so which of us is wrong and why is it me?”

I would call my loved ones’ reactions “dismissive positivity,” not “toxic positivity.” And I think they acted out of love. They only wanted to protect me and to protect themselves. When I started sharing my sadness, anger, fear, and shame with my family and close friends, many of them weren’t sure how to react. But I could see them taking on my negative emotions as their own, feeling my pain, and trying to calculate how to alleviate it.

Fortunately, my fairy godmother had given me the tools to grieve and the tools to teach. When somebody engaged in dismissive positivity, I would say: “I don’t need you to cheer me up. I don’t need you to say anything. I just want you to agree it sucks and hold me while I cry.”

Feeling negative feels awful. But it’s not something we can opt out of all the time. I had to let that negativity come to the surface in an honest way if I was ever going to achieve a more stable, enduring sense of positivity.

So, Once Again: How Are You?

Social media helped me process negative feelings and stay positive without the toxicity. Shocking, I know. Social media is fertile ground for all things toxic—toxic positivity, toxic negativity, toxic neutrality (that’s a term I just made up, but watch it be the next psychological buzzword). How could it not be toxic, though? The whole point of social media is to distill human existence into snapshots with tidy captions. Of course it’s going to lack nuance in a way that damages people’s self-esteem.

I started by looking in on some limb-loss message boards. They were not toxically positive. Some of them were just plain toxic. Everyone seemed to be in pain and despair, and the feedback was more often cynical instead of constructive. Was that what I had to look forward to for the rest of my life? I wasn’t sure my misery could bear that much company.

A friend suggested I try Instagram because it was a more positive place. I quickly found lots of happy, well-adjusted amps who all had clean homes, hot spouses, loving children, and six-packs (the homes and the children, too). But pretty soon, all that positivity started driving me into a pit of despair. How were they so flipping happy all the time? I wasn’t that happy all the time. I was never that happy. Did that mean I was doomed to be miserable?

It was causing me harm, so—say it with me—it was toxic. But the LSAT would call my reaction an “exclusivity fallacy,” or the mistaken belief that only two options exist: bliss or gloom. The truth is that positivity and negativity comprise a spectrum, not an either/or binary. I saw the proof one day when one of those happy, well-adjusted Instagram amputees started off a post with the words: “Losing a leg sucks.” He went on to talk about everything he was feeling, none of it good. But he offered a saving grace: It’s OK to not be OK. He’d felt good before, and he’d feel good again. He’d also feel bad again. That’s just life.

It was exactly what I needed to hear. And it brought flashbacks to something that happened the year before I lost my leg, when I went to Vegas with a group of friends to see Britney Spears. Hard to believe I’ve almost reached the end of this article without referencing Britney, whose song “Toxic” ranks among her most famous. (It’s also her only Grammy-winning song…but since nobody watches the Grammys, so never mind.) Anyway, our motto for this road trip was “You Do You, Girl” or YDYG for short. We got it printed on tank tops along with our nicknames (mine is “Furious D”… but I swear I’m a positive person).

YDYG is where I’m landing on toxic positivity: It’s about finding the right balance, keeping things in context, and minimizing harm. Sometimes putting on that fake, happy Botox face is what you and those around you need in a given moment. And sometimes you need to pull a Cinderella and get real about the suckiness of your situation. The healthy thing is to be honest with yourself and others about how you’re processing those feelings.

So what’s the right answer to the multiple-choice question? It could be A, B, or C. But I think the best answer is YDYA: You Do You, Amputee.

Diana Theobald is a freelance writer and diversity consultant. She has held roles in creative development and diversity and inclusion at Warner Bros. Discovery, Marvel, DreamWorks Animation, and NBCUniversal.

Embrace a positive outlook and regain your independence with our advanced prosthetic solutions. Our team of experts can provide personalized support and help you navigate the challenges of limb loss. Contact us today at 888-819-4721 and find your treatment for amputation. Follow us on Instagram for more tips.

Reference: [ https://livingwithamplitude.com/article/amputees-toxic-positivity-mental-health-depression/ ]

Building an Inclusive Workplace

Posted on Oct 1, 2024Sep 29, 2024 by webadmin

The challenges amputees face, from accessibility barriers to societal biases, can make it difficult to feel truly included and valued. Building an inclusive workplace goes beyond simply providing accommodations. It requires a genuine commitment to understanding the unique experiences of individuals with disabilities and creating a culture where everyone feels empowered to contribute their talents and perspectives.

Many people with disabilities still face difficulties finding employment, despite equal employment opportunities stipulated in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Although many may get jobs, they may still face a workplace environment that doesn’t consider their needs and requirements.

However, there is change, albeit slow. And more employers are now open to feedback. If you’re looking for a new job, you may use the three points below to assess if your potential workplace is inclusive. You can also use the same points to discuss inclusivity with your current company’s HR department.

Make room for flexibility

Recent research on “internal clocks” or circadian rhythms supports the idea that not everyone runs on the same schedule. While one person might enjoy working at 8 am, another may have a medical condition or child care, so they can benefit from having more flexibility. Flexible working hours can help people balance their needs and caring responsibilities with work.

It’s important for employers not to assume that wanting to start work later or get off work early means being lazy. Everyone does their best work at different times, so it’s best to allow for flexibility where it makes sense for the business.

Furthermore, having flexibility will attract a broader range of talents into the workplace. And if employees are less stressed, they tend to stay with one employer longer.

Accessibility should be a priority, not an afterthought

When employers think ahead, everyone feels comfortable and included. Although it’s a given to ask people if they have specific accessibility requirements, making the office accessible and wheelchair-friendly so anyone can use them goes a long way.

The same principle applies to remote work. For example, using closed captions on video calls can help those who may struggle with hearing issues and employees whose first language may not be English.

Another accessibility opportunity for remote work is to record calls. This gives team members who struggle to keep up in heavy discussions or have difficulty brainstorming in a group a chance to watch or listen to the call again and provide feedback at their own pace.

Eliminate unconscious bias

Unconscious or implicit bias refers to humans’ tendency to form assumptions about someone without realizing that we’re doing it. It’s unconscious, so no one is exempt from thinking like this. However, it’s crucial to work towards becoming more aware of unconscious bias and preventing it from influencing your behavior.

Companies must raise awareness and openly communicate with employees about unconscious bias. There are training programs that tackle this issue, so it can be worth investigating getting someone to give a talk about how to avoid unconscious bias.

Other ways to avoid unconscious bias in the workplace, especially when hiring, include using blind CVs, conducting initial phone interviews, and advertising job roles in various places. These hiring practices can help attract a broader range of talented candidates, as well as help the employer make an informed decision whether someone is a good fit for the role based on their skills and experience, not their physical characteristics.

What do you think about these tips? Is there something you’d like to add to improve workplace inclusivity?

Equip your employees with the tools they need to succeed. Our high-quality prosthetics can empower individuals with disabilities to reach their full potential. Contact us today at 888-819-4721 and find your treatment for amputation. Follow us on Instagram for more tips.

Reference:[https://amputeestore.com/blogs/amputee-life/how-business-workplaces-can-create-inclusive-culture]

Avoiding Microaggressions on Limb Loss Healthcare

Posted on Sep 1, 2024Sep 2, 2024 by webadmin

Individuals with limb loss face unique challenges, and navigating healthcare settings can often be an additional hurdle. Unfortunately, microaggressions – subtle, often unintentional remarks or behaviors – can create a hostile environment for these individuals. Building a compassionate and inclusive healthcare system requires understanding and addressing these issues. Check out our practical advice below. Remember, we offer included transportation and in-home care to make your experience the very best it can be.

The unfortunate reality is that many amputees experience microaggressions in the healthcare industry, and this can create a hostile environment and undermine their sense of dignity and worth.

These microaggressions can take many forms, from subtle invalidations and insults to more overt discrimination and prejudice. It can be related to various aspects, such as appearance, ethnicity, gender, and language, and they can also extend to one’s physical abilities.

In this article, we will explore the impact of microaggressions on amputee healthcare and provide examples of how they manifest in the healthcare setting. We hope this information will help you or your loved ones recognize and respond to microaggressions.

Microinsults

Microinsults are comments that can be hurtful and disrespectful to a person’s identity, whether they are made intentionally or unconsciously.

For instance, if a healthcare provider expresses surprise or disbelief when you share your goals or aspirations, such as pursuing a certain career or returning to a favorite sport, it can make you feel like they don’t believe in your abilities or potential. This can be demoralizing and discouraging.

Microinsults can also occur through subtle actions, such as offering unsolicited assistance or assuming that you need help with tasks that you can manage on your own. These actions can be frustrating and make you feel like your sense of independence and competence is undermined.

Microassaults

Microassaults are a type of microaggression that can be intentional and cause harm. They can be subtle or overt but are usually a form of discrimination or prejudice.

For instance, if you have specific needs or preferences related to your amputation, you may request certain prosthetic devices or therapies that align with your goals and needs. However, if your healthcare provider dismisses your request without considering it seriously or offers a less suitable alternative without explanation, it can be viewed as a microassault.

This type of behavior can undermine your autonomy and right to participate in decisions about your own healthcare, leading to feelings of frustration, disempowerment, and mistrust toward the healthcare system.

Another example of a microassault is when someone uses derogatory language or makes insensitive jokes about your amputation, either directly to you or in your presence. This behavior is not only disrespectful and hurtful, but it also perpetuates stigma and discrimination against individuals with disabilities.

Microinvalidations

Microinvalidations refer to comments or conversations that ignore or invalidate your experiences and identity as a person with disability. Unfortunately, this type of microaggression is quite common in the healthcare world.

For instance, you might encounter a healthcare provider who dismisses or ignores your challenges or experiences. This can be incredibly frustrating and invalidating.

For example, if you express sadness or frustration about the loss of your limb, and your provider responds with statements like, “You should just be grateful to be alive,” or “It’s not as bad as it seems,” it can make you feel like your emotions and concerns are not being acknowledged or taken seriously.

Similarly, if your provider downplays the impact of societal attitudes or barriers on your ability to fully participate in activities or access resources, it can invalidate your experiences of discrimination and marginalization.

For example, if you express frustration about being denied employment opportunities due to your amputation, and your provider responds with, “You’re probably just overreacting,” it dismisses the reality of systemic barriers faced by individuals with disabilities and reinforces a sense of invisibility or insignificance.

Microinvalidations can also occur through subtle actions, such as interrupting or talking over you when you try to discuss your experiences or needs. These actions can convey that your voice and perspective are not valued or respected.

How microaggressions affect you

Some people would choose to ignore microaggressions and shrug them off. However, microaggressions can have a profound negative impact on your health, as it can increase levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and overall psychological distress. These experiences can contribute to feelings of invalidation, marginalization, and diminished self-worth, which can harm your well-being.

Moreover, microaggressions can hinder effective communication and collaboration between you and your healthcare provider. If you feel misunderstood or belittled, you may be less likely to disclose important information about your health status, concerns, or treatment preferences. This can compromise the quality of care you receive and ultimately impact your health outcomes.

Negative experiences of microaggressions can also impact your willingness to engage in healthcare services and adhere to treatment recommendations. If you feel disrespected or devalued by your healthcare providers, you may be less motivated to follow through with prescribed treatments, attend appointments, or seek out necessary medical care. This can lead to poorer health outcomes and a potential worsening of your condition.

Responding to microaggressions

It’s essential to recognize that unchecked microaggressions can contribute to inequalities in healthcare access and outcomes. Unfortunately, biased attitudes or discriminatory behaviors by healthcare providers can result in unequal treatment and worsen existing inequalities based on factors such as race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or other identities.

If you ever encounter microaggressions, it’s best to respond calmly and let the other person know what they did. Remember that sometimes people may commit microaggressions out of ignorance rather than malice, so take the opportunity to educate them about your experiences and how their words or actions can be hurtful.

It’s also important to assert yourself calmly but firmly. Let the person know that their comment or behavior is inappropriate and explain why. In some cases, using humor can help disarm a situation and educate others about microaggressions. You can respond with a witty comment that highlights the absurdity of the microaggression.

Setting boundaries is crucial. Let people know what kind of language or behavior is acceptable to you and establish boundaries to prevent future microaggressions.

Lastly, you can advocate for change. If you encounter systemic issues or discrimination in healthcare settings, consider advocating for change. It could involve raising awareness, working with advocacy groups, or sharing your stories.

Remember that you have the right to be treated with respect and dignity in healthcare settings. Don’t hesitate to speak up if you encounter microaggressions; know you’re not alone.

By cultivating empathy and awareness, South Beach Prosthetics fosters a healthcare experience that truly centers on the needs and dignity of all patients. Contact us today at 888-819-4721 and find your treatment for amputation. Follow us on Instagram for more tips.

Reference: [https://amputeestore.com/blogs/amputee-life/impact-of-microaggressions-limb-loss-healthcare]

Acknowledging Your Successes

Posted on Aug 1, 2024Aug 28, 2024 by webadmin

Overcoming challenges and achieving goals is a powerful feeling, but for amputees, these triumphs can hold even greater significance. Every step forward, every mastered skill, becomes a testament to resilience and determination. Here, we’ll explore how amputees can cultivate a positive mindset to unlock the full potential of acknowledging their victories.

It isn’t easy for us to acknowledge our own successes. Often, we wait for others to recognize our achievements, whether through a trophy or likes on social media. However, acknowledging your own accomplishments holds the power to unlock your potential, making you a more confident and motivated version of yourself.

Negativity bias at work

We depend too much on external validation because our brains are naturally biased toward negativity. The brain’s natural inclination toward negativity isn’t all that bad because it was meant to help us survive. But this means we must work harder to remember the good things that happen to us. Consciously recognizing and celebrating our successes has benefits—it boosts our self-esteem and happiness.

Overriding negativity bias will take some inner work. Here are some of the things that you can do to rewire your brain to recognize the good things:

Focus on the positive

Throughout the day, keep a running list of all the good things that happened to you. It could be something as simple as brewing your best cup of coffee or getting your first prosthesis after months of prosthetic training. Then at the end of the day, review this list. This practice will help you develop a habit of focusing on the positive aspects of your life and gradually change your brain to recognize and celebrate your achievements.

Tell your story

It’s important not to hold back on sharing your achievements with others. Whether it’s discussing your successes over a meal with a friend or posting about it on social media, sharing your wins can inspire and support others. Your accomplishments may even ignite someone else’s passion and boost their confidence. Don’t underestimate the power of your story and how it can positively impact those around you.

Be kind to yourself

The journey towards success is filled with ups and downs. So, it’s crucial to be gentle and kind to yourself. Instead of dwelling on what you perceive as failures, choose to view challenges as valuable opportunities for growth and learning.

Moreover, treating others with kindness and compassion starts with extending that same grace to yourself. So, be patient, understanding, and kind to yourself.

Benefits of recognizing your achievements

Once you get the hang of acknowledging your achievements, you’ll notice that it’s like adding fuel to your motivational fire. When you recognize and celebrate your accomplishments, several positive things happen:

Confidence boost

Reflecting on what you’ve achieved reminds you of your capabilities and strengths. It reinforces your belief in yourself, which in turn boosts your confidence to take on new challenges.

Motivation

Recognizing your achievements serves as a reminder of what you can accomplish. Knowing that you can succeed fuels your motivation to set new goals and work towards them.

Positive reinforcement

Acknowledging your achievements provides positive reinforcement for your efforts and hard work. It validates the time and energy you’ve invested in pursuing your goals, making you more likely to continue putting in similar efforts in the future.

Sense of progress

Taking stock of your achievements lets you see how far you’ve come. It provides a sense of progress and accomplishment, which can be incredibly motivating and empowering, especially during times when you might feel stuck or discouraged.

Harness the momentum of your successes and set new, ambitious goals! South Beach Prosthetics is here to help you every step of the way, from designing the prosthesis to getting you to the perfect fit. Contact us today at 888-819-4721 and find your treatment for amputation. Follow us on Instagram for more tips.

Reference: [https://amputeestore.com/blogs/amputee-life/acknowledge-your-success-to-unlock-potential]

Simple Strategies to Get Healthier

Posted on Jul 1, 2024Jul 19, 2024 by Namami1

Feeling ready to conquer your health goals? You got this! From boosting your physical health to prioritizing mental well-being, discover how simple changes can lead to a stronger, more confident you. Read more below.

Trying to be healthy can sometimes feel daunting. Working out and preparing nutritious meals only seem to add to our endless to-do lists. However, there are ways to get yourself in a healthier state without exerting so much effort. And often, it’s the small changes that can make a significant difference.

We compiled simple strategies that can help you start getting healthier. You can even start using these tips as soon as you finish reading this article.

Cut back on ultra-processed foods

Eating a lot of ultra-processed foods, such as packaged sweets, ultra-processed meats, and sodas, is linked to health problems like Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. While it’s okay to enjoy these treats occasionally, it’s also important to realize that ultra-processed foods are ingrained in the modern diet. Ultra-processed foods already make up nearly 60% of what the typical US adult eats.

To cut back on ultra-processed foods, pay attention to the ingredients. You’ll surely find things you’ve never stocked in your kitchen pantry, like additives that stabilize, emulsify, and thicken. Furthermore, most ultra-processed foods contain high sodium, sugar, and fat levels.

Focus on getting fresh food

Replace your usual stock of ultra-processed foods with fresh foods, such as fruits, vegetables, eggs, and fresh meat. If you can’t avoid buying packaged food, always check the list of ingredients. The fewer the additives, the better.

Also, do your best to get at least three servings of vegetables and one serving of fruit per day. This will help keep you satiated, along with healthy fats, so there’s limited space for sugary and extra-salty snacks.

Prioritize low-effort movements

We often associate getting healthy with tiring trips to the gym. However, research has found that we can get a lot of benefits from simply increasing how active you are in your daily life. Think of low-effort movements, such as going on a 10-minute post-meal walk, sweeping the floor, getting up from your desk every hour or so to refill your water, or bobbing your leg up and down at your desk.

This type of movement is called Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT). Research shows that NEAT not only helps with fat loss but can also stabilize blood sugar levels. Furthermore, NEAT can help with insulin resistance, another key factor in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels.

Eat more fiber

The popularity of weight-loss drugs, like Ozempic, lies in their ability to mimic a hormone called GLP-1 that our bodies make to curb food cravings. However, there is another way to increase levels of this hormone through a small change in our diet—eating more fiber-rich foods.

Adding more fiber to our diet is known to keep us feeling sated longer after we eat, making us less beholden to our sweet or salty tooth. Whole wheat, oats (preferably rolled), and legumes can provide fermentable fiber.

However, fiber’s benefits don’t end with satiety; it also helps control blood sugar levels and decrease inflammation and cholesterol. Studies have also found links between eating more fiber and a lower risk of Type 2 diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.

Manage back and neck pain

If you’re one of the many people suffering from back and neck pain, you’re probably aware that spending long hours hunched over screens isn’t helping your condition. While you may have tried improving your posture and ergonomic setup, research suggests another way to alleviate tension and stress in your body: taking short movement breaks throughout the day.

When you experience physical or emotional stress, your brain releases hormones that cause your muscles to become tight and guarded. However, taking frequent movement breaks can counteract this stress response by increasing blood flow to your muscles, ligaments, and tendons and delivering essential nutrients to your spine. By incorporating movement breaks into your daily routine, you can help ease back and neck pain and promote a healthier, more relaxed body and mind.

However, if your prosthetic limb causes your back and neck pain, it’s best to see your prosthetist and physical therapist right away. Your prosthetic limb may be due for a realignment, or you may need a new prosthesis. Moreover, your physical therapist can also check your alignment and gait for any irregularities that can be fixed by physical therapy and exercises.

Limit dopamine hits from screens

Have you ever found yourself endlessly scrolling through social media or mindlessly shopping online? Do you find it difficult to resist the temptation of junk food or play video games for hours? According to neuroscientists, these activities trigger a surge of dopamine in our brains.

While we may think that dopamine gives us pleasure, it fuels our craving and desire for more. When we often give in to these urges, dopamine develops a significant but short-term hold on our willpower. By understanding this mechanism, we can adopt better strategies to manage our behavior and achieve our goals.

To limit the control of dopamine over your day, set a timer whenever you want to use social media to avoid dopamine-driven endless scrolling. If a timer isn’t enough, you can block certain apps at specific times. Furthermore, you may want to incorporate regular social media detoxes to retrain your brain.

Nurture connections and forge new ones

Loneliness is linked to all kinds of health problems, including an increased risk of heart attacks and dementia. You can nurture your existing connections by setting up regular catchups. However, if your family or friends live far from you, you can still combat the ill effects of loneliness by forging new social connections. These new connections don’t need to be deep; even casual acquaintances can keep the adverse health effects of loneliness at bay.

Get creative

Engaging in creative activities or immersing ourselves in art can have a positive impact on our mental well-being by reducing stress hormone levels, such as cortisol, and increasing the production of feel-good hormones, like endorphins and oxytocin.

However, you don’t have to limit yourself to one art form. These benefits can be derived from a wide range of artistic pursuits, including cooking, gardening, and even doodling. So, it’s worth exploring different art forms to discover what works best for you and incorporate them into your routine.

Your journey is unique. Shouldn’t your prosthetic be too? South Beach Prosthetics is here to help you every step of the way, from designing the prosthesis to getting you to the perfect fit. Contact us today at 888-819-4721. Follow us on Instagram for more tips.

Reference: [https://amputeestore.com/blogs/amputee-life/simple-strategies-get-healthier-now]

Central Florida Cities Podcast — Prosthetics and Orthotics with Mark Selleck

Posted on Nov 1, 2023Oct 2, 2024 by webadmin

Prosthetics and orthotics are not typical topics of conversation in our everyday lives. The subject rarely comes up unless we know of someone who uses them or a life event occurs that causes us to need a device ourselves. For 17 years, Mark Selleck of South Beach Prosthetics has been giving people back their mobility by providing them with subject matter expertise, state-of-the-art devices, and ongoing support.

Mark Selleck finds immense satisfaction in helping people, working with his hands, and seeing the results of his efforts in patients who can function again by regaining their independence, confidence, and a sense of normalcy. He has put this passion into providing the best care, products, and services through South Beach Prosthetics. This insightful, inspiring, and eye-opening podcast sheds light on the multi-faceted, often complex world that is orthotics and, primarily, prosthetics.

More nuances, challenges, and steps are involved with getting proper, painless prostheses than we would think, and Mark Selleck has addressed them all with South Beach Prosthetics. From Care Teams, in-home care, transportation, and the latest technology, South Beach Prosthetics offers comprehensive care throughout every patient’s journey to independence.

If you are suffering or struggling with your current prosthetic device or need support getting a new prosthesis, the caring professionals at South Beach Prosthetics are here to help you — in every way. Contact us today at (888) 819-4721 to schedule a consultation with our experienced team, or follow us on Instagram @SouthBeachOP for more resources and inspiration from our community of amputees.

Strategies for Managing Denial and Moving Forward

Posted on Sep 1, 2023Oct 11, 2023 by Namami1

In the realm of prosthetics, denial can cast a powerful influence over the course of one’s journey toward enhanced mobility and self-assurance. This discussion delves deep into the psychological dimensions of denial, shedding light on the intricate landscape of emotions, resilience, and transformation.

At some point in life, everyone experiences denial, a natural response when you’re unable or unwilling to face the facts. Denial is not always a bad thing. But it might be easier to recognize in others than in yourself.

“It’s hard to look at your own life and take a good inventory of what’s going on. It takes a lot of work,” says Jonathan Scholl, a therapist and clinical social worker at Harvard-affiliated McLean Hospital.

Here’s a little insight about denial, how to spot it in yourself and others, and what you might want to do about it.

What is denial?

In psychological terms, denial is a defense mechanism, a skillful tool the mind can employ when things get tough. “I see it as a protective barrier we have that we might or might not be aware of,” Scholl says. “It keeps us safe. It also keeps us from looking at ourselves or addressing something around us and making a change.”

You can be in denial about something you’re not ready to admit or take on, or something that challenges deeply held beliefs.

Common triggers for denial can involve

abuse (mental, emotional, physical, verbal, sexual, financial, or other types of abuse)
alcohol in excess or other substance use, or substance use disorder
lifestyle or family issues
medical diagnoses
mental health issues
politics
smoking
unhealthy weight gain.

How does denial help us?

Denial can shield us from difficult emotions. Scholl says that might be helpful in the short term, and provide relief to people who don’t have the bandwidth or ability to face a problem.

For example, maybe someone is unhappy in a relationship, but the thought of being alone is worse than the thought of being together. Or perhaps someone is burned out or overwhelmed, and lacks the energy or emotional capability for accepting what’s happening. “Part of the person feels it’s easier not to think about the situation, and lets it go because it feels like it’s too much to handle right now,” Scholl says.

How can denial hurt us?

In dangerous or unhealthy situations, denial can hurt us.

For example, keeping our eyes shut about the realities of a physical or mental illness can lead to serious health consequences. “We see a lot of teens with depression and substance use disorders, and some parents deny there are problems because they’re afraid of what it means for the child. It comes from a place of worry,” Scholl says. “But denying problems can hurt children and block them from making meaningful change.”

Denial can also hurt when it involves addiction or abuse. Those problems affect everyone in a family, and can lead to unhealthy patterns that get passed down from one generation to the next.

Spotting behavior patterns that suggest denial

People in denial often exhibit certain behaviors. For example, they might

minimize or justify problems, issues, or unhealthy behaviors
avoid thinking about problems
avoid taking responsibility for unhealthy behaviors, or blame them on someone else
refuse to talk about certain issues, and get defensive when the subjects are brought up.

Moving from denial toward meaningful change

Dealing with denial means first recognizing that it’s occurring — which can be a challenge for anyone — and then addressing the underlying issue that’s causing it.

If you recognize denial in yourself, Scholl advises that you reach out for help. Talk to someone close to you or get an outside opinion from a therapist, a spiritual counselor, your doctor, or a hotline number, such as the National Domestic Violence Hotline if you’re experiencing intimate partner violence. For addiction problems, make that first call to a substance use disorder hotline or recovery center, or try attending just one meeting of a 12-step program (such as Alcoholics Anonymous). In time, you can learn to face your fears or concerns, and develop a concrete plan to change.

Recognizing denial in others: Tread carefully

If you recognize denial in others and you’d like to point it out, tread very carefully. Seek guidance from experts before taking on a situation that could be dangerous to you or to the other person.

If the situation is not dangerous, be as compassionate as possible. “Have a warm and empathetic conversation in an environment without distractions,” Scholl says. “Express your love and point out what you’re seeing. Talk about how it affects you. And then give it time. You can’t force anyone to change. All you can do is plant a seed.”

Reach out to South Beach Prosthetics Services and embark on a path of self-discovery, awareness, and empowerment. Take the first step towards a future where your prosthetic experience becomes a catalyst for growth and empowerment. Remember — we can come to you with in-home care, but also help you to get out of the house for your appointments and your education on managing your new prosthesis: We can pick you up at no cost and bring you back. You can have peace of mind with our VIP care, ensuring you get what you need for your whole-health journey. Contact us today at (888) 819-4721. Follow us on Instagram @SouthBeachOP for more tips on prosthetic care.

Reference: [https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/denial-how-it-hurts-how-it-helps-and-how-to-cope-202307262958]

Innovations in Prosthetic Technology

Posted on Aug 1, 2023Oct 11, 2023 by webadmin

We believe in pushing the boundaries of what is possible in the field of prosthetics. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a game-changer, revolutionizing the way prosthetic devices are designed, developed, and utilized. Join us as we explore the groundbreaking innovations that are shaping the future of prosthetic technology — and rest assured, we are at the forefront of all developments. Given we have our own labs, staying on top of all the latest technologies is a key component of our business model.

Artificial intelligence is all over the news lately, and it’ll soon be all over the journal Prosthesis: The publication is soliciting papers for an upcoming special edition focused on “the latest research, technologies, and innovations in the field of AI-assisted prosthetics and rehabilitation.” That issue won’t be published for quite a while, though, and we’re impatient. So we did a quick survey of the scientific literature and scoured our own archives to sketch, in very broad strokes, a picture of the current frontiers in AI-enhanced prosthetic tech.

When we say “artificial intelligence,” by the way, we’re not merely referring to standard data gathering and analysis. We’re referring to systems that have the ability to get smarter and change their behavior over time—systems that can “learn,” in essence. Prosthetic devices that are equipped with this capability hold the potential to integrate more seamlessly with our own selves, adapting along with us as our habits and bodies change.

We sorted the research into four main buckets, corresponding to varying applications of AI within prosthetic devices. We begin with:

1. AI That Helps Prosthetics Read and React to the External Environment

One type of AI operates in a manner somewhat akin to a self-driving car: It gathers information from the outside world, learns to identify potential hazards, and makes real-time adjustments to promote safe, comfortable interactions. Exhibit A in this class might be the prosthetic leg that’s under development at North Carolina State University. This experimental device uses computer vision and other sensors to understand the surface that’s being walked on; the AI evaluates that input and uses it to maintain a more natural gait. An early prototype was calibrated to distinguish among six surface environments: tile, brick, concrete, grass, upstairs, and downstairs. This is different from the type of AI in a microprocessor knee because the NC State leg responds to fixed, external stimuli, whereas an MPK acts upon the spatial coordinates of the prosthesis itself. Both prostheses are making similar decisions, but they’re crunching different data sets to get there.

“Smart skin” is another example of this type of AI, with potential applications for upper-limb prosthetic devices. One leading prototype combines touch sensitivity with an onboard learning system that helps the skin react appropriately to stimuli. Another uses tiny, multilayered sensors in artificial fingertips to read force, temperature, and moisture and convert that data into electrical signals. And a third experimental smart skin integrates five layers of sensory fabric with a neural network that supports real-time perception of the surface that’s being touched.

2. AI That Helps Prosthetics Read and React to the Wearer’s Body State

The most pertinent example in this AI category is smart sockets. These devices are equipped with sensors that detect volume changes in residual limbs over time, then automatically adjust the socket to maintain a secure, comfortable fit. All use some form of AI that makes them responsive to the user’s tendencies, enabling the socket to “learn” whether you prefer a tighter or looser fit or to anticipate individual patterns related to your behavior. These devices will respond one way for an active person who walks four or five miles a day, but another way for a more sedentary person who only averages two or three thousand steps.

3. AI That Helps Prosthetics Read and React to the Wearer’s Intent

This seems to be the most robust frontier for AI-enhanced prosthetics. One high-profile example is the Esper Hand, which made the cover of Time Magazine a few months ago. It uses standard electromyographic sensors that monitor muscle impulses and translate them into gestures, grips, and other motions. However, the Esper includes AI modules that “learn,” over time, to translate those signals with ever-increasing precision. As its predictions become faster and more accurate, the hand becomes easier to use. Research at the University of Newfoundland, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, and elsewhere is rooted in the same approach, combining standard electromyographic interfaces with AI enhancements.

The Utah Bionic Leg builds intent detection into a lower-limb prosthesis. It goes beyond the type of AI that exists in a microprocessor knee, which monitors the spatial coordinates of the prosthesis, crunches the data, and makes ongoing adjustments to maintain natural gait, optimize energy efficiency, and avoid unstable positions that might lead to a fall. In the Utah Leg’s more powerful AI system, additional sensors gather input from the muscles in the residual limb and correlate those signals to the user’s intent. That extra layer of data supports even more natural, intuitive motion than a standard MPK.

A different model bypasses the muscles altogether and taps directly into the peripheral nerves. Researchers at the University of Minnesota have achieved good results with a prototype limb that uses a nerve implant to read and interpret signals coming directly from the brain. Over time, the onboard AI learns to correlate specific nerve signals with particular gestures, enabling users to exert fine motor control over individual fingers. The nerve-interface approach is also at the heart of new research involving patients who use osseointegrated prosthetic limbs.

4. AI That Helps Prosthetics Re-Calibrate Themselves

One stumbling block of neuroprosthetic devices that involve implants is that they require periodic tuning. Muscle and nerve tissues change over time, which inevitably affects the performance of the prosthesis. Moreover, the implants or other sensing componentry may undergo changes, necessitating readjustment. These and other factors can create slippage in the device’s usefulness, requiring continuous re-calibration—which in turn can cost time, money, and aggravation.

A team of researchers at ETH Zürich is working on an AI system that can automatically reset calibration parameters, reducing the downtime and effort involved in human-mediated adjustments. We won’t pretend to understand everything they’re talking about here; when one of a paper’s core ideas is described as “Gaussian process-based Bayesian optimization,” we’ve far exceeded the limits of our understanding. But we include the example here as an illustration of the type of AI research that hasn’t made many headlines yet—but which might turn up in the special edition of Prosthesis a year or two from now.

We leverage the latest advancements in technology to create state-of-the-art prosthetic solutions that seamlessly integrate with your body and enhance your quality of life. Contact us today at (888) 819-4721 and take the plunge. Follow us on Instagram @SouthBeachOP for more tips on prosthetic care.

Reference: [https://livingwithamplitude.com/artificial-intelligence-prosthetic-technology/]

Don’t Let Medical Gaslighting Affect Your Prosthetic Care

Posted on Jun 1, 2023Oct 11, 2023 by Namami1

Living with limb loss can be a challenging and emotional experience. In addition to the physical adjustments and limitations, amputees often face the hurdle of navigating the healthcare system to access quality prosthetic care. Unfortunately, many amputees experience medical gaslighting, a harmful practice where healthcare professionals dismiss or minimize their concerns and needs. As a prosthetics company, our mission is to empower amputees to advocate for themselves to access the best possible care. You’ll find nothing but caring and empathetic people at South Beach Prosthetics who are not satisfied until you are feeling comfortable and well.

“As an academic allergist/immunologist and autoimmune patient, the recent headlines recounting stories of medical gaslighting don’t surprise me,” wrote Kara Wada at Medpage Today late last year. “Daily, I see patients who report having their symptoms second-guessed, minimized, or outright dismissed.”

What headlines was Dr. Wada referring to? Well, there was a New York Times article titled “How to Spot ‘Medical Gaslighting’ and What to Do About It.” The Today Show ran a five-minute report slugged “How to Navigate ‘Medical Gaslighting’ When Doctors Dismiss Your Symptoms.” WebMD chimed in with a piece titled “When the Doctor Dismisses Your Concerns.” Outlets as disparate as Health.com, Psychology Today, Pop Sugar, Business Insider, and Scary Mommy brought attention to the issue as well. Google search volume on the term “medical gaslighting” went through the roof.

In short, the idea struck a real nerve among patients—especially patients with limb loss and other disabilities. “The medical system is built for patients with ‘quick fix,’ acute illnesses,” wrote Trinity Lowthian at Cripple Media last January. “When a patient doesn’t fit into a well-defined box, this leads to a phenomenon that is very common among people who have an undiagnosed or rare condition: medical gaslighting. If the symptoms are not easily explainable, it is common for [doctors] to blame it on the patient’s own faults instead of acknowledging that they do not know the answer.”

This phenomenon is a corollary to the study we highlighted in our current issue, which found that discrimination against people with disabilities is shockingly common within the medical profession. And the root causes of both are the same: Doctors aren’t given the training, technology, staffing support, and other infrastructure they need to care for patients who fall outside the fat part of the bell curve. Medical administrators have optimized the US health system to efficiently care for ordinary patients at a massive scale. Since patients with disabilities are extraordinary by definition, they require care providers to adapt in ways they’re simply not equipped to do.

The very best practitioners find ways to transcend the system’s limitations and provide whatever resources each patient requires, whether it’s “efficient” or not. But the average practitioner doesn’t. Even if they want to do more for patients with complex needs (and most of them do), they often can’t because of the barriers raised by insurers, hospital policies, regulatory requirements, and so forth. But when the system fails a patient, clinicians are often loathe to acknowledge (or even recognize) what’s actually happening. It’s much easier to blame unresolved symptoms on a patient’s “unrealistic expectations,” “stress and anxiety,” or “bad attitude” instead of pointing the finger at the dysfunctional healthcare model that pays the doctor’s salary.

In the end, healthcare professionals don’t gaslight because they truly think their patients are crazy. They do it because the healthcare system itself is crazy. This is a dangerous truth that most people don’t want to say out loud. It’s much safer to define the system as rational and the tough cases as irrational.

So how do you hold your own? Here are some tips:

How Amputees Can Combat Medical Gaslighting

Define the mission. Have a clear statement of your objective or concern, and focus it on your quality of life. A vague complaint such as “I’m having a lot of pain” is too broad and leaves too much up to the clinician’s interpretation. Narrow it to actionable steps, such as: “I’m seeking help with pain management so I can reach the following goals: First, so I can resume my regular workout regimen; second, so I can get better sleep.” Contextualize the symptom(s) within a whole-person perspective.

Ask about Plans A, B, and C. Even the most egotistical clinician knows they don’t have all the answers and that medicine is an inexact science. There’s never a guarantee that any particular treatment will solve a problem, so get a sense of what your options are—if Plan A doesn’t work, what’s the next step? If I’m not totally sold on Plan A, can it be modified or tweaked so I feel better about it? Might Plan B or C ultimately be a better fit to achieve my objectives? What’s the risk/reward profile of each option?

Don’t challenge the clinician; ask them to educate you. If you’re not getting the answers you want, you’ll only make things worse if you directly challenge the practitioner’s opinion. Instead of reciting facts and figures that you read on WebMD, ask the clinician to share their knowledge and expertise: “I’m interested in treatment X; I’ve read it sometimes helps in cases like mine. Do you think I’m a good candidate for that?” Have them explain the why behind their recommendations, and make sure they understand the why behind your own preference or opinion.

Focus on results. Keep detailed records of how well you’re responding to treatment. If you’re not making progress toward your goals, don’t dwell on your symptoms or your subjective feelings. Just state the objective data. To use the example from “define the mission” above: If the mission is to resume your regular workout regimen, and you’re still not able to do that, give the specific facts of the case. “When I try to run, the back pain gets too intense after half a mile and I have to stop”; or, “My pain wakes me up three nights a week on average, and I have to wrap my leg in ice to get back to sleep.” If Plan A isn’t showing results, ask how much longer it makes sense to stick with it (and why) before pivoting to Plan B.

We understand the unique challenges you’re facing and are committed to providing the highest quality prosthetics and support. Contact us today at (888) 819-4721 to schedule a consultation with our experienced team and take the first step towards regaining your mobility and independence. Follow us on Instagram @SouthBeachOP for more resources and inspiration from our community of amputees.

Reference: [https://livingwithamplitude.com/medical-gaslighting-amputees-limb-loss/]

Mental Wellness and Amputation: Aware and Thriving

Posted on Apr 1, 2023Sep 28, 2023 by Namami1

Living with an amputation can be a challenging experience that can affect an individual’s mental health in various ways. The loss of a limb can lead to feelings of grief, anger, and frustration. These emotions can be difficult to process, and individuals may require support and guidance to cope with the emotional impact of amputation. Acknowledging the difficult feelings and emotions that can accompany an amputation is an important step of your journey, and certainly, one that is not to be ignored or diminished. When you can notice and name the feelings you’re experiencing, you give yourself the opportunity to improve your mental health, and thrive!

One of the most common mental health challenges associated with living with an amputation is depression. Depression can cause persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and a loss of interest in activities. Individuals who have experienced amputation may be more vulnerable to depression due to the changes in their physical ability and self-image. It’s important to seek professional help if depression is suspected, as it can be effectively treated with therapy, medication, or a combination of both. If left untreated, depression can quickly become all-consuming.

Anxiety is another common mental health issue that those living with an amputation may face. Anxiety can manifest in the form of constant worry, fear, and nervousness, making it difficult to engage in social situations and daily activities. Feelings of anxiety may be triggered by the perceived stigma and discrimination that individuals with amputations sometimes face. Like depression, anxiety can be managed by talking to someone or taking common medications. Anxiety is manageable and recognizing these feelings can help you move forward in treating it.

Self-esteem and body image issues can also affect mental health when living with an amputation. Some people may feel self-conscious about their appearance or experience a sense of loss of control over their body. These feelings may cause them to avoid social situations or limit their participation in activities they once enjoyed. Building self-confidence through counseling or self-affirmation techniques can help those living with an amputation overcome these challenges.

Support from loved ones and professional counselors is essential when coping with the mental health impact of an amputation. Support groups and peer networks can provide a sense of community and support from people who have had similar experiences. Sharing groups can open doors to new possibilities—our Friend’s Group provides the opportunity for those living with similar experiences to connect, talk and listen.

Living with an amputation can have a significant impact on an individual’s mental health. It’s important to recognize the emotional challenges associated with amputation and seek support and care to manage these challenges. Alongside counseling, physical therapy and rehabilitation are also important components to help to improve functioning as well as a sense of accomplishment and control.

Our compassionate and experienced team is here for every moment along your journey. From custom-made prosthetics to transportation to your appointments, to connecting with our Friend’s Group, we are with you. Visit our Facebook page, or give us a call at (888) 819-4721 to see all that we can do for you!