I arrived at the prosthetic shop to see Bradley busy opening a box with a Total Knee 2100 in it. The knee arrived from the factory in Iceland this morning. I was looking forward to using the knee for a few weeks. The 2100 is the main athletic Knee used in the special Olympics.
Yesterday they moved the attachment point on the bottom of my socket. This means that all previous adjustments are lost. They had to re carbon fiber the attachment point.
Today for the first time Bradley got to try out his new computerized painting machine. The machine painted the Texas flag on my prosthesis. It was bright and clear.
Then they applied the last coat of clear plastic sealant, and the colors all faded and blurred. :-(
Then they had to cut the holes in the socket to allow the inside liner to stretch in the spots that give me the most trouble. Cutting the holes made the flag not look a flag anymore :-(
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| At least it has a Texas motif. |
I put the leg on, and tried to walk. After a few steps, one of the fittings came loose. I was between the parallel bars, so I didn't fall. They replaced the faulty part, and I walked again. Soon the same fitting came loose again.
I now have a new fear, of something coming loose on the leg while I am using it. It made the leg instantly, totally, unstable, and almost guarantees a fall. If I was walking fast, I could get hurt bad.
The part that the suspect part connected to was the actual faulty part. They finally got the parts working, but the leg just wouldn't adjust properly. It felt all wrong.
Next we tried to get the 2100 knee adjusted, but it was not possible. After way too long messing with it we found out that it had no hydraulic fluid in it. From the factory, with no fluid in it! GRRRR!!!!
So we had to put the 2000 Knee that I have been using back on. It was loaned for 2 weeks, which was up today. My Mauch Knee is still in Iceland for repairs.
Fortunately, Bradley was able to keep the 2000 knee as a loaner for another week. After that I don't know what I'll do.
We worked adjusting the 2000 until way after closing time, but never got it right.
We both feel that the new position where the knee attaches to the socket is at the wrong angle. This whole adjustment thing sounds like a screwed up way of doing things. The angle has to be +1 to -2 degrees. That is a very fine adjustment. It seems silly to get this adjusted to within a degree, the go walk on a sloped road, or on uneven grass.
Bradley says we need to try a fitting that allows the real time re positioning of the place the knee attaches to the socket. He will try to get the fitting from a friend on Friday.
In between the different tests and adjustments, I got to talk to the accountant lady. She says that Medical Aid will pay a certain amount for maintenance and replacement of prosthetics. She said that maybe after 4 years I could get an up grade from the Mauch Knee. Probably to a Total Knee 2000. I reminded her that I have Angiosarcoma hanging over me, and that waiting 4 years between upgrades is probably not going to happen.
This just re-enforces my need to get to America, and sell my assets there, so I can afford to buy a better knee.
The Accountant lady also mentioned that the factory in Iceland promised again, that I can have a Rheo 3 Knee to try out for 2 weeks from the 22nd of July until the 8th of August.
I hope the factory doesn't screw that up like they did the 2100 knee.
https://www.ossur.com/prosthetic-solutions/products/dynamic-solutions/rheo-knee-3
While heading back home, I found that the new foot angle made my prosthetic foot stay under the brake pedal on the car. So pushing on the brake, doesn't move the pedal, because the foot blocks it. Normally I can push it aside, but not now. So I had to take my leg off before I could drive home.
Oh well, At least I am alive and safe for the present.
I can walk on my leg the way it is, but it sure feels unsteady.
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