Support Community for Amputees

These non-slip mats can be used to hold things steady if you only have the use of one hand.

This lady for example uses one to open a pill bottle.
And here's a review from a guy with one arm.

Also, you can track the SEBCM bills here:

https://livingwithamplitude.com/prosthetic-cost-insurance-reform-for-amputees/

Tryspire offers this adaptive writing implement design for free (non-commercial CC license). You can print it yourself out of a flexible material like TPE or TPU.

I just found Zipped Brands, a company that modifies other brand shoes to add zippers to them. If you have difficulties putting shoes on or lacing them, they seem great! They're not cheap though.

Some advice for Valentine's day.

Today I learned that lower limb amputees are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease. I had no idea.

It's not just due to lifestyle changes that often come with acquiring a disability, but also due to changes in blood flow patterns and modified circulatory demands that impact the entire body.

There are numerous studies on the subject if you look around. This very interesting one for example hints at increased risks for proximal and double amputations, as you would expect.

If you didn't know, I would suggest you talk to your doctor about it.

Team UnLimbited supplies the Alfie Edition Arm and the Phoenix Hand:

You can download the OpenSCAD files and instructions for the Alfie Edition Arm or the Phoenix Hand and generate custom STL files that you can print and assemble yourself.

Alternatively, you can request a device directly from Team UnLimbited. But of course they have a waiting list.

Team UnLimbitied is a UK-registered charity, but they partner with e-NABLE US, e-NABLE France and the LimbBo Foundation - another UK charity.

We're on the list of people who caused the crash too, along with mentally disabled people, blind people, deaf people, little people, paralyzed people and people with epilepsy. Ain't you glad...

At least we're in good company.

Christoffer Lindhe always is always interesting to listen to. I like his personal take on dealing with grief in this video with the benefit of time.

Great project!

Finding shoes has become a complicated affair for me: either I have to find super wide but short shoes, which are difficult to procure, or - more often - I have to have special shoes made to order.

Years ago, I got tired of never finding anything that fits me locally, or having to buy ugly-ass orthopedic shoes that make me feel like I'm already in the retirement home. And the shoemaker nearest to me that can make me suitable custom shoes that look good is an hour's drive from me and charges a pretty penny.

So I got the idea of making acrylic resin copies of my feet that I could send to cobblers and specialized shoe retailers anywhere in the world by mail.

Now I can shop around on the internet for the model of shoes I really want, send a quick email to the store and arrange for them to receive the prints, try them on the model of shoes I selected to find the correct size, then mail me back the shoes and the prints.

If I need custom shoes made, I find a shoemaker I like at the right price and I do the same thing. The shoemaker can then use my prints directly as lasts, or make lasts out of them so I don't have to send them again if I want to reorder.

And finally, if I need braces or toe fillers made, I can supply my shoes and the prints to my local prosthetist: he never has to cast my feet so he doesn't charge me as much.

Both prints weigh 9 lbs with the bolts, so mailing them back and forth isn't cheap. But in the end, I find it well worth it financially and for the convenience.

The video shows how I made the prints. You might find it useful if you too want order online with absolute certainty that what you order will fit, even if you simply have oversized or oddly shaped feet and you struggle to find proper footwear.

Finally, I suppose the same method can be used to cast other body parts, to have certain types of orthoses or prostheses done by cheaper prosthetists that aren't local to you to save money, or by your local prosthetist so they don't have to recast you each time and charge you less.

But I think it would only work if your residual limb is very stable in shape: if it changes a lot, recasting each time you need a new socket is probably a better idea.

Still, maybe this could work for you too. So I figured I'd share.

This is nice and wholesome. But it should be noted that the people in this video shouldn't have to resort to Youtube charity to be able to walk again.