Biannual dentist checkups are a part of most people’s health maintenance routine, but if you’re an amputee, you may not know that you also need prosthesis checkups every 6–12 months. Just like teeth require upkeep to retain their technical and biological function, a prosthesis needs attention too! Having a prosthesis doesn’t mean you no longer need to see your prosthetist. Last edition, we told you the general reasons that checkups are so important, but in this edition, let’s get more specific. NO. 1: PREVENTIVE CARE WILL ALLEVIATE FUTURE PAIN. Just like visiting the dentist will prevent plaque buildup and help you avoid future dental problems, your prosthetist can help prevent future pain and even injuries. Depending on your injury, your affected limb may shrink or change shape, which can cause the liners that secure your prosthesis to fit improperly. This happens all the time and can cause issues with balance and posture. An ill-fitting prosthesis can also cause you to walk differently or make other adjustments. NO. 2: IMPROVED HEALTH DOESN’T MEAN THE PROSTHESIS DOESN’T NEED ATTENTION. Good dental health doesn’t stop people from going to the dentist. We know our amputees work really, really hard. We see you make impressive progress with your health all the time! And you can continue this progress by checking in with your prosthetist. We can diagnose issues with your prosthesis that you Share this newsletter with the amputees ‘WAIT … JUST LIKE A DEN
In a time when it’s so easy to let technology and school run your child’s life, what’s your role as a parent or guardian? We often hear motivational quotes talking about the importance of risk-taking and resilience, but it can be tough for little girls to learn from just YouTube videos and school alone. Here’s how you can encourage your daughter to spark her own confidence during her toughest moments. ENCOURAGE BRAVERY AND A GROWTH MINDSET. Even children can feel pressured to perform to high standards yet stay within their comfort zone. They might think, “I’m not strong enough to climb this tree.” But whether it’s climbing trees or building things with others, small feelings of bravery can grow larger as they grow older. Self-empowerment will be a crucial skill in their lives, so encourage a mindset focused on growth through the process of learning. Teach them how the brain grows and adapts rapidly whenever we encounter failure and that failure and mistakes are a part of life. Once they understand that failure isn’t permanent, they’ll be inspired to take risks and solve their problems. TRUST YOUR DAUGHTER WHILE TEACHING GRIT. Psychologist Angela Lee Duckworth studies successful people in a wide variety of fields, from business to the military, and has found that the quality most successful people share is grit. The ability to stay engaged with tough tasks for a long period of time is a skill that takes a long time to build, but it’s not impossible for your girl to begin developing grit right now. Duckworth believes the growth mindset can start young girls on a path to embracing failure and moving forward from it. ENCOURAGING YOUR LITTLE GIRL Tips for Raising Strong, Confident Women
One of the more perplexing symptoms of post-surgery amputation is phantom pain. This condition refers to the tickling, burning, itching, or pressure someone feels in a limb that is no longer there. While phantom pain can be mild — meaning a person may feel like their missing limb is asleep — others may experience a more painful sensation. Diagnosing this condition is difficult because it varies from person to person, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t treatable. In fact, we offer several treatment methods that we encourage our patients to utilize to help them manage their phantom pain. There are two vital steps to helping your patients through this process. Encourage Communication Pha N to M Pai N HELPING OUR PATIENTS THROUGH THEIR TREATMENTS
However, a lack of trust in your daughter can suffocate her growth. Despite all the adult-directed activities we give our kids, we need to step back and let them make some of their own decisions. We can give them encouragement and help along the way, but for the most part, we need to trust they can solve problems on their own. When you put faith and trust in your little girl to handle her most difficult problems, she’ll learn to do the same for herself.
First, it’s essential that our patients talk to us about what they’re going through. A patient may stay quiet about their phantom pain because
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