07/26/2021
This past Saturday, we received a message from one of our patients with his review of his recent prosthesis and we thought we would share it with all of you.
Enjoy
“sez… My new leg! If you know anyone in my situation, please share this.
I first met Skip Martin at Precision Prosthetics years ago, by total chance. I was on Jacinda’s porch, having a cigar with Mike Glenn. I stood up to tap my cigar over the edge of the porch, there was this loud “SNAP!” and I almost did a forward somersault into the bushes. The titanium pole, right where it meets my ankle had simply snapped in two from years of abuse and I looked exactly like a pirate. That was a Saturday night. I called every prosthetic place in memphis, leaving a message, explaining what had happened and asking “Are you open on Sunday?” The next day, one of Skip’s sons called me and said “come on in, I’ll meet you there.” They were the only ones who ever called back.
Skip is the only prosthetist I’ve ever worked with who is also an amputee, and I’ve been having legs made since 1983. He has the identical below-knee amputation I do, only on the opposite leg. He lost it in a motorcycle accident when he was 17, and to this day rides all over the country. This gives him a super unique opportunity to understand his craft.
If you have an artificial limb, your stump will continue to change shape your whole life. Hence the need to have a new socket made every 6-7 years. It starts fitting bad, it bleeds, and anyone who has any sort of chronic pain will know it can affect everything, especially your overall attitude.
Because of our lovely healthcare system, I was 7 years overdue for a new leg. It’s really been bad. I’m used to a certain amount of pain every day, some from a variety of injuries that happened during my more adrenaline-seeking days, but this had gotten to a point where it was constantly hurting. The cash price for one for someone active like me with a high end foot is probably over 20 grand. For the longest time Skip would patch and fix problems with my old one, seriously performing miracles.
When I got married, because Jen has BCBS through her RN job, I was able to start the process a few months ago of having this done. I got the final leg you see here a few days ago. There are all kinds of things that plague someone in my position that non-amputee prosthetists don’t get. For instance, in super hot weather, the inner sleeve which is a silicone type rubber will trap sweat, and in Memphis, if you’re walking, or building something outside, your leg will actually come off if you don’t take it off, dry your stump with a towel, and put it back on. It’s real attractive to watch, lemme tell you.
Skip actually invented the sleeve in the one he made for me. It solves that problem because of the material. Another thing is if you get up in the middle of the night, or need to hurriedly put your leg on. His comes with an extra foam insert you quickly pull on for around the house. Another thing is swimming. The feet used in ones like mine are probably half the cost. So I’m always loathe to go in the ocean with them, but I love to swim, and feel idiotic hopping into the water, or pouring sand out of my good one. He includes in delivery a separate shell identical to the new one that he then takes your old foot to put on it for use in swimming and bathing if you want.
I’m a craftsman, and I appreciate anyone who is top shelf at what they do. Skip, and all of you at Precision - you have been so kind and understanding. So many times I had an outstanding bill and didn’t have the money, and you were always cool about it. So many times you accommodated my crazy schedule. So many times I was at Campbell Clinic or talking to other patients, and just heard story after story of people who had come from around the country with sh*tty prosthetics by people who were so less talented, and you gave them a new life. My hat is off to you my friend, and I now have no excuses left to be out of shape!!!! Peace, brother.”
