Custom State-of-the-Art Prosthetics & Orthotics in Conway, SC

The fitting process varies slightly depending on whether the patient is a new amputee receiving their first prosthesis, or if they have been wearing a prosthesis for some time and will be receiving a replacement prosthesis.

Many people facing the loss of a limb feel very alone and frightened. We can help.

Looking for an Experienced Prosthetics and Orthotics provider near me?

Contact our office at (843) 347-5800 to schedule a custom pre-surgical evaluation. You will meet with a financial counselor to explore your pay-source and receive a consultation with an experienced Prosthetist who can alleviate your fears and prepare you for what lies ahead.

Our staff will walk with you as you heal and begin your prosthetic care. You will have lots of questions, and you shouldn’t be embarrassed to ask your prosthetist about whatever concerns you. Your prosthetist will spend hours and days with you during the fitting process and for the rest of your life. And you will see that there is life after amputation.

When you choose Lyons Prosthetics & Orthotics to be your O&P provider, all you need to do is contact us.

Call us at: 843-347-5800

You will be asked about your needs and your insurance or pay-source and advised as to what type of documentation will be required. Usually, it’s just a prescription but sometimes more will be needed. Our administrative staff will guide you through the process.

Workers’ compensation patients will need to provide their adjuster’s name and phone number. For patients with Medicare benefits, we accept assignment.

• Begin keeping a list of questions and concerns for your prosthetist.
• Note problems or discomfort in your residual limb or existing prosthesis.
• Be sure to bring your insurance cards and written prescriptions to your initial appointment.
• Wear comfortable clothing to your appointments. It is best for lower extremity patients to wear shorts.
• Remember you are visiting a patient-focused center. Do not hesitate to speak your mind or ask for what you want and need

For most patients, the initial visit begins with a custom comprehensive evaluation. This includes examining the residual limb and/or the affected body part and discussing the patient’s experiences and state of mind. If the patient is already wearing a prosthesis or orthotic braces, these will be examined as well.

For lower extremity patients, a thorough gait analysis is conducted and the alignment of the body is checked and measured. For upper extremity patients, manual dexterity is evaluated and upper body strength may be tested.

The initial visit is also the patient’s opportunity to see our facility. Meeting our staff and getting to know our professional care team is a very important part of the first visit. We also like to bring patients together to share experiences and advice. We strive in excellence to make our patients feel comfortable, welcome and right at home from the very beginning.

Prosthetic and Orthotic Care Costs

Prosthetic and Orthotic care is expensive and every patient is concerned about the cost.

Oftentimes it’s difficult to tell someone how much their prosthesis or brace is going to cost without an in-person evaluation. After the patient talks with a Prosthetist or Orthotist about their condition, goals, and health, a rough estimate can be prepared. A more exact estimate requires an evaluation appointment.

If you need help with a pay-source, please ask us. Our financial specialists will assist you in finding help.

Orthotics and Prosthetics Insurance and Payment Sources

Understanding and completing the requirements and paperwork for private insurance, workers’ compensation, disability, or Medicare can be confusing. Our insurance specialists provide individual assistance as patients work their way through the process of securing financing. They spend time understanding each specific situation. Each specialist is knowledgeable in the field of advanced prosthetics and advanced orthotics, and they communicate with all pay-sources. They assist with phone calls, forms and mailings, and keep the patients and the clinician updated on the pay-source process. With many years of experience in securing payment for prosthetic and orthotic care, they are thorough and efficient. We believe providing this type of assistance to our patients is an important part of customized care.

We are in-network for many insurance providers. If we are not in network with an insurance provider, we will gladly call that insurance and work with them on a case by case scenario. To find out if we work with your insurance company, contact our office and a member of our administrative staff will be happy to help (843) 347-5800.

If you or your patient does not have insurance, our specialists will help to find alternative funding. We are in Conway, SC and maintain a network of resources throughout Horry County and beyond. Our patients come from places as close as Red Hill and the general Myrtle Beach metropolitan areas and even farther (Georgetown, Loris).

Facts about Amputation

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, it is estimated that more than 1.5 million people in the United States have lost an extremity. This equates to almost 6 cases per 1,000 people.

It is widely agreed that amputation is surgery of last resort: irreparable loss of the blood supply to a diseased or injured limb is the only absolute indication for amputation. Amputation is particularly difficult to overcome for older adults and their families. The aging process has already forced physical and mental limitations on many older individuals, and the prospect of prolonged rehabilitation can seem overwhelming. However, progress in the science of advanced prosthetics have led to better long-range results. Health care professionals are in key positions to encourage these patients and to help them understand that, in most cases, their lifestyle can be restored with an appropriate custom prosthetic device.

The Importance of a Healthy Residual Limb

The thought of amputation is a difficult subject to understand. Most people don’t want to face it or think about it. When most people face a life-threatening situation, the last thing on their mind is what shape the residual limb will be in following surgery. However, it is very important to realize that the way the amputation is done will significantly impact that person’s life forever.

Fortunately, the approach today is much different than in years past. The medical team and the patient will view an amputation as “reconstructive,” focusing on creating a residual limb that will provide the most function following surgery. If the amputation is not an emergency, it is usually best to consult with a prosthetist before surgery. As a team, the patient, surgeon, therapist, and prosthetist can discuss the best options for future prosthetic success.

A Prosthesis Fitting Process

Temporary Prosthesis:

After the residual limb heals adequately, the doctor may write a prescription to get a temporary prosthesis. This is the first step in the rehabilitation process.

The process begins with the prosthetist taking a series of measurements of the residual limb. This is done to ensure a comfortable fit of the socket, which will be customized to the residual limb exactly. The socket is the hollow part on the top of the prosthesis into which the residual limb is placed; the socket is the interface between the residual limb and the prosthesis.

The temporary prosthesis is typically not cosmetically finished since adjustments will need to be made as the residual limb continues to decrease in size. Most times different prosthetic components will be used in a temporary prosthesis than will be used in a definitive prosthesis. The temporary will usually be heavier and bulkier than a definitive prosthesis.

Definitive Prosthesis:

Within several months after the residual limb has reached a stable size and shape, you will be evaluated for a definitive (or long-term) advanced prosthesis, which can be more cosmetically finished than the temporary prosthesis. Fabricating and fitting of this custom prosthesis will require numerous visits and can take a few weeks to complete.

How long does a prosthesis last?:

The terms “permanent” or “definitive” prosthesis can be misleading. Unfortunately, no artificial limb is going to last the rest of your life. Depending on daily use and activity level, a prosthesis can last anywhere from two to five years. With children, the time frame is even shorter due to their continuous physical growth. It is important to remember that a prosthesis is a mechanical device and may break down from time to time. It is a sophisticated tool to help restore function that might not otherwise be possible. Major fluctuations in weight or volume can also require adjustments to be made to the socket or other changes may be necessary in other parts of the prosthesis.

To receive more detailed information call (843)347-5800.

After receiving your prosthesis, your prosthetist and financial counselor will be available to answer questions and help with any problems pertaining to your prosthetic care. If further medical consultation or physical therapy is needed, we will help with referrals. Your financial counselor is your advocate to assist with financial issues.

You may need a prosthetic check-up if…

• You’ve experienced weight gain or loss, even if it’s 5 lbs.
• You haven’t seen your prosthetist in at least six months.
• Your activity level has changed.

Advanced Prosthesis maintenance:

A prosthesis is a mechanical device. For your car to function properly, it must be serviced regularly. Your advanced prosthesis must be maintained as well. It’s important that you have the alignment checked to prevent physical problems.

Depending on your activity level and lifestyle, your advanced prosthesis should last anywhere from two to four years. It will require maintenance and at some point, replacement. Just as shoes wear out, so will a socket and a prosthesis. When in doubt about whether or not a new prosthesis is required, your physician, physical therapist or prosthetist should be contacted.

Amputee Prosthetic Supplies:

You will also need replacement prosthetic supplies, such as suspensions sleeves, liners, socks, etc. Please contact our office for any supply needs.

A prosthesis’ socket will normally require replacement when one of the following takes place:

• The socket is worn out and/or cracked. Usually a socket will last 2-4 years depending on your activity level.
• The socket is discolored.
• The socket no longer fits. If the wearer has gained more than 2% of body weight, the socket will not be comfortable and donning will be difficult. More than 2% of body weight loss may cause the socket to rotate or the limb to actually piston within the socket.
• There is a change in the size or shape of your residual limb.
• You’ve had revision surgery.

We’ve also created a useful amputee’s guide for custom orthotics and advanced prosthetics supplies near Conway and surrounding communities.

Amputee Support in Conway, SC

Life as an amputee and with a prosthesis can be overwhelming. That’s why developing a good emotional support system is vital for most patients. This emotional support system can include family members and friends; your prosthetist, physical therapist, and physician; a professional counselor; an amputee support group. Amputee related publications and websites (see our Resource section on this website for helpful information) can also be useful for people who use a prosthesis.

Amputee Support Groups in SC

Our patients tell us that one of the most helpful emotional supports they have found is getting to know other amputees. That’s why amputee support groups are springing up all over the world. Within groups like these, patients share their feelings, frustrations, ideas and encouragement. Sometimes, the act of helping another person can be a huge step towards personal healing. Don’t try to go it alone or be too independent. Your recovery will be quicker and your life happier if you reach out to others and allow them to reach out to you.

Dealing with Amputation and Limb Loss

The amputation of a limb is a life-changing experience. It is not only a tremendous physical loss, but it can also be emotionally devastating as well. Everybody deals with these feelings in different ways. A key element to the mental as well as the physical recovery process is acceptance when facing changes in our lives. Learning to accept change will help you to be emotionally healthy, enabling you to lead a more fulfilling life.

One thing to keep in mind is that it is not just the amputee who initially suffers; their family and friends also will struggle to cope with new feelings and anxiety. A key to getting back into life after amputation is to put things in perspective and deal with one thing at a time. Some individuals will feel like they have to constantly “prove” they can do things. This leads to additional stress and can be unhealthy. Enjoy the successes and accomplishments, no matter how small, and don’t dwell on obstacles or setbacks.

Phantom Limb Pain or Sensations

Phantom limb pain or sensation is the feeling that the amputated limb is still present. Virtually all amputees have phantom sensations to some degree; a much smaller percentage has phantom pain. Phantom pain, significant enough to cause a patient to seek medical care, occurs in approximately 5 to 10% of the amputee population. Phantom limb pain appears to be more common in patients who lose a limb at an older age, but can also occur in patients who are younger. Phantom limb pain may develop immediately after injury or may develop weeks, months, or even years after the injury.

The pain may vary from a continuous cramping, aching, and burning to an electric shock-like sensation. Stress, anxiety, fear or fatigue will usually increase the patient’s discomfort. There are many different types of therapies that have attempted to relieve this pain, ranging from acupuncture to complicated surgical procedures. The best initial treatment is to determine the factors which increase the pain and to eliminate these factors. Psychological and environmental factors can play a major role in the genesis of pain behavior. Amputee therapies such as massage, wearing a shrinker, and looking into mirrors are conservative treatments that often work.

To receive more detailed information call: 843-347-5800