On Wednesday I tried on my new prosthetic arm at Hanger for the first time. It really brings you face-to-face with your disability to see this chunk of plastic and metal attached to your arm. I’d got quite use to just not having my left had up until now – it’s going to take a while to get use to this I’m sure.
My prosthetic is a mechanical device, the carbon composite socket attaches to my arm over the gel sleeve I put on, staying put by suction alone. The claw attaches to the end of the socket and has a cable that opens it and rubber bands that close it (I can adjust the number of bands depending on the force I want). The cable is attached to a harness that goes behind my back and over my right shoulder. I open the claw by either moving my arm forward or flexing my right shoulder…pretty primitive but effective so I am told. Unfortunately the cable rubbed on my arm, so Richard has to add a sleeve to the top of the socket so he can run the cable up a bit higher…I was close to taking my new arm home, but just one more adjustment to make.
I can get different attachments for the socket, there’s one that looks like a hand for a more cosmetically appealing look, for example. I’m also looking to get attachments so I can ride a bike again (push bike for now), get back in the gym and lift weights and even play guitar (I’ll have to learn to play left-handed though!). Next week I should be able to take it home and start experimenting.
