Rinella Prosthetics & Orthotics - May 2020

Rinella Prosthetics & Orthotics - May 2020

1890 Silver Cross Blvd., #255, New Lenox, IL 60451 • 27W130 Roosevelt Road, #2E, Winfield, IL 60190 • 522 Chestnut Street, #1D, Hinsdale, IL 60521

PROSTHETIC FAQ Answers to Your Questions During COVID-19

MAY 2020 RINELLA REPORT The

It’s hard to know all the ins and outs of the world of prosthetics and what to do to best benefit your amputee patient during these times. We know you’re likely very busy, so we thought we’d do our part and put together a simple FAQ to help you through this process. Q: I have a patient who needs a prosthetic limb. How do we get started? A: Usually, one of the first priorities of prosthetic treatment is to control the patient’s edema by applying a shrinker or bandage wrap, and the patient will need to be educated on how to use it. You can use certain tools to make this process easier, and we can help you based on your needs.

–Daniel Rinella If you have any questions or concerns, then you can contact me at the number above. In these uncertain times, it’s more important than ever for us to rally together. Inside, we’ve included some feel-good articles and a puzzle just for fun to share with patients that might feel alone in these isolating times. My whole team of prosthetists are more than happy to help you and the amazing patients that you treat. determine if an insurance company will cover their prosthesis and understand the types of devices and services they cover, so the patient may need to make several phone calls and be an advocate for themselves. The cost of seeing a prosthetist should be covered by a patient’s insurance, since this specialist will continue to work with the patient until they reach a comfortable fit and alignment with their prosthesis. Q: With COVID-19, should my patient still see a prosthetist? A: Your patient’s safety is our absolute highest priority. We don’t want to leave any patients behind, especially those who may be suffering from a painful gait (from not having prosthesis adjustments) or those who may need help to continue athletic activities or essential daily work. Like thousands of medical professionals in the nation, our team is armed to the teeth with gloves, hand disinfectant, alcohol-based cleansers approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and more. We are still accepting phone orders — call our office at 815.717.8970 — but if you need an immediate response, please text me at 773.401.1353 and I will call you back at the time you suggest regarding the prosthetic your patient needs.

WE SPECIALIZE IN: • Below Knee, Above Knee, & Upper Extremity Prosthetics • Compression Stockings • AFOs • CAM Walkers • KAFOs • LSOs • LS Corsets

Q: What kind of prosthetic leg does my patient need? A: In many ways, it depends on the patient’s activity level prior to surgery. For example, a patient who was only walking around their home right before their amputation is very different than one who was an Olympic runner. Because each patient had a different activity level, the prosthetic leg for each person will also be different. The doctor and physical therapy team, along with the prosthetist, will designate what’s called a potential K-level for each patient post-surgery. This describes what movement a patient is probably going to achieve in the near future with a prosthetic device. It is all based on potential. The K-level can also change if a patient changes their level of physical activity when they get healthier. Q: How long does it take to get a prosthesis?

• TLSOs • Collars • Helmets • CROW Boots • Hip Abduction Braces

A: It entirely depends on how quickly the residual limb fully heals from surgery. A patient might receive a temporary prosthesis immediately after amputation or within 2–3 weeks. They’ll typically receive the long-term prosthesis once the surgical incision has healed, the swelling has gone down, and the patient’s physical condition has improved. Usually, the first prosthetic fitting will be 1–3 months after surgery, depending on healing. Q: Will insurance cover a new prosthetic leg? A: Prosthetic legs vary widely in price. Patients with different K-levels will need different prosthetic devices, which have different components. Many plans will cover prosthetic devices. It can be confusing for many patients to

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Share this newsletter with the amputees Fu N Fact: JELLYFISH HAVE A PROSTHESIS

THE STORY OF GRANDPA MASON

How a Feral Cat Came to Care for Orphaned Kittens

For nearly all of human existence, we’ve wondered about (and feared!) the darkest depths of the sea. To date, we’ve only explored about 5%-10% of our oceans. Although we’ve theorized about the many kinds of near-supernatural life forms and living conditions that exist in the sea’s deepest reaches, we can now use advances in adaptable and cost-effective technology to find answers. That’s why scientists agree: Humanity’s next step in aquatic exploration is creating bionic jellyfish.

When cats are orphaned as kittens, they don’t get the chance to develop all the skills needed to become successful cats. Just like human children, kittens need older role models too. The most famous cat role model had a rough start in life but became an inspiration for kittens and humans alike. His name was Grandpa Mason, and during the last years of his life, he stepped up and gave love, care, and guidance to the orphaned kittens that lived with him. The Canadian animal rescue group TinyKittens rescued Grandpa Mason in 2016 from a property that was scheduled to be bulldozed. The poor feral tabby was suffering from many health problems, including severe dental issues, a badly injured paw, and advanced kidney disease. Since TinyKittens is a no-kill rescue organization, euthanization was out of the question. Given his health conditions, veterinarians predicted the battle-scarred Grandpa Mason didn’t have long to live, so TinyKittens’ founder, Shelly Roche, took him in and provided him with a comfortable place to sleep, plenty of food, and time to relax in the last months of his life. Grandpa Mason had a hard time adjusting to domestic life and would often shy away from being petted. In an interview with The Dodo, Roche described him as “an elderly gentleman [who] lived his whole life a certain way, and then, all of a sudden, [was] forced to live completely differently.” After Grandpa Mason grew accustomed to his home, Roche took in several foster kittens, and those new roommates completely altered Grandpa Mason’s behavior. Roche expected him to hiss, swat, or growl at the kittens when they invaded his space, but he didn’t. Instead, he allowed them to crawl all over him and appeared to enjoy it when they licked his ear. Suddenly a playful, affectionate, and gentle

Wait — what exactly is a bionic jellyfish? Scientists at Caltech and Standford University are now creating tiny prosthetic ligaments for jellyfish that will allow them to swim faster while using less energy. These ligaments are completely harmless to the sea creatures and allow scientists to gather important >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

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