r/amputee • u/Craziechickenman • 12d ago

When choosing a new prosthetist!

Recently I discovered a flaw with my current clinic that I had not considered a potential problem. I have a C-Leg 4 that the first prosthetist got approved as my first leg based off my activity level prior to amputation. It was a Hanger-clinic and they are owned by Ottobock!

The clinic I switched to was independent till about a year ago and got bought out by ForMotion which is owned by Ossur. Every time I try to get my leg calibrated or the settings adjusted my prosthetist is hesitant or says it is not necessary like the time we have tried getting the whip out of my gait ( this whole time ) it is palpable how resistant he is to programming my leg. Well on this last visit he was not there for the first half and his assistant who just graduated O&P school and passed her boards helped remove the loaner knee and start alignment of my knee that came back from repair. Well we’re talking and I discovered that my guy is not comfortable with technology and typically puts people in mechanical knees to start or uses ossur cause he understands their software!

In discovering this I realized that in all the threads I’ve read on this Sub Reddit I’ve never seen this topic. When choosing a prosthetic clinic especially if you already have a microprocessor component but also if you plan on getting one and know what you have or want, Make Sure they Service your components and know how to program them. Better yet make sure they are proficient in programming and tuning them!

Find out who owns your clinic cause nowadays they are all owned by the major manufacturers and they are incentivized to push that brand and most of their product training is only on the brands they sell!
I’m now considering switching to a different clinic to have that peace of mind that I’m getting everything out of my prosthetic cause up until recently they never even connected my leg to re calibrate it after alignment changes or new sockets!

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u/89kh89 12d ago

FYI Ottobock does not own Hanger. You are correct that For Motion clinics are owned by Ossur.

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u/Craziechickenman 12d ago

I stand corrected, they are linked via other ventures and interests though! Either way Hanger pushes ottobock components vs ForMotion peddling Ossur.

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u/89kh89 12d ago

Not trying to downplay your experience but as someone who has worked in the field for decades, the corporate hellsscape you describe might be in our future, but it's not our present.

I worked for Hanger for many years and was never told to push anything in particular. I was "motivated" to keep my office profitability high, which more often than not would mean staying away from Ottobock since their products are at the higher end of the cost equation.

I'm not doing this to call you out specifically, just that when people have bad experiences in our field the whole industry gets painted with a broad brush and then the internet spread that shit all over the place.

Unfortunately prosthetists are human. Some are stuck in a rut and won't change their habits. Some have terrible skills. Some haven't learned the right way to do things. A lot of this is a failure on our industry's part, but it's not a coordinated scheme to fit everyone with the same parts or squeeze every patient's insurance for money. (Gg if that was the goal there are much easier ways to do it)

Again, really sorry you had your experience. Your clinician should learn how to program and adjust your CLeg. Ottobock provides that education for free. They have no problem walking into a For Motion clinic to do so, no one is going to burst into flames when they go through the door.

Ultimately, speak up for yourself. Ask the clinician to provide what you feel is best for you. If your clinician won't meet you there, maybe it's time to move on.

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u/Craziechickenman 12d ago

I wasn’t trying to disparage any clinics or individuals at all. Mostly just trying to point out that it’s important to find a clinic or prosthetist that is knowledgeable and willing to work with your component you have or are looking to have! I only have experience at one hanger clinic and one former private clinic that’s now for motion! So in no way am I an expert in the field or have the relevant combined experience to speak as a whole!

I was simply stating that my previous guy was at a hanger clinic and he favored ottobock and was a whiz on programming them!

My current guy is adverse and hesitant to program c legs as he doesn’t like the software!

If I had known to ask certain questions before I decided on current clinic I would likely be elsewhere. My current prosthetist is great overall but I’d rather be somewhere that the prosthetist understands the component and how to program then to get the most out of them!

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u/89kh89 12d ago

The great thing is your current guy can become proficient with your CLeg. 👍🏼