"Personalization has been a real asset on a psychological level" - Interview with Michel

In the world of rehabilitation and acceptance after amputation, each individual has a unique story to share. Michel, faced with a massive thrombosis in 2019, had to deal with defining medical choices, including trans-tibial amputation. He offers us his inspiring tale of resilience and adaptation. 

 

Hello Michel, could you start by introducing yourself?

My name is Michel, I'm 52 and I work as a civil servant. I live in Lorraine, France, am married and have two children. 

What is your story about amputation?

In 2019 I suffered a massive thrombosis, which is the obstruction of arteries by clotted blood. This rather painful experience led to hospitalization, where I underwent two operations to unclog the arteries. As the results were inconclusive, and my situation was likely to worsen, I followed the doctors' recommendation for a trans-tibial amputation. 

This period was particularly complex because it took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, when everything was closed: rehabilitation centers, orthoprosthetists... which considerably prolonged lead times.

When did you start customizing your prosthesis?

I immediately considered customizing my prosthesis. I discovered this possibility during a day organized for doctors swho specialize in prescribing prostheses. One of the one of the participants was wearing a personalized prosthesis that caught my eye. Then, when I met my ortho-prosthetist, I discovered that he ordered fabrics from U-Exist. I'd also heard about it through Adepa and online forums. As soon as I was aware of this option, I was able to explore the various customization possibilities available on the internet.

Has personalizing your prosthesis helped you accept it more easily?

Absolutely. Personalization has been a real asset for me psychologically. My orthoprosthetist also uses a resin to make my prostheses, which gives them a more aesthetic appearance by eliminating the usual metal tube. The fabric blends into the resin, and I find the result very beautiful, rather artistic.

What was your reaction when you discovered your first prosthesis?

I was very pleased. The shape of the leg was more natural and aesthetic, which made the prosthesis much more acceptable to me. 

 

Is this moment of discovery important to you?

Yes, it's a very special time. Each new prosthesis represents a milestone in my journey of rehabilitation and acceptance. The process of choosing the fabric and pattern takes time and has an artistic aspect that I really enjoy. Each prosthesis is unique and reflects my personality.

 

Do you have a special bond with your prosthesis, and if so, how would you describe it?

I think of my prostheses as my legs; they're an integral part of me. I look after them with great care and attention. I take care to protect them during my daily activities to avoid damaging them. For me, they're not just functional, they're also pleasing to the eye. I see them almost as works of art. 

Do your prostheses provoke reactions? 

Yes, especially in summer when I'm wearing shorts. Some amputees or people who know amputees often come to me with questions or compliments about the appearance of my prosthesis. For example, when I visit my orthoprosthetist, other amputees often express interest in customizing their own prosthesis after seeing mine.

 

Do you live well with your prostheses today? 

Yes, completely. I'm lucky enough to have a golden orthoprosthetist, and as soon as something goes wrong, we get in touch quickly and the problem is fixed within a day. 

Are you able to carry out your usual activities? 

Most of the time, yes. Of course, some tasks are more difficult than others, but I adapt. There are so many things available now, and prosthesis technology has evolved considerably. France has state-of-the-art medical equipment in this field.

Do you feel you were well supported from the outset? 

Yes, absolutely. As soon as I was discharged from hospital, I was taken into care almost immediately at the Institut Régional de Réadaptation de Nancy (IRR), where I benefited from the expertise of a complete medical team for 2 and a half months. Thanks to the support of the doctors, physiotherapists and orthoprosthetists, I was able to walk more or less normally. Of course, I had to face up to the reality of my situation: one leg less is still one leg less, and few people can really understand that. However, the personalization of my prosthesis contributed greatly to my acceptance.

Do you think your acceptance would have been different if personalization hadn't been possible? 

Yes, I think so. As I speak, I'm wearing a trial prosthesis with a plastic socket and metal tube, which gives me a purely medical image. This reinforces the importance of personalization for my well-being and my acceptance of the situation.

How do you see the impact of the Paralympic Games?

Although relatively little is said about it, I believe that the Paralympic Games play an important role in the representation of disabled people in our society. There is still some progress to be made in terms of visibility and recognition of Paralympic athletes, but the integration of Paralympic events with able-bodied events is already a step in the right direction.

Do you think France still has a long way to go when it comes to inclusion?

Personally, although I'm disabled, I consider my situation to be relatively well taken care of.consider that my situation is relatively well taken care of, as I'm only missing "one leg" and I have access to quality equipment.. I think there's still a lot to be done, especially for wheelchair users. Once again, I think there have been undeniable efforts in recent years, particularly in equipping small towns. But you also have to bear in mind that France is a very old country, which sometimes makes it difficult to adapt historic city centers, compared with other countries like the USA, which are only 300 years old, for example.

Why did you want to share your story?

I hope to help others in similar situations. I think it's important to show that it's possible to live a full life despite a disability, and that technological advances today offer very satisfactory solutions. If I can inspire even one person to look at things differently, then my testimony will have been useful.

What key messages would you like to convey?

The importance of patience in the rehabilitation and acceptance process. The best prostheses and sockets take time to be fully fitted and accepted. So I'd like to encourage these people to explore all the customization possibilities available, as this can have a significant impact on their psychological well-being and acceptance of their condition.