Upper Limb Differences and Prostheses Quiz

Not wearing a prosthesis: Overuse issues occur when someone uses their sound side too often. It can also be something like neck pain — you only have one neck, but if you’re only using one arm to do many of your tasks, your neck doesn’t do well with that lack of symmetry. Our patient Karen felt like she didn't really need a prosthesis and she chose to go without one for many years. But, she said, “Once I had a device and was using my body more symmetrically, my back pain significantly diminished. My wrist pain significantly diminished. I stopped waking up in the morning with numb fingers. It’s not about being unable to do things and then all of a sudden being able to do them — it’s about doing stuff in a balanced way, living better for a longer period of time. I’m not replacing something, but I do have this cool device and there are some really beneficial aspects to it.”

Prosthetic technology: It has come a long way! There are new finger/partial hand devices. The introduction of silicone has made prosthetic sockets much more comfortable. Multi-articulating hands are getting more durable. Technology is still improving — check out this video about robotic hand control from Neuralink.

Getting a prosthesis: Researching your ideal prosthesis may give you a better idea of what’s available. Knowing how to advocate for yourself can get you that prosthesis, even if you have to submit an appeal to your insurance provider. Strengthening your residual limb can make the transition to wearing your prosthesis a lot easier.