Why Would My Doctor Tell Me Not to Get an Upper Limb Prosthesis?

When speaking with our patient Angie about her prosthetic journey, she told us something that we never like to hear but is occasionally reported by a patient. Angie lost her pinky, ring finger and middle finger during an accident in a side-by-side, which is similar to an ATV. Once in the hospital, she asked her doctor about the possibility of a prosthetic device. “That was one of the first things I asked about. Like, ‘What's the process of getting a prosthetic?’ and to be perfectly honest, the doctors were not helpful in any way, shape or form. They actually told me not to get a prosthetic because I probably wouldn't wear it. So, I thought that was pretty bad, and luckily, I don't always listen. I found my own way, but it does make me sad for the people that are a little bit more timid and might get brushed off.”

Why would a doctor tell their patient not to pursue a medical device that could help them? One reason could be past experiences — maybe they previously referred an upper limb patient and that fitting did not go well because in the past, there were fewer functional prosthesis designs to choose from. This especially may be true for a doctor whose patient has a partial hand amputation — really useful partial hand prostheses have come a long way in the past five years, and it’s taking time to get the word out.

The doctor may also have experience with patients who have been seen by a prosthetic care provider that is not an upper limb specialist. When someone who had a negative experience with a prosthesis reports it back to their doctor, the doctor may assume that it’s not just that specific provider. They may conclude that no prosthetic care provider can create functional, comfortable upper limb prostheses and believe that “upper limb prostheses don’t work.” (Spoiler alert: they do work.)