A lot of people are still asking how did you lose it... perhaps you should put a voice or text to the end of the videos telling to see the pinned comment?
@@adamsdiwhy The why in your name is appropriate. Like, why do you open your mouth. The cost is irrelevant when it comes to independence, comfort and mobility. That's also where insurance helps. I repeat. The smile on her face is worth more than any value you can put on the item that gave her that smile
The advancement of prosthetics is really cool, I love those small details that make so much difference. I'm looking forward to the potential future where well-fitting, well-designed prosthetics are affordable for everyone who needs and wants them, and towards what we can do to make them provide even more capability.
There is an amazing video online of a guy who lost his legs from frostbite (I think) back in the 70's. He was a rock climber. He started making his own prosthetics back then, and what he has created is absolutely incredible. As Elon Musk has said, creating a prototype of something is easy, but mass marketing it to the general public is the difficult part, so I have no idea how far away his advancements are, but the video was really cool. I'll try to find it and link it below my comment if youtube will let me.
I'm very happy to see how _great_ prosthetics have been getting! Literally brought tears to my eyes lol. Now we just need to focus on making them more financially attainable. They might never be able to be a full replacement for a limb, but just making life easier for the person is such a powerful thing.
That's fantastic! OMG, what a difference having an actual joint makes. I hope this expands your freedom significantly. Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us
That's so cool! I love when people show off neat "toys"/ tools they use. Like I get hella excited about the packaging and experimenting of new assistive devices!
I'm glad something so simple as being able to have a semi functional ankle is able to bring someone so much joy. Makes me happy that other people are finding joy in things
And will it be better for the spots at the end of your leg? Where you need that silicone thing to not have as much pain and friction? Will that be problem be reduced?? Ohh I can't wait for the video about the differences! 😍🥰
It's so neat how far technology has come for amputees, we're getting closer to better and better technology all the time! Very cool. I hope the new prosthetic works out well for you.
This is so cool! And why I follow you! I appreciate the opportunity to learn from you about a type of disability I’ve never come across in my daily life. I work in and have a general passion for disability services and accessibility so learning about people’s unique experience is something I try to do as much as I can. I’ve been trying to formally get involved with adaptive ski and snowboard instruction for years (it’s looking like this winter is the winter!) and I do believe that what I’ve learned from your channel will help me if I ever get the opportunity to work with an amputee. So thank you for doing what you do on here and educating the masses!
I’m so glad you were able to get this upgrade, I bet it makes walking feel so much more easier and natural! I think move mentioned this before on this channel but my grampa had to get his leg amputated above the knee, and your videos on learning to walk with a prosthetic as well as adjusting to new prosthetic pieces has helped me understand his experience so much better. He’s going to physical therapy pretty often now and is going to try and show us he can walk at my piano recital in a couple weeks! Thank you for all your fun and informational content Jo, keep up the good work!
i love that your prosthetist is hooking you up with an advanced ankle/leg and that you are at a high enough level to take advantage of it! Great job and a testament for all your hard work since your amputation!
My dad is a machinist and worked for a company that made prosthetic limbs. He was working on a prototype ankle joint at one time. He would bring home various pieces from time to time to experiment and play with them to assist in the design and machining process. He wasn’t an engineer but he can think like one and some of his suggestions were actually used in the production leg. I wonder if any of his ideas are in your new leg?
This gets recommended to me while I’m bedridden because one knee is dislocated and the other one is strained from being hopped on all day. I feel pretty disabled right now and it’s nice to see this and remember how I still have it really good and be inspired by people like you
The process of being a human in motion is more complicated than people realize. Glad you found an artist who understands the process and enjoys giving folks the tools they need to get back to their normal. I watched the video twice to see the tiny rotational movements and your awe in the difference of the new leg. Art is in the eye of the user. Thanks for sharing.
YAY!! It looks so good! I’m so glad people are putting so much time and care trying to find ways to make prosthetics better and better! Technology is so cool 🤩
That's soo cool! You can literally see your gait change, especially going downhill. It looks so much more natural and I can only imagine how much better it could feel! Really hope it works out for you!
I'm so happy for you. I've only recently started watching some of your content, but seeing little struggles you've had with having a prosthetic and still making the best of it and trying to stay positive has been very enlightening as to how difficult living like this is. And now, seeing how that there is now an option for you to make it at least a bit bearable is so amazing. My heart goes out to you and I wish you all the best and that this new prosthetic ankle gives you more joy in living this life and that it makes just plain day-to-day living at least a bit easier.
you should definitely get this!! going down the stairs would be easier as well since you usually have to bounce down since the foot couldn’t move. not you might have more control. id love to see further progress if you go down this path :)
I recently got a similar ankle on my prothetic! Not only did I find hills easier, but my back and hips also hurt a lot less since they weren't compensating!
I recall you saying that insurance doesn't always pay for these, and that they are super expensive. If you get this, are you able to take advantage of insurance? I'm hoping so. (If this is too private of a question, please disregard. Keep up the awesome content!)
I may be wrong but I believe what you're referencing is when she said insurance doesn't cover prosthetic feet/ankles that accommodate for different heel heights. Insurance will cover ankles that have this accommodative motion for inclines and such as long as both her prosthetist and doctor adequately note that it's an appropriate foot for her and her activities of daily living as well as her activity level. They basically have to justify to her insurance that the foot/ankle will help her return to her previous activity level. It also heavily relies on which insurance she has, the reimbursement policies of the state she lives in, etc. Seems easy but insurance is really good at saying no. Hope this helped! :)
@@panini4200 I am pretty sure you're spot on. It's been some time since I saw that video. I remember her talking about how expensive it was to get in the first place, and how insurance doesn't always cough up for replacement parts, like feet. You helped a lot. Have a great day!
They give it to you on a trial basis usually for a week or so. Then you bring it back and that's when they put your old foot back on, order your new foot and start the insurance process. People who end up loving them are always sad to have to give them back but we work super hard to try to do the paperwork as quickly as possible. Seeing people that excited is the best part of the job.
The foot prosthetic moves so fluidly, especially watching you walk downhill. If your pant leg was covering it I wouldn’t even be able to tell. God damn, prosthetics are an incredible piece of technology, and they just keep getting better.
This really puts things into perspective. Like I’m lucky enough to have all of my limbs but your channel has made me more grateful for my position but anyway great that you have a new ankle.
Jo, do you have video on how you pay for equipment and fitting and therapy. I started in physical therapy during Vietnam War. The changes in therapy, surgery and medical advances are stimulated because of War are one of the only positive due to the devastation of war. The cost has been so exorbitant that most individuals could not have afforded a well designed prosthetic themselves and insurance companies did their utmost not to cover this type of treatment. To see a healthy young adult beginning to get opportunities to continue a vibrant life makes me so pleased. Thank you for your website.
this is the kind of thing most people wouldn't even think about. it's great that people are working on making people's lives at least slightly more comfortable
I was just reading an article about how scientists are studying the human gait- how we're so different from most animals, who are four-legged- the way the human system is set up is really quite complex. One of the insights they found is in the ankle- how it propels us forward with each step. I can imagine that these kinds of studies would help in the prosthetics industry (the article specifically mentioned how that was part of their goal, to help in that department).
Can I just point that out : you seem like a cooooool person to be around. Everytime I see your videos I think about the same thing, I just love the way you talk, act and all. You're definitely cool.
I love that there is a real world equivalent obstacle course for you to test the replacement device as it may show the extreme real world applications of exploring your mobility needs.
That is so cool! Wow your walking gait looked so natural. It is amazing how far prosthetics have come! Wow! I'm just amazed by that :) And I'm so excited that you get to try it out! I hope you love it and it works out for you!
Hangers clinic? Im totally impressed with that little walking course. I have never seen that before. Always walking on flat ground in-between parallel bars. That is what we all need! That is what i needed! People dealing with limb loss are not always given a fair shake and miss out. I have learned that If your not your own advocate you're missing out.
there are little things we often take for granted and we get used to discomfort. it's a great feeling when something annoying gets fixed, takes a bit from our mental load
As a fellow amputee ( of 11 years), I LOVE my Echelon ER. LOVE IT. I had one five years, ago, but my insurance wouldn't cover it the next year when i needed a replacement. I got my ankle movement back this year with my newest leg and oh I'm never letting it go again!
So happy for you! I never knew they made ankle specific prosthetics, and I'm glad you were able to get one. I remember you spoke about how getting new anything was a pain because of insurance.
This reminds me of how when i first got my tendonitis in my left arm i really couldnt turn my wrist so i had to kind of twist my whole arm instead. It really showed me how much not using your wrist effects your ability to do anything
stuff like this is why I want to do more prototyping with 3D printing, you can print entire mechanisms in as it goes making a very actuated but stable appendage, its great to see technology help out in such a little way that makes such an immense difference.
I REALLY enjoy your video's, as it shows just how much we take for granted, I bet no-one on here has taken so much notice of just how much the ankle works/feels, after I had my lst stroke at 23, it was like I had never noticed the world before, it was like everything was so bright and new (I was luck that I had to lasting effects, but the feeling was so weird and indescribable, it was like I had never seen anything before
