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From Physical Therapist To Patient

In the summer of 2009, Dr. Scott Love donated his time and expertise to help injured servicemen and women returning from the military conflicts. A trained physical therapist, he was eager to help the injured regain their strength and mobility after sustaining injuries in battle. Working in San Antonio, Texas, he quickly put his skills to use by helping young amputee soldiers.  Little did he know that these interactions would impact the rest of his life.

Dr. Love contracted an Acinetobacter bacteria from a soldier who had served in Iraq. The Acinetobacter bacteria, a quick moving flesh-eating bacteria, quickly landed Dr. Love in a coma in the hospital. He woke up 10 days later to the grim news that the bacteria had settled in the metal from his knee replacement.

After fifteen (15) surgeries to salvage the limb, an above-knee amputation became his best option. Upon discharge from the hospital, he was provided with the name of a prosthetist, and he began the process of being fitted for and learning to master a prosthesis.  He was provided with a hard shell socket and a low energy foot, neither of which suited his body and lifestyle.

Dr. Love remembers falling 4-5 times per day due to the ill-fitting and uncomfortable socket. Eventually, he abandoned his prosthesis altogether and fell into a depression. Frustrated with his lack of mobility and out of a desire to escape the world, he medicated himself to sleep throughout the day.

His depression spiraled for a year until he was thrown a lifeline by his previous college advisor who offered him an online teaching position at St. Augustine College. During a visit to his new employer, he was introduced to a new Prosthetist who believed that a better and more appropriate device could be built. Dr. Love was fitted with a subischial vacuum socket with Genium knee and a high energy return foot. He says,  “I Instantly started walking without pain. Instantly started walking semi-normally. I broke down and cried.”

Caption: Ininite Socket™ TF

With his mobility restored, Dr. Love eventually accepted a full-time faculty position at St. Augustine College. He moved to Florida and his life was progressing but he still continued to struggle with socket fit. He did not know that other options existed until he was shown a photo of the LIM Innovations® Infinite Socket™ TF.  Immediately he knew that the Infinite TF would address many of his frustrations.

“I finally got a LIM and it totally rearranged my whole life.  I saved an hour and a half to two hours a day donning and doffing because my other socket was so difficult to wrangle. I get up in the morning. I shower, I put on my LIM leg and keep it on until 9, 10, 11, 12 at night. Before I had to take my leg off from work when I came home from work because it was uncomfortable.”

“The LIM lets me keep up with my active lifestyle. The LIM socket is one of the best things that ever happened to me. I tell every new amputee to get a LIM. They would never want to go anywhere else.”

 

Merlin’s Vader Leg

In 2003, Merlin received news that shook his world. “You have cancer.” Hearing those three little words changed his life forever. The cancer began in his right foot and traveled to his back. With his body attacked by the disease, he was forced to make life and death decisions. “I had my leg removed below my right knee, then almost all my bones were replaced in my back with a titanium circular construct.”

The recovery was difficult. With his world turned upside down by the diagnosis of cancer and the subsequent amputation, he felt hopeless. “I knew pain and despair so shocking that I cried out many times for God to let me die. But when you are alone in the hospital again, looking for a missing itching limb, God introduced me to Mr. Ung from Lim Innovations®.” He credits this interaction as a turning point in his recovery. “A new meaning replaced the old despair and fear. Once again I could reach tomorrow one step at a time.”

Upon release from the hospital, Merlin received prosthetic care from a local facility. He found the standard socket uncomfortable and difficult to manage. “I was in pain with every step I took.” The rigid socket forced his sensitive limb to conform to an unyielding mold, causing both discomfort and frustration. “The terrible squeezing on my leg from the multiple socks I had to wear in order to keep the leg in place” added further obstacles to his recovery.

After struggling with a conventional socket, Merlin received an adjustable Infinite Socket™ TT by LIM Innovations®. The Infinite Socket™ has transformed Merlin’s amputee experience. “My leg that I was given by LIM is beautiful. NO LONGER AM I IN PAIN WHEN I WALK. I have air bladders that I can adjust at a moments notice.”

Merlin is enjoying life unLIMited with his adjustable Infinite Socket™ TT. In addition to the comfort that comes from being able to adjust his socket for volume fluctuations, he is thrilled with the look of his new socket. “It looks so cool that I call it my Darth Vader Leg. I know that every child who needs a replacement would love a “VADER” leg.”

“I want to thank the entire team for all their Kindness, for returning to me tenderness, compassion, and dignity.”

Mind over matter

Growing up in a family of boxers and Musicians, Adhiambo Mitchell was brought up with discipline of mind and body at the forefront of everything he did and loved. When he had finished high school, he rode with a bike gang called ‘The Kryptonites’ and had applied for the Air Force. Everything he loved and had dreamed of was falling into place, when at 3am on April 5, 2008 coming off the freeway ramp, the brakes of his 2004 Nissan Maxima locked, causing his car to flip and slam into a guardrail, continuously flipping over.


When I came to, I tried to maneuver my legs to exit the car, and that’s when I realized the extent of my injuries. Everything felt like jelly and ham, and I couldn’t call my mom because i was bleeding so much. One leg was severed during the collision, with my other leg in seriously bad condition. Long Island emergency fire department happened to be on the same road and saved my life. To this day, I’ve never had the chance to thank them.

As everything around me became a reality, my discipline came to my aid, and I quickly came to terms with the fact that I was going to be an amputee. At the hospital, they amputated my other leg above the knee.

Friends and Family started distancing themselves from me, and I began to realize that I was going to have a long journey ahead of me. I knew nothing about amputees; I saw some videos of amputees riding bikes, and it gave me a sign of hope. It let me know that if they could do it, then I can definitely could to.

Eager to be fitted with prosthetic legs, I was desperate to get back to my regular activities, and wanted to go fishing, rock-climbing and learn how to swim. It is a clip on the movie, Rocky 3, when Rocky loses to Clubber, Apollo Creed helps get Rocky’s confidence back by telling him “there is no tomorrow” meaning always do the most towards your goal  in that day because tomorrow isn’t promised.


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I kept reminding myself that “you can’t go back, you can only go forward. I’ve gotta move on with it.” At first, I didn’t get PT, I learned to walk by myself, I wanted to be self-reliant. I walked everywhere: to the car, to the park, upstairs, but my socket was causing unfathomable pain. One day a friend Pierre Lucian drove over 200 miles to come and help me walk better. That day we had gone to the mall and almost three hours in, I had looked into my sockets thinking i was emptying sweat but it was blood. I noticed the sockets were creating an open wound that could never heal properly due their abrasive nature. I never want to feel that pain ever again. See, the pain can really put you off the task at hand,. The knee needs to be strong, the socket needs to be comfortable, the foot needs to be supportive, but everyone forgets about the socket; the interface, the connection with the human body.

You need to find the right socket to walk properly, and if insurance would cover it, I would request two or three sockets at once. Everyone understands that every amputee is different, so why can’t prosthetic sockets be like a mall where you can buy different brands of the same product to ensure you know what works for yourself? Why isn’t prosthetics like that? It’s good to have variety, With my leg constantly fluctuating, no socket would work for me for long periods of time, and it got to the point where I gave up on prosthetics altogether, contemplating my wheelchair instead.

Then one day I was scrolling through Facebook and saw the Infinite Socket. I told my prosthetist Ryan Murphy, from NEOPS Manhattan, that this is what I needed to become more active like how I used to be. You need to take control of your destiny and get what you want, and Ryan supported me through that decision until I was fit.


I love how they tighten and loosen with ease. I’m walking with greater comfort than I ever believed I would following my accident. The only complaint, is that every five blocks or so, I need to take off the sockets to clean out the sweat, but the ease of doing that with the adjustable brim doesn’t make this an issue.


I wish there was a way that I could give air to my limb through a liner. Most important for me though is that, I’M ACTIVE AGAIN! I’m more independent, and I can carry on my life. I can drop my kids off at school. I have dreams with my prosthetics now, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I have a walking objective, which will prove my most challenging yet. I want to walk to the top of the stairs at Fort Greene Park located in Brooklyn. There’s a lot of rocks and hills before I get to the stairs, which will test my walking stability, so that is the ultimate goal.

The other thing I want to do, is make a difference for other amputees. I started the NYU amputee support group in 2008, and go to the ACA conference every year. I also did the NYC marathon in 2009. I want to be part of a network that will encourage others to achieve great things. My determined nature has even spurred me on to take my Masters. One day I found myself surrounded by a lot of my family who have Master’s degrees. I looked around and thought to myself “if these fools can do it, so can I.” I’m taking  Biomedical Engineering, as I want to create more devices that will assist other people like me. Math is killing me at the moment; you need to keep a lot of notes, but by 2021 I’ll be used to it. I will master it, just like I’m doing walking in my prosthesis.

My mission is to make positive changes for myself, my family then all over the world. I will elevate all my skills and knowledge through learning in all aspects of my life with purpose and determination. I will ensure that the journey I’m taking will reflect to others to build and make this world a better place. To solely be the example for my kids and others to look and see a positive role model. I am guided by my own set of morals and principles that I have developed through relationships with my parents, family, friends, peers, and others I look up to and respect and admire. I will keep searching for knowledge and contemplation.


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Lindsay's Learning Curve

Living an extremely active life: running, biking, yoga,  you would never have imagined the story behind Lindsay. From struggling to concentrate in class, Lindsay set out to pursue an active life. During the challenges she faced, she realized that that her teachers may have jeopardized her learning. Upon moving comfortably in her Infinite TT’s she now wants to set out to help people in her own way. 


As a kid I loved being outdoors, in nature, and exploring. Growing up in a small rural town in Iowa I spent a lot of time outside building forts, running through the trees, making up games from objects found in nature, and riding my bike with my sister and neighborhood friends. The love of nature made sitting in a classroom difficult. I looked forward to any opportunity to be outside, running around, or biking. In 6th grade I began running cross-country after quickly realizing I didn’t have the coordination for basketball or volleyball. At my first cross-country practice I showed up and ran in basketball shoes. Even today, I remember how bad my legs hurt and how I thought I would never run again. I stuck out cross-country and of course, got a pair of running shoes. Over time, running became easier; I realized I wasn’t going to die running and before I knew it, running became a passion. I loved the sense of being outside in nature with the breeze on my face and the sun on my skin. I was a dedicated runner who would even run in the winters, in the snow. I would throw on my favorite green running tights, a pair of shorts, a turtle neck, sweatshirt, a beanie, and when icy, my track cleats. Running didn’t really require anything but myself to do and I liked that. It was simple. In addition to running I enjoyed riding my bike. From the age of 12, I had participated in RAGBRAI, a 600-mile week long bike ride that goes across Iowa annually. It was fulfilling to be outdoors running and cycling.

From a young age I knew I wanted to explore the world beyond the small town I grew up in. After graduating a semester early from high school, I moved to Des Moines, IA, where I experienced living on my own. I worked at the Olive Garden waitressing and bartending. While learning some of the responsibilities of becoming an adult the desire to be outdoors was still strong. I addition to my often long hours at work I always made time to run & cycle. As a young adult my life revolved around work and exercise, and unfortunately, I didn’t value sleep.

On April 25, 2001, I was on my way to meet a friend, after finishing my work shift around 10pm. As I traveled north on the interstate I remember feeling tired and sleepy. I began opening the window to feel the cool evening air on my face. I also turned up the music louder in hopes the music would energize me. Before I knew it, I had missed my exit off the freeway. In Iowa, where the exits are several miles apart, I had to go up to the next exit (almost 10 miles out of my way) to turn around. I remember taking the next exit, coming across the freeway, and the next thing I remember, I woke up confused wondering where I was. I thought to myself, “Where am I and how did I get here?” I had fallen asleep behind the wheel of my car and never made it back onto the freeway. My car went off the side of the road into a creek bed. I was unaware of the extent of damage my body had endured, as I wasn’t in any pain. As days passed I felt my energy levels dissipating. I even noticed the dire state my legs were in. My car was out of visibility of the freeway traffic. I called out for help, but no one could hear me. Little did I know my family had reported me missing and photographs of me were on both local and national news. Five days later I was found trapped in my car that was partially submerged in water. At that point I was exhausted and cold. On the fifth day I was beginning to wonder if I’d ever be found. I was transported by helicopter to the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics – where they said they would be amputating both my legs below the knee. My family was in shock, but I had come to terms with the possibility of amputation while in the wreckage.


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It was a little over two months, post-amputation before the possibility of prosthesis arose. I remember the eagerness to run on the first day in my new legs rushing through my body. On my Dad’s birthday, July 18, 2001, came my opportunity to walk. I quickly felt exhausted trying to piece together my new task. Relearning to walk was much more strenuous & painful than I had originally thought. My plans to run on the first day in my new legs didn’t unfold how I had anticipated. To this day, it’s still interesting to me, how my residuum is soft to the touch yet as soon as you bear end weight, the pain is atrocious. On my first day in my new legs, I left with the image of how proud my parents were. I will never forget that moment. I also left knowing the only way to get better at walking was to walk; one foot in front of the other. And that I did!

Due to my high profile case, I only completed two weeks of therapy, as I was scheduled to feature on Good Morning America and the John Walsh show in New York. Traveling as a new amputee was tiring. It required diligence to rest and elevate my legs when needed, as the muscle groups I was using were previously neglected. It took a year before I was walking effortlessly; walking without thinking about it. That was when the shrinking took its toll. I ended up spending weeks wearing a 36-ply- sock. I had no idea how my legs would change as I began walking more or what to expect in the first year post-amputation. No one had told me 36-ply socks is WAY TOO MANY!

Upon being refitted with a new prosthesis, I was given the opportunity to try a pair of running blade. I was reignited with my love for running. Since becoming an amputee, I’ve had many opportunities to run, cycle, and do physical activity outdoors. One of the biggest challenges has been the need for socket changes and maintaining a well-fitting prosthesis. I dreamed of the day when I would have multiple prosthesis, to capture my wide array of fluctuation. That’s when I questioned, “Why aren’t there any adjustable sockets being made?” It shocked me that in the 21st Century, adjustable sockets were nowhere to be seen.

I was then introduced to LIM Innovations, who asked if I’d be interested in trying their below-the- knee prototype. This was an exciting opportunity for me. It was like a dream come true. I felt like the years of socket issues and residual limb pain were worth the wait.

It can take some time to get the ideal fit with the Infinite TT’s, however it’s worth it down the road when you know you have the capacity to make subtle changes. These days, my limbs require less maintenance and I don’t always fiddle with the setup. It is very reassuring knowing that I can make changes to this socket as my limb changes. The sturdiness of the socket is impressive and represents the shape of a conventional socket, but when you adjust the Infinite TT via air bladders and/or BOA, it’s like having different sockets.

Now, I’m back to consistently walking 6-10 miles a day, feeling great and not in pain, which is such a treat! For many years I took it for granted my ability to walk comfortably in addition to running and cycling. It feels great to be active again! I am excited to be able to comfortably move in and out of side-plank in my yoga classes. Completing this can be difficult and requires a well-fitting socket in order to be able to put that much pressure through the socket. The best thing is, the Infinite TT’s can cope with this pressure. It’s an exhilarating feeling to feel like I can move freely; without unnecessary limitations.

Going forward, I really want to work with more amputees in yoga practice. There is still the perception that you need to be skinny, fit and flexible, to practice yoga. I was once one of those individuals, but it’s not at all the case. After studying yoga, I have a deeper understanding of its roots and true meaning. Yoga is, can, and should be accessible to everybody no matter your shape, size, race, religion, or socio-economic status. I was re-inspired to delve deeper into learning to work with a broader population of people after the organization Accessible Yoga started last year. I want to utilize my life experiences to be a part of the change in perception of yoga. The practice is truly for everyone!

The Adventure Team Challenge

Our blog this week comes from LIMLegend Robert Spotswood, who participated in his Infinite Socket TF, and had the luxury of being able to adjust his socket to accommodate each challenge. Read his views on the challenges he faced on the course, and the comradery his team showed throughout this unique event.


It’s an extraordinary feeling when you accomplish something that seemed previously unachievable. And, it is even more satisfying to have done so based on the collaborative efforts of a team of people. Teamwork is defined as ‘the combined action of a group of people, especially when effective and efficient.’ I experienced the truest manifestation of the power of teamwork during the Adventure team Challenge in Colorado hosted by World T.E.A.M. Sports. During this race teams of 5 individuals (one wheelchair participant, an amputee, and three able-bodied) participate in a three day adventure race that involves mountain biking, hiking, rafting, and climbing. Each team has to accomplish orienteering tasks along the way as a team and do so in the shortest amount of time possible. The only way to accomplish all of these challenges in the most efficient and expedient way is to value each other’s differences and physical abilities to bring out the absolute best in each other. You set-up towing systems for your para-athlete and amputee to better enable them to climb mountains on their bikes, you collaborate on decisions about what direction to take for the next checkpoint, you paddle in perfect unison to maximize speed on the water, you rely on the strength of another to carry a team member over the finish line, ultimately leveraging each other’s strengths to achieve what would otherwise be impossible alone.

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I was nervous about this event after the prologue which determined the seeding for the competition because I nearly passed out from exhaustion. This was the first day I had met my teammates and we were still getting to know each other and how to best work together. That didn’t take long! After our 16 mile paddle down the Colorado river we embarked on a 12 mile mtn. biking race where it clicked that only by working together, knowing each other’s strengths/weaknesses, designating roles and encouraging each other that we could cross the finish line together. As an amputee, I couldn’t do this alone, our para-athlete couldn’t do this alone, only by working together were we able to do what previously felt impossible.

I traveled to CO with two teams from LIM that were also competing, which I was thrilled about because I was coming on board with the company a few weeks after the race. To me this was the ultimate team building event, it was an opportunity to watch how the LIM teams worked together and how I could best work with them going forward. I had a feeling they would do well (and they did!) but I underestimated how dedicated, committed and respectful they were of each other throughout the challenges. Each member knew how to bring out the best in another. It was inspiring to witness and it strengthened my connection to them all.

I had done this race about 5 years ago when I was wearing a traditional suction socket made by Hanger. Almost immediately, I knew it was going to be a struggle to perform well because my leg literally kept falling off during the bike ride and the hiking portion due to an overall poor fit. I ended up taking my leg off and using crutches for most of the event which was very physically challenging and resulted in a poor performance by our team. They could only carry me on their shoulders for so long. This year I was wearing the Infinite Socket LIM had provided me and the differences were night and day.


My leg stayed on during the entirety of the mountain biking and hiking portions and I was able to adjust the fit of my socket throughout the event, on the go, which enabled me to perform significantly better than my previous experience.


It’s truly reinvigorating when you realize you are capable of doing great things not only through the help of others but through improved technology. I’m looking forward to helping those with disabilities come to the realization that they too can achieve what previously seemed impossible.

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