A three-man amputee team sponsored by Disabled Sports USA (DS/USA) and the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) has achieved the 19,340-foot climb to the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, to raise awareness and inspire athletes with disabilities.

The three climbers achieved their goal on August 7, six days after beginning their journey. All three are missing one or both lower limbs: Army Sgt. (Ret.) Neil Duncan, 26, of Denver, Colorado, is a bilateral leg amputee injured in Afghanistan; Army Staff Sgt. (Ret.) Dan Nevins, 37, of Jacksonville, Florida, is a bilateral transtibial amputee injured in Iraq; and Sgt. (Ret.) Kirk Bauer, JD, 62, of Ellicott City, Maryland, is a unilateral transfemoral amputee injured in Vietnam. Bauer is executive director of DS/USA. The three are also members of the DS/USA's Warfighter Sports program.

"Our message in this climb is to both our wounded military, who have made such a sacrifice to this great country of ours, and to people with disabilities throughout the nation," Bauer said. "If three veterans from three wars and two generations with one good leg between them can climb the tallest mountain in Africa, then all with disabilities can choose to be active and healthy through sports."

The team's climb was part of DS/USA's Warfighter Sports Series, a schedule of challenge events that help military service members with permanent disabilities, such as amputations, spinal cord injury, visual impairment, or traumatic brain injury, reach their full potential through participation in extreme and endurance sports. The event was chronicled by award-winning photographer Reed Hoffman, through a grant from Microsoft Imaging.

For additional photos of the event and the participants' blogs, click here.

 
Each quarter, we will bring you information and support on living with a prosthetic device.  In this issue:  Skin Care.
 
CARING FOR YOUR SKIN
 
by Paddy Rossbach, RN, former ACA President & CEO
 
-from "First Step, A Guide for Adapting to Limb Loss," a publication of the Amputee Coalition of America
 
Daily inspection of and care for the skin on your residual limb is essential for success with your prosthesis. Minor cuts, blisters and rashes can quickly become more than an annoyance if they limit your wearing of your prosthesis.
 
Daily Skin Care
1. Every day, or more often if necessary, wash your residual limb with a mild or antibacterial soap and lukewarm water.  Rinse thoroughly with clean water to remove all soap.
 
2. Dry your skin by patting it with a towel. Be sure your residual limb is completely dry before putting on your prosthesis. Allowing 15 minutes of air-drying before applying your prosthesis should ensure that the skin is thoroughly dry.
 
3. Consult your prosthetist before using moisturizing creams or lotions. Vaseline or petroleum-based lotions degrade some types of prosthetic liners. Only use softening lotions when your skin is at risk of cracking or peeling. If a moisturizing lotion is needed, it is best to apply it at night or at other times when you will not be wearing your prosthesis. Do not apply lotions to any open area.
 
4. If needed, applying an antiperspirant roll-on deodorant to the residual limb can help you control odor and perspiration. Do not apply antiperspirant to any open area.
 
5. Do not use alcohol-based products on your residual limb; they dry out the skin and can contribute to cracking or peeling.
 
6. Do not shave your residual limb; pressure from the prosthetic socket on "stubble" can cause the hair to grow inward, become painful, and, in the worst cases, even become infected. Never use chemical hair removers on your residual limb.
 
7. Avoid prolonged soaking in warm bathtubs or hot tubs because this may cause increased swelling in your residual limb.
 
Inspection of Your Residual Limb
1. Regular inspection of your residual limb using a long-handled mirror will help you identify skin problems early.
 
2. Initially, inspections should be done whenever you remove your prosthesis. Later on, most amputees find daily inspection sufficient for the early identification of skin problems.
 
3. Inspect all areas of your residual limb. Remember to inspect the back of your residual limb and all skin creases and bony areas.
 
4. Look for any signs of skin irritation, blisters or red marks that do not fade within 10 minutes of removing your prosthesis. Report any unusual skin problems to a member of your rehabilitation team.
 
Daily Foot Care
For lower-extremity amputees, it is important to maintain the health of your remaining foot. This is especially important if you have diabetes or if you have decreased circulation or sensation in your lower extremities.
 
Your daily routine should include the following:
1. Wash and dry your foot properly: Use a mild soap, rinse thoroughly, and dry your skin by blotting or patting, making sure to dry between your toes.
 
2. Inspect your foot daily: Check for blisters, cuts and cracking.
 
3. Protect your foot from injury: Wear shoes or slippers at all times, and check your shoes every time you put them on for tears, rough edges or sharp objects.
 
Perspiration
Perspiration may increase following an amputation for a couple of reasons. One reason has to do with decreased body surface following an amputation.  You may be perspiring the same amount, but it is concentrated over a smaller body surface.

Another reason is that during prosthetic use, your residual limb is encased in a completely or partially airtight socket that does not allow sweat to evaporate. In most cases, daily bathing and the application of an antiperspirant is sufficient to control this.

If odor or heavy perspiration continues to bother you, discuss other available treatment options with your physician.

If you haven't been into our office for awhile, you may see some new faces during your next visit.  Allow us to introduce the Optimus Prosthetics Team:
 

John Brandt, Co-Founder, Clinical Director.  Responsible for overseeing all patient care activities.  Has been known to 'accidentally' eat others' lunches that are in the fridge.
 
Scott Schall, Co-Founder, Prosthetist/Rehabilitation Engineer.  Spends 10% of his time with patients and 90% of his time managing 'business operations'. Also responsible for Technology Integration.  Best known for making gum-numbing coffee and drinking too much of it just before 8am.
 
Ellie Thompson, Prosthetic Assistant/Lab Manager, joined as Optimus' 1st employee in October 2007.  Spends 75% of her time assisting with patients and 25% of her time managing the fabrication process.  Allegedly 'hides' the last of the Mountain Dew from others.
 
Travis Barlow, Prosthetic Resident, joined Optimus in August 2010 to begin his 1-year residency.  Responsible for patient care and conducting Continuing Education courses for area therapists.  An Oregon native, Travis is still looking for somewhere in Dayton to go mountain climbing - good luck, Travis!
 
Anita Curtis, Office Manager, joined Optimus in November 2009.  Manages office operations, including insurance and patient billing and collections, accounts payable, and payroll.  Has a fetish with microwaving metal objects (seriously though, we hope no one else has microwaved one of our 2007 Optimus coffee cups!).
 
Lynda Craft, Prosthetic Technician, joined Optimus in January 2009.  Fabricates custom prosthetic devices and assembles them with selected componentry. Lynda is a music-lover and follows a couple of bands when they are in the area.  Lynda is rumored to be a 'groupie' in denial.
 
Beth Warren, Customer Service & Marketing Manager,joined Optimus in February 2010.  Beth is usually the 1st to greet our patients and answer calls and handles appointments, prescriptions, and insurance authorizations, as well as our marketing efforts.  Beth plays the keyboard and drums, and any time you think you hear whistling here at Optimus - you can be sure it's Beth!
 
Hannah Brandt, Receptionist, (not pictured) is our newest employee, joining us just this month.  Hannah will be filling in at the front desk when needed, greeting patients, answering phones, and scheduling appointments.  If you think her last name looks familiar - you're right! She is the oldest of John's 10 children, and would surely have lots of stories to tell - if we could get anything out of her!
 
We want to thank you for the confidence you have placed in us at Optimus!  Our team will always do everything possible to merit that confidence.  Please let us know if there is ever anything we can do for you!

Click here to email us or call the office at 937-454-1900