In a touching episode of Prosthesis Talk, I had the pleasure of meeting Waltraud Marx, a prosthesis user. Waltraud suffered greatly from the agonizing phantom pain that can occur after an amputation. This pain is difficult to explain and can have a significant impact on life.
But then the sensory feedback system from Saphenus Medical Technology came into play. This innovative system, called Suralis, enables prosthesis wearers to gain a new level of sensation and control over their prosthesis12. Waltraud told the podcast how severely she was restricted by the pain and how the Suralis system is now helping her:
- Reduction of phantom pain:
Thanks to the vibrotactile sensors from Suralis, Waltraud can feel her prosthetic foot touching the ground and rolling.
This sensory feedback helps her to reduce the pain and keep it at a tolerable level. - Empathy and understanding:
Waltraud emphasized the great empathy of the Saphenus team.
She felt understood and supported, which is invaluable for her mental health. - Finding your way back to life:
The Suralis system enables Waltraud to participate more actively in life again.
The combination of technology and empathy has opened up new possibilities for her.
Waltraud’s story shows how technology can affect not only physical but also emotional health. The Suralis system is a real breakthrough that makes a positive difference to the lives of prosthesis wearers.