40. Prosthetic Limbs

Jordan Beckwith was 27 when she decided on a below-knee amputation after years of surgeries following a riding accident. Now in her early thirties and living near Denver, she manages daily life with two dogs, an apartment, and a YouTube channel under the name Footless Joe. Her experience illustrates how prosthetic limbs move from medical decision to daily tool, shaped by custom fitting, insurance rules, and ongoing adjustments rather than one-time purchases.

The Fitting Process and Daily Relationship

A prosthetist begins by assessing what matters to the patient, including job demands, hobbies, and physical limits. The central element is the socket, a custom-molded cup that holds the residual limb and connects to the rest of the device. Alignment follows, with small adjustments made so the user can walk safely given their particular strength and movement patterns. Jordan works with a prosthetist at Hanger, one of the largest providers with roughly 900 clinics. Eric Neufeld, who runs the smaller Agile Orthopedics, notes that the relationship often lasts for years because weight changes, muscle shifts, and part replacements require repeated visits. Unlike physician appointments, reimbursement occurs mainly when the finished device is delivered, which places pressure on clinics to manage long consultation periods without separate payment.