Rocky Teal

Rocky Teal landed on his feet when he fell off a 36-foot ladder. The impact of the fall collapsed his ankle joint, broke his back and did other damage. Doctors worked for years to strengthen and stabilize his ankle before finally amputating his foot in July 2009.

Teal says he didn’t know where to turn for a prosthesis, so he went to a place a co-worker suggested. He went through three sockets in six months with no success finding the correct fit. “It had gotten to the point where I felt like I was trading one problem for another,” he said. Teal’s doctor finally recommended he visit Bulow BioTech Prosthetics (BBP) in Nashville.

“The difference was between night and day compared to what they do and the other place,” he said. He explained that BBP founder Matt Bulow made a mold of his limb and then built a clear socket so he could see any potential problems with the fit. Once adjustments were made, Bulow made a second clear socket to perfect the fit.

“I didn’t know that I wasn’t supposed to be in so much pain,“ explained Teal. He says having someone work with him to relieve pressure made all the difference. “I could barely walk on my foot three months ago because of pain.”
The technology was not the only difference. Teal says the team at BBP has always been welcoming and responsive, once even calling him back on a weekend to follow-up on an appointment. “I have seen a couple different people there, but they have all been great and Matt (Bulow) always makes a point to come in and see how I am doing.”

Teal uses the Ceterus® foot by Ossur with a suction socket. The Ceterus is a very flexible prosthesis. It mimics the body’s own gradual resistance so the motion it provides is more natural.  It can be adjusted to accommodate a number of activities from everyday walking to running.

Teal was back on his feet and back to his regular routine within weeks of meeting the team at BBP. He enjoys riding his recumbent bicycle and even goes to the shooting range with his family. He is also pretty handy around the house, doing most minor repairs himself. He works at the county tax assessor’s office, so he sometimes has to inspect properties.

Teal says being an amputee has not slowed him down too much, saying “you can pretty much do what you have always done, it’s just sometimes a little more inconvenient.”

“I hate for anyone to have to get this kind of treatment, but if you do have to get it, I would use Bulow-I would recommend them to anyone,” he said.