Amputees Support Group

I am an orthotist but I do work with a prosthetist who is very good. It seems to me that you should have been able to walk relatively painfree some time ago. If yor leg is still causing pain, you should for sure contact your prosthetist. You can and should switch providers if you can't get help from your current prosthetist. You also have to be willing and able to walk. No One can help you if you don't put in the effort. You maynever be completely pain free or you may have phantom pains (which are very real but treatable). the ACA Amputee Coalition of America is a good source of info. Good Luck

The key thing to remember is patience! I know its hard, but you have to remember that your body is adjusting to a new way of being. Everyone learns to walk at their own pace, and I have not heard of a standard amount of time. It depends on the person. I agree that it is important to continue to challenge yourself and set small goals that you can achieve. As you achieve one goal, set another one. It is a lot easier to see progress this way.
Also, its important that if you are having any pain with your leg, then you tell the prostethist right away. I have an AK leg also (since I was 6 months old), and periodically experience discomfort, but I always go in to meet with the people who work on my leg and they usually come up with a solution quickly.

The most important thing to remember is that you need to stay positive! No matter what, keep telling yourself that it doesn't matter how you get around it just matters that you can be as independent as you want to be.

i am at the same position as u with walking i get told a lot of the same stuff mentioned in these replies.
i guess im learning to count my blessings and take one day at a time and every step i walk is one more to staying out of life in a wheelchair. the more u dwell on what u cant do takes over your life but definitely schedule an appointment with your limb fitter and dare a say it maybe if its pain a pain clinic but i agree its frustrating when what you thought would be wal;king youre not doing aswell as u would hope i am there for you, beat any depression

I would advise you to think positively about your prosthetic leg and what a blessing it is to be able to look to the future of walking again. I was involved in April, 09 in an accident while I was riding a newly-refurbished motorcycle. The lady who hit me broadsided me and shared with the police that she didn't see me until I bounced off the hood of her SUV! The motorcycle went under the SUV.

The surgeon had to amputate my left foot, my left shoulder was shattered and reconstructed with a plate with 11 screws, 6 ribs were broken, one which punctured my left lung and it is still partially collapsed, etc, etc. I have undergone 4 major surgeries and 3 minor surgeries and have almost died twice. The prayers of many hundreds of people helped a bunch during my healing and recuperation.

After all of the above, I am walking with a prosthetic leg now. It wasn't easy and involved pain management under supervised therapy. If pain management (aka pain medications) are not part of your routine, then you should consult with your doctor. It helps to get over the "pain wall".

There are excellent prosthetists and poor prosthetists. I personally, with a therapist there, interviewed 3 prosthetists, verified their qualifications and checked with other amputees about their experiences with these people. I found that with one of them the doctors felt that they were so poor in service that the doctors would no longer recommend them or have them in clinics. The one I chose has definitely earned his keep and is now a friend, which your prosthetist should be as well.

Remember, you can't stand if you are sitting. Work through the pain and ultimately your residual limb will develop the callouses to prevent pain.

"Remember, you can't stand if you are sitting. Work through the pain and ultimately your residual limb will develop the callouses to prevent pain."


On my first visit, I was told by my prosthetist that a properly fitting socket should not cause any changes to your skin. You shouldn't have any pain with a properly fitting socket and you shouldn't have any hot spots, blisters or callouses. I was told to call his office immediately if I noticed any changes to my skin or if my prosthesis became irritating or painful. My prosthetist always looks at my skin at every appt and he always analyzes my gait. His diligence and expertise has me walking painfree and without any changes to my skin.

Mild discomfort and pain from learning to walk is different from pain due to problems with a prosthesis and sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish between the two when you are first learning to walk. I would recommend discussing any pain with your prosthetist to determine if any changes to your prosthesis are needed. If your pain isn't related to your prosthesis you may need to see your surgeon or family doctor to determine if anything else can be done to assist you and reduce your pain.

Good luck.