Amputees Support Group
Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma or surgery. Many have undergone amputation or have been living with a missing limb since birth. In either case, life as an amputee can be challenging. This is the place to find others going through the same experiences as an amputee. Share your thoughts, troubles, and solutions with the community.
My amputation was almost 5 years ago.
How many AK's are there out there that have given up on prosthetics and are just getting around with other devices like wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, etc? My first prosthesis was an elevated vacuum socket with an Otto Bock C-Leg. It fit like a glove, was very secure and I believe that you could have hung me from the ceiling by the socket. I was able to wear it all day long and got used to the tweaking and pump and all the rest of the disadvantages simply because, for me, it worked.
After a year I was up to 10 ply on the socks and vacuum does not work so well with that many ply.
Since then, especially the last 18 months I have not had a usable socket. I have moved from my original location and have had a couple of prosthetists that have tried different methods, both suction and vacuum and so far not one socket they have tried has worked with my C-Leg. I am now feeling the need to get on with my life and just get around without a prosthesis and just start living life again instead of fighting with this equipment, and travelling to and from and then sitting around in prosthetist's offices for hours.
Part of my problem is that I will not settle for less that the ability to walk up and down inclines and go down stairs foot over foot. Safely! I know it can be done and I will settle for no less.
How many AK's are there out there that have given up on prosthetics and are just getting around with other devices like wheelchairs, crutches, walkers, etc? My first prosthesis was an elevated vacuum socket with an Otto Bock C-Leg. It fit like a glove, was very secure and I believe that you could have hung me from the ceiling by the socket. I was able to wear it all day long and got used to the tweaking and pump and all the rest of the disadvantages simply because, for me, it worked.
After a year I was up to 10 ply on the socks and vacuum does not work so well with that many ply.
Since then, especially the last 18 months I have not had a usable socket. I have moved from my original location and have had a couple of prosthetists that have tried different methods, both suction and vacuum and so far not one socket they have tried has worked with my C-Leg. I am now feeling the need to get on with my life and just get around without a prosthesis and just start living life again instead of fighting with this equipment, and travelling to and from and then sitting around in prosthetist's offices for hours.
Part of my problem is that I will not settle for less that the ability to walk up and down inclines and go down stairs foot over foot. Safely! I know it can be done and I will settle for no less.
I recently (April 2012) had to have a surgical revision done to my stump due to a staph infection in the last 2 centimeters of the bone. Before the surgery, I was like you.... what's the f'ing point. After the surgery, I was confined to a wheelchair and crutches out of necessity, not choice. It was the longest 8 months of my life. The wheelchair and crutches severely hampered my mobility and abilities. And the rest of my body felt the toll. I hop a lot, which I shouldn't at my age now, and my other leg and hip created much more pain than I've ever felt in my life.
I've recently gotten a new leg 3 weeks ago. The first couple of weeks were pure hell. It hurt, it was beyond uncomfortable, and again I felt like.... what's the f'ing point. But the increased mobility and abilities far surpassed what was available with a wheelchair and crutches. I will take a painful leg over the alternative any day.
I went back to my prosthetist yesterday and we made many adjustments. It feels much better now. We had basically misaligned the leg to fit the comfort level of the first day. Now my leg has changed dramatically over the past few weeks. It has shrunk considerably and I'm becoming more accustomed to this new fancy foot and vacuum socket. It is still not perfect, but I know what it can feel like and I'm confident that we will get there with a little more trial and error.
It sounds like you need a new socket. From my experience, the less socks you can bear is much more comfortable in the long run. Ideally, you should be wearing no more than 3 ply on normal days. Also, the new gel liners are absolutely wonderful.
I suggest finding a prosthetist that cares about you, your comfort, and your quality of life. They are out there. Get a new socket, reduce the socks, and get your quality of life back. Fight for your quality of life. If you don't, who will?
Peace to you, and I wish you well.
Jeff
I never occurred to me that a person would lie about something this important but there it is. When his Better Way flopped he claimed that Medicare would not now pay for a vacuum socket so I am stuck with the one that he built. OK, so now I can walk, but not very well and certainly not very comfortably, and sports or off trail hiking are out, not to mention bike riding.
The man has betrayed his profession in just about every way possible. You may think that, by the way I tell this tale, that I am a little pissed off. I'm not, I am 100% totally freaking enraged.
My saving grace is I have the C leg too, & the most amazing prosthetist & doctor imaginable. Is traveling out of your area for someone better even possible for you? When it comes to my leg & everything it's been through, I (same as you, have moved from my hometown & my original doctors) drive 5 hours to go back home to see them because they're that good, & my leg is so so complicated, I can't really just see anybody. I'm lucky that my Dad is still there, so I just make it a trip to see family with lots of doctors appts. When it comes to my leg, I will only see the best in their field, & someone I can trust 110%.
Don't give up on getting a good fit. Glad to hear it's turning around for you! I wish you lived on the east coast, & I could send you to my prosthetist! Unless you fancy a plane flight? My team is so good, my doctor has a patient who flies in from the Caribbean just to see him in NJ. He could go to Miami-so much closer to him & probably find a good team there, & he insists on flying to NJ instead.