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Post by prolongedqtc on Feb 26, 2023 10:02:20 GMT -7
Hello. I'm a fairly new BKA. Had my surgery about four months ago. I'm currently nearing the end of my first check socket and I hope to be casted for a second check socket soon.
- how long post-op can you expect to be casted for your definite socket? I suspect the time may vary case to case. How many check sockets were you casted for prior to receiving your more definitive socket.
- How long does it generally take for you to get going in the morning? Currently with my check socket, it takes upwards of 1-2 hrs for me to feel comfortable walking in my prosthetic. It takes time not only due to discomfort in the morning but also to find the correct amount of socks to apply.
Appreciate your time and input.
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rg8
New Member
Posts: 32
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Post by rg8 on Feb 27, 2023 8:16:38 GMT -7
Hi! Even though I'm fairly new at this (1 year and four months), I've learned a few things, some of them the hard way. I can only thank my amputee mentor for the inside "scoop". It boils down to this: a test socket is meant to be that, to test whether it fits comfortably or not. If you are feeling that much discomfort 4 months post op, perhaps it is time to question why it is hurting. You do not want a definitive socket made from a test socket that was giving you pain. Normally, there is some discomfort when you first put it on. The other thing is the number of sock plys you are using, are you having a lot of fluctuation in the volume of your residual limb, and if so why? I do not know the reason for your amputation and every amputee is different and has very unique responses to prostheses. You need to be your own advocate and question every aspect of your prosthetic fitting and if you are not completely satisfied with the answer they give you, perhaps you should find another prosthetist. Initially I was going with a very large prosthetic company with branches throughout the US,which is great if you are travelling all over the country all the time, but every time I asked something, their response was: "oh, we don't do that here" or "that is not for you" or "you just have to get used to it". Any of these remarks should be a big red flag. I eventually switched to a prosthetic company with a small office and an independent practitioner who is actually fixing all the problems created by the previous big company. I'm now waiting for my definitive socket, in fact I just texted him to tell him that this current test or check socket is working extremely well, no pain or discomfort, no socks, etc. and that is the way it should be. It doesn't matter if you have the most advanced prosthetic foot in the World, if the socket isn't comfortable, you will continue to have difficulties. I hope this can be of some help, let me know how you do in the future. Ruy
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Post by stonecutter on Feb 27, 2023 15:32:29 GMT -7
Heya. Welcome to the forums.
The reason I'm an amputee is due to an industrial accident that crushed my foot and then received full thickness burns during the rescue. I know the feeling you're describing - that feeling where your stump is begging you to take a day off, but... you can't. Where it feels stingy, stabby and achy all at the same time.
For me, it slowly subsided over a two year period. But remember, I was in pretty rough shape.
As for the sockets - it depends on a whole lot of factors, including how much muscle mass, what the condition of your stump was in after amputation, any comorbidities that might affect healing (for me it was skin grafts and other trauma).
Sometimes it's easy to compare us to others and come up with a conclusion of where we think we should be, but in the end, we are all unique when it comes to this type of thing.
The best thing one can do as a new amputation is try to do our best in keeping the stump size stable. Shrinker socks at night (I used to use a 20' tensor bandage). Keeping a stump elevated when unwrapped to prevent swelling... That will make the sock game a bit easier to manage.
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Post by prolongedqtc on Mar 4, 2023 12:54:52 GMT -7
I appreciate the responses. It was a traumatic injury. Hit by a car driving in the wrong lane. I was very active and in great physical shape prior to the incident. No comorbid conditions. It really sucks. I am grateful to be alive and still able to work and have the opportunity to live a meaningful life. I'll have to give up two of my favorite activities though and find some new hobbies. I use to travel every other week but have been grounded since the incident. Looking forward to feeling comfortable enough to get on a plane or even take a road trip without my wheelchair some day soon.
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rg8
New Member
Posts: 32
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Post by rg8 on Mar 4, 2023 14:24:47 GMT -7
Hang in there! It is a real bum deal no matter whether it's a traumatic amputation like yours or mine or as a result of comorbid preexisting diseases like diabetes or vascular problems; it sucks no matter what. One of the most positive things I have found after my accident is the number of really nice people there are in the amputee community in general. I'm sure that, like me, life changed in the blink of an eye, and this will be a process for you,and you alone will determine how best to deal with this loss. Remember, there are 7 stages of loss:
1. shock (initial paralysis at getting the bad news) 2. bargaining ( you wonder if you had done something differently, the outcome would be different. This is futile, and you need to face the fact that nothing will change what happened) 3. denial (pretending that everything is OK,and well-meaning people reinforce this stage by telling you some nonsense) 4.anger (directed at yourself, at others around you, at the world) 5.depression ( this is one of the hardest to shake, some people require professional psychological help) 6. face your demons ( ask for help, it is not a weakness!) 7. acceptance ( life on it's own terms, reality is not going to change. Take responsibility for what happened without reverting to previous stages. Move on and be positive) Acceptance does not necessarily mean you are no longer grieving. Grief over a major loss can persist for a lifetime, it is the coping mechanisms that will make the loss easier over time. Reach out to others in the amputee community, the Amputee Coalition has a great mentor or peer program, sometimes the prosthetic company you have will have mentors, or your own doctor may have someone in a similar situation. I hope this can be of some help, please let me know if I can be of help talking to each other or via this forum, it is a bumpy road ahead, no doubt about it, but we are, as a specie, resilient and highly adaptable. Like I said at the beginning of this long message: Hang in there! Ruy
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