pelly
New Member
Posts: 14
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Post by pelly on Jan 30, 2011 9:07:53 GMT -7
Hello all, So the big day is tommorrow (Monday). I am having the moulding taken for my 1st prosthetic. I am a right below knee amp. since the end of last November. Physio has gone well, especially the Pammaid. What questions should I be asking my practioner? I tend to forget stuff when excited/terrified, so please keep it simple. Should I ask what componets are being used, or is this a bit pushy at this early stage? Does the NHS dictate what happens? or is it dictated by Blatchfords? Does anyone have any experience of the Nottingham Limb Centre at The City Hospital? Good, bad, indifferent. I feel like a kid (I am 49) on Cristmas Eve. Excited.  Best Regards David |
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Post by ann- on Jan 30, 2011 13:34:55 GMT -7
Good luck tomorrow with the casting. Sorry have no experience of Nottingham, but wouldn't be afraid of asking all the questions you want answered. The casting and measuring itself doesn't take that long, but is probably the most important bit of the whole process, as a comfortable socket is probably your key to wanting to wear the leg when its made and getting mobile again quickly.
This appointment is the ideal time to ask all the questions you want answers to, as probably the time when decisions will be made over the type of foot ., liner, sleeve, etc etc. you are given, as these will probably have to be ordered for you, things like liners and socks also have to fit with the finished prosthesis. Though, I imagine, your initial leg will be the basic set up given to new amputees at your centre, probably decided by your prosthetist and maybe your rehab consultant.
I'm going for fittings on new legs this week also, and its still exciting and a bit scary, even after forty plus years and countless legs.
Good luck with your appointment tomorrow.
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Post by barclay on Jan 30, 2011 21:57:52 GMT -7
Funny how differently things are done - I was amputated end of November 2007 and had my first leg in a week before Christmas - and was in the hospital until then.
My first leg was really temporary - I think I had it about 2 months before the stump had shrunk so much that I needed to be recasted. I think that's pretty quick, but I think that the first leg is usually only intended for a short period of time as the stump is still changing rapidly and hence it's pretty much the cheapest.
I could only wear that first one for an hour before it hurt too much at first - I think it was about two weeks before I could wear it all day comfortably - and I think I was fast there as well - at least compared to the people I met at rehab (but like you, I am young :-).
I am happy for you - it is like Christmas and the beginning of getting on with life again!
Hope it all goes well!!
PS - I'm in Austria, so I have no idea about the UK health system.
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Post by cherylm on Jan 31, 2011 2:36:17 GMT -7
I'm in the US, so I'm afraid I'm no good on the NHS...but from my experience here in the U.S., your leg guys will probably be very happy to have you asking questions and being involved. I know that, the one time I got to feeling "depressed" and just sat there during the process of fitting a socket, the results were poor and my leg guys were terribly frustrated...to the point that one of them actually just asked "what's been going on with you anyway?" When I got back into the process, everyone was MUCH happier and the leg fit MUCH better!
So...by all means get involved. It's all going to be a new and unusual experience for you, but remember...it's YOUR leg and only YOU can tell how it feels. Barclay's right in saying that you're likely to go through a lot of changes in your first year. My first socket fit beautifully for two months, and then I needed to be re-cast: at first I thought it was "something wrong with me," and it took my leg guys' reassurance to convince me that it was normal. So get involved, do all you can to help them fit you correctly, and then let them know when your fit changes on you. A prosthesis can take a while to adjust to, but remember that it should NOT hurt...it's heavy and uncomfortable at first, but you'll get used to that quickly and, the better the fit, the more it will feel like a natural part of you.
The best to you and your first leg!
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Post by allenuk on Jan 31, 2011 8:52:46 GMT -7
David:
No rush! Your first prosthetic limb will be a BIG disappointment. It might enable you to walk without sticks, across a room, but it WON'T get you out striding happily in the world.
First of all you will LURCH, and it will probably be uncomfortable, and possibly a bit painful. But within a week or two it'll be easier, and so on. It took me a couple of months to go from lurching to walking a mile, so hang in there. It will get better.
So in a way your questions can (and should) wait for a month or more until you've got used to it. Then, when you go back for your next version, you'll be more experienced with it and can ask questions relevant to your life.
But do let us know how you get on today!
Allen, bka, London.
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Post by ann- on Jan 31, 2011 11:07:55 GMT -7
David: No rush! Your first prosthetic limb will be a BIG disappointment. It might enable you to walk without sticks, across a room, but it WON'T get you out striding happily in the world. First of all you will LURCH, and it will probably be uncomfortable, and possibly a bit painful. But within a week or two it'll be easier, and so on. It took me a couple of months to go from lurching to walking a mile, so hang in there. It will get better. So in a way your questions can (and should) wait for a month or more until you've got used to it. Then, when you go back for your next version, you'll be more experienced with it and can ask questions relevant to your life. But do let us know how you get on today! Allen, bka, London. Don't depress the guy Allen. Its a wonderful feeling that first time you stand up straight again and walk down those parallel bars. |
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Post by cherylm on Jan 31, 2011 14:55:29 GMT -7
Yeah, I'm going to partially "disagree" with you as well, Allen. I did my own fair amount of "lurching about" in my first leg, and it did take me somewhere between one-two months to feel reasonably good about my ability to walk...but I'm still a firm believer in getting involved and learning all you can about your leg, as well as providing input to your prosthetist, right from the beginning.
Looking back on the first test fitting of my first check socket, I was indeed able to stand up and hobble my way down the parallel bars. It was a wonderful experience just to be able to walk again, no matter how labored it was! I remember thinking to myself, "OK, if this is what it's going to be like, I can manage this." But I also started asking questions and pointing out what felt unusually uncomfortable and/or painful to me. Even the small adjustments they were able to make that day helped make things more comfortable...and they took notes on my comments for "check socket #2"...and when I came in two days later to try that one on, the improvement was remarkable! The whole procedure was repeated, and in another couple of days I had a real leg that served me well during my break-in period.
So yes, you will become more and more able to ask more intelligent questions as you have more time to wear and adjust to the prosthesis...and it makes sense to more-or-less "trust your leg guy" for the initial choice of components...but it's still good to start the educational process right at day one.
Just my two cents worth.........
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pelly
New Member
Posts: 14
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Post by pelly on Jan 31, 2011 17:06:42 GMT -7
Thanks everyone for the positive comments, but I do respect Alans comments as I have been reading his postings for a while and I would like to prove him wrong this time ;D My day went well, got to the clinic on time, which is amazing as the 45 miles I travel are the most unpredictable miles on the Earth. Met my prosthetist , Miranda from Adelaide. Casting done, followed by long chat about my expectations, which were suitably downgraded and managed. I am still positive. I understand my prosthetic is only a trainer, but I have been promised that if I am a good boy that in 12 months I can have the pick of the goodies out there, as long as I can justify the need for high performance  So, next step is in 7 days I collect my leg, and learn how to put it on/of. It is then given to me to take home and I start at my local hospital Rehab. the following day. Leg for shower etc, follows in 2-4 weeks. Still excited, and full of high hopes. Keep Writing. Regards David |
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Post by allenuk on Feb 1, 2011 4:23:10 GMT -7
David: carry on being excited! And Ann and Cherlym are spot on, there is nothing like the first time you can stand on your own 'two' feet again, certainly after being stuck in a wheelchair or on crutches for weeks or more.
The only reason for my caution was that my surgeon, a lovely bloke and an expert on legs and bones and so on, did give me the impression that I'd be walking off into the sunset a month or two after he'd sawn my leg off, and I wasn't!
Do I follow my own advice? Do I heck. I still believe that over the next hill I'll see the sea, that tomorrow the sun will shine, etc., etc. So, as long as you're prepared for reality to come creeping up and going boo, be as optimistic as you can.
With very best wishes,
Allen.
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pelly
New Member
Posts: 14
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Post by pelly on Feb 13, 2011 11:07:28 GMT -7
Hello again,
I thought I best post an update. I have had my prosthetic for 5 days. Still excited.
You are correct Alan that the leg is a fairly basic piece of kit, Endolite Multiflex ankle and foot. I have had one session with my Physiotherpist and am happy to report that I can get about reasonably well with a stick.
I guess what I wasn't as prepared for was the weight of the leg, wow, it feels like I have a sack of potatoes attached to me. The other thing I don't think I was aware of was the sense of "sinking" into the leg when I transfer my weight to it, is this what I see refered to as "pistoning"? I guess that is something I will get used to.
More Physiotherapy this week so I suspect i will have plenty of questions for them. I don't get to see my Prosthetist for 6 weeks now, so they have given me plenty of socks to keep taking up the slack as my stump shrinks.
Only disappointment so far, I can't ride my bike :¬(( . Socket only allows me to get the pedal to the horizontal position, so a long way short of what I need.
Regards
David
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Post by barclay on Feb 13, 2011 23:11:00 GMT -7
Hey David - The sack of potatoes feeling will go away, your upper leg will get stronger and probably your next prosthesis will weigh less (though my sporty one weighs a kilo more that the molded socket what with the pin and the shock-absorber/rotation ankle and energy storing foot). I think the sinking will go away with the better fitting prosthesis as well.
The bike riding will come!! Did you see the thread about it ? Allen (and others) have shared lots of ideas to over-come the differences. You do have to lower the seat or adjust the pedal since you can't point the toe on the prosthesis, but biking works.
I'm impressed that you even thought to try it this quickly - I did things very slowly, I was so scared about so much. This time three year ago I was carefully going for longish walks :-)
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Post by greyhnd on Jan 31, 2013 14:06:33 GMT -7
Geez, this brings back memories. I too remember taking those first few steps. A memorable experience indeed. My sister took me to my appointment that day and I think she was more nervous than I was about the first steps. I expected more pain than there was and I was worried about my balance more than anything. After all this time of wearing my prosthetic legs I've only taken a tumble twice. Not sure how I've managed that all these years, but I guess luck has been on my side.
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