Not quite prosthetics

[allenuk]

I had some physio treatment on my good leg, and was given some exercises, which were fine for that leg, but also affected my stump side - I think I've pulled a ligament around the patella, which wouldn't matter on a 'normal' leg, but as you know, when you're bka your patella is pushed firmly up against the socket at the top.

And it hurts like hell! I've tried all sorts of re-socking to alleviate the pain, and it does, a bit, but basically the only solution is to take the leg off and sit. Not easy, most of the time not possible.

I'm seeing the physio again this week and will see if there'a anything he can do.

I suppose I might have to bite the bullet and take to inactivity for a week, but I don't relish the thought.

Any ideas?


Allen.

[stonecutter]

Heat / ice? Try to keep from aggravating it further... Sorry - I wish I had some better advice.

[greyhnd]

I had a similar situation when I went thru my first round of PT. I used weight bands on my stump then did leg lifts, and that made my knee swell up and hurt like the devil. I rested about 10 days iirc and that seemed to help.

[allenuk]

I wonder whether the knee on a bka leg is more prone to swelling than normal, or whether you just FEEL it more because the patella is bang up against the front wall of the socket.

I know I'm going to have to do the resting thing, but I've got this sodding angioplasty in 10 days, and had things to sort out first! They will have to wait, I suppose.


A

[stonecutter]

Do you walk with a cane? If not, maybe use one to take some pressure off? If you do, maybe try walking with crutches to take more off?

Just wild ideas you've probably already considered or are doing...

[ann58]

Mar 26, 2013 13:44:32 GMT -7 allenuk said:

I wonder whether the knee on a bka leg is more prone to swelling than normal, or whether you just FEEL it more because the patella is bang up against the front wall of the socket.

I know I'm going to have to do the resting thing, but I've got this sodding angioplasty in 10 days, and had things to sort out first! They will have to wait, I suppose.


A

Allen, question. Is this angioplasty putting in stents. or like a heart cath {finding the blockages}? Either way U will whiz right thru it. BTW when is the big event? I know, I'm asking alot of questions, huh.

[ann-]

Mar 26, 2013 13:44:32 GMT -7 allenuk said:

I wonder whether the knee on a bka leg is more prone to swelling than normal, or whether you just FEEL it more because the patella is bang up against the front wall of the socket.

I know I'm going to have to do the resting thing, but I've got this sodding angioplasty in 10 days, and had things to sort out first! They will have to wait, I suppose.


A

Understand the frustrations Allen, as have been having to do more of the resting thing myself of late.

As a bilateral, I find that whatever affects one of the legs affects the other too, for me even being slightly too deep or out of one side, so no doubt that physio on your good leg has affected the b/k side too. I am not sure that all physio's realize how 'it is' for amputees because although we can usually manage to balance, do exercises etc., we do them slightly differently to people with two natural legs.

Apart from the physio, can you think of any other changes, only ask this I have had similar with my knees at times and its quite often when I have had a new socket, or change of alignment or something with the legs. Last year I had similar to this with both knees and doctor was telling me it was probably arthritis having worn the legs all these years and I needed to think about slowing down !!!! was convinced it wasn't as only had begun with new limbs, so got him to send me for an x ray and knees were fine .... and a new pair of sockets sorted out the problem.

Sometimes though, like you say, when you have tried all sorts of re-socking, the only thing to do is leave the leg off and rest up, but its usually at a time when we least need it. Best of luck and hope the angioplasty goes well.

[allenuk]

Angioplasty is April 8th. Burned in my brain... They've already done the angiogram, so know where the blockages are. Rather than doing a triple bypass (cut and shut), they're going to do a series of angioplasties, which suits me far better! First one is for the main coronary artery, which is apparently 99% blocked at one point. They stick a drill up your artery (eh?), clear the blockage, then up goes the stent to hold it open. Should be a piece of cake.

Re.the sore leg. I've tried most things, including switching legs (back to a spare which I don't much like), and no difference. The patella gets bashed. It actually IS a bit better today, so maybe it just needed a few days to settle down. I'm seeing Mr Physio in an hour or two, so will talk to him.


A

[ann-]

Good luck with Mr Physio, I've had physio's use some sort of ultra-sound/deep heat stuff on back and hip which has been really good.

[allenuk]

My Mr Physio, who has helped my 'good' leg to an impressive degree after just one and a half sessions, is UK Indian and I think his training is also multi-cultural. He's been giving me deep (very deep) massage, which I think might be Ayurvedic in origin. All I know is that it works!

Re. the stump side - he agrees that rest might help, but he gave that side of my body a go today, ribs down to upper thigh, and he says that relieving the muscular tension should help the patella, too. So far I have no reason to doubt him.

A