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Post by mom2noble on Dec 1, 2009 20:46:02 GMT -7
We call Noble's rbk his short leg. He started to complain to me today that when he "wiggled" his leg it hurt. I felt all around and then realized. It is hurting when he is flexing his calve muscle on his short leg like if he were moving his foot that is not there. Anyhow, I am not an amputee and thus cant figure this out. I actually, stupidly, didnt know that he could do that. I do know that when they did the amputation, the orthepedic surgeon atttatched the top of his achilles tendon to the shin "tibia" tendons. Anyhow, he does have a good amount of deep scar tissue on the calve side where they wrapped the shin skin around and attatched it to the calve side. I massage it and "move" the scar every day to help avoid adhesions, but I am wondering if that is the problem. I contacted his orthapedic surgeon, but he doesnt have huge amounts of kid amputees and I'd like to know what to say when I see him. What do you guys think is causing him pain? His prosthetic leg is pretty loose and he is getting casted for his new one in a week. He is on a lock and pin system. He has zero phantom pains. This pain is definately from "flexing" his muscles in his short leg.... Any help would be awesome! Holly, Mom to Noble  |
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Post by ann- on Dec 2, 2009 0:37:53 GMT -7
Hi Holly
I am probably not much help as wasn't sure what you meant by 'flexing the muscles' and as I was sitting here took my own leg off to try and work it out <grin>
I did wonder if Noble is just discovering that he can still 'wriggle his toes', sometimes it takes a few months to discover this and can feel a bit uncomfortable at first. I had one of my stumps reconstructed last year in a similar way you describe noble had his done but haven't experienced any probs with flexing etc. but for a while did get 'sensations' down the back of the leg where there is a join.
Other than that I suppose it could be a number of things, which might be prosthetic or legwise. I was a few years older than Noble when I became an amp, but as a youngster was quite often 'pulling muscles' etc. prob just from over activity. Best you are getting it checked out though.
Ann
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Post by romeo1414 on Dec 2, 2009 12:04:25 GMT -7
Holly,
I think I understand what you mean by him flexing his muscle, as I do the same thing. My left leg is below knee, and I still have use of the calf muscles, and when I flex them like I would to move my foot it can cause discomfort. The muscles might still be learning their new "role" so to speak, and may take some time to work out. I actually work the muscles in my stumps daily, move them around, stretch them out which seems to have helped to dull the pain down some. There really are a number of possible reasons behind this, and the only one who would really be able to provide any real answer would be the ortho. Ask noble a few questions, and have the answers ready. Ask him where exactly he feels the pain, have him show you by pointing to it. Try to get a pain level, a scale of 1 to 10, but provide examples of the levels to go by. Also, ask him if he feels the pain when he flexes his leg in just one direction, or both directions. This information will help the doctor to better understand what is going on, and the doctor may have other questions as well.
I hope that this may have helped a little bit
Romeo
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lynne
Female Member 
Posts: 35
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Post by lynne on Dec 2, 2009 15:32:11 GMT -7
Hi Holly,
Agree with what has been said already.
You could make a game of it, getting him to point to where the pain is with his eyes closed, just in case it is phantom pain he is feeling in his missing parts. Just an idea.
Good luck to the little man.
Lynne
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Post by mom2noble on Dec 6, 2009 20:47:34 GMT -7
Hey guys, your replys really did help! our ortho was nice enough to fit us in tommorow already Noble doesnt really understand the pain scale and its like pulling teeth pretty much, but judging by what i've seen him through and stuff i'd say it was a 3 sometimes 4. He is getting casted for his new leg already this week, even though its only been 3 months for this first one. His leg has shrunk a good deal. I can imagine the pain might be from adding socks which adds weight to the leg too. He speaks ok, but he just doesnt have "words" for everything.... I guess itll just ease my mind once the ortho surgeon takes a peek too. Really, though, I think you guys are better than the doctors sometimes! Thank You Holly |
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Post by romeo1414 on Dec 7, 2009 14:54:34 GMT -7
I can only imagine how hard it is for a parent, or other close person, to try to understand what is going on. I cant even begin to think how hard it would be to try to get anything from a kindergarten aged child, he knows whats wrong, but doesnt know how to explain it. I am glad that we were able to help, and hopefully goes ok with the doctor, and nothing majorly is wrong. I am hoping that it is more something that may need stretched out, or something that does not involve anything that may set him back.
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