Post by azep22 on Sept 19, 2017 10:37:50 GMT -7
Hello all,
I won't make you read through a full introduction, but if you want to I posted about me in the introduction section : )
For the short version , I was born a congenital amputee, a very short left below the elbow and I have a partial right hand. I've adapted well in my opinion over my almost 30 years this way, but due to an accident 2 years ago, my right leg was badly damaged, has endured tons of surgeries, my knee doesn't respond well to movment, and is now having vascular issues. As a worse case scenario the doctors are posing a hip disarticulation. As you can imagine having my special arms is posing me worry on long term crutch or wheelchair use. Since I was born with my current limbs, an amputation of something I already have is a really foreign and scary concept, because Ive never known any better with my arms and hand. This will be a new thing.
First is there anyone active here who has had an amputation all the way to the hipp? Is it possible to walk either without crutches, or just with one crutch or cane?
Second, is there anyone who is an arm amputee and has special crutches or walker type adaptions in general? On my partial hand I do have 2 "normal" fingers that I can do basic grip with, so a crutch on that side I don't think will be an issue after all if it's a permenantnat thing, I've already done it for short periods of time and I'm gaining confidence in that working. It will be my left arm that's an issue. My nub is so short below my elbow you would never guess I was a below elbow amputee. But I hear that they can make crutch adaptations and sockets like a prosthetic for a crutch!
Thanks in advance for any response. I'm currently doing OK and get around fine with a kafo brace, but damaged blood vesels and the countless surgeries have paved the way to a constantly cold and stiff leg that my doctors want to remove before a life threatening infection or other issues could result in much worse. I am still working with my doctor team and I'm still pushing for any possibility of not getting a full amputation. I'll be meeting with them tomorrow for a checkup evaluation, so maybe some good news!
All the best,
Alec
I won't make you read through a full introduction, but if you want to I posted about me in the introduction section : )
For the short version , I was born a congenital amputee, a very short left below the elbow and I have a partial right hand. I've adapted well in my opinion over my almost 30 years this way, but due to an accident 2 years ago, my right leg was badly damaged, has endured tons of surgeries, my knee doesn't respond well to movment, and is now having vascular issues. As a worse case scenario the doctors are posing a hip disarticulation. As you can imagine having my special arms is posing me worry on long term crutch or wheelchair use. Since I was born with my current limbs, an amputation of something I already have is a really foreign and scary concept, because Ive never known any better with my arms and hand. This will be a new thing.
First is there anyone active here who has had an amputation all the way to the hipp? Is it possible to walk either without crutches, or just with one crutch or cane?
Second, is there anyone who is an arm amputee and has special crutches or walker type adaptions in general? On my partial hand I do have 2 "normal" fingers that I can do basic grip with, so a crutch on that side I don't think will be an issue after all if it's a permenantnat thing, I've already done it for short periods of time and I'm gaining confidence in that working. It will be my left arm that's an issue. My nub is so short below my elbow you would never guess I was a below elbow amputee. But I hear that they can make crutch adaptations and sockets like a prosthetic for a crutch!
Thanks in advance for any response. I'm currently doing OK and get around fine with a kafo brace, but damaged blood vesels and the countless surgeries have paved the way to a constantly cold and stiff leg that my doctors want to remove before a life threatening infection or other issues could result in much worse. I am still working with my doctor team and I'm still pushing for any possibility of not getting a full amputation. I'll be meeting with them tomorrow for a checkup evaluation, so maybe some good news!
All the best,
Alec