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Post by eplfan2011 on Oct 30, 2017 19:39:17 GMT -7
I'm a recent btk amputee (three months) and now the temperatures are dipping it's causing me to get some phantom and just general pain, my stump seems to be very sensitive to the cold it started off when it got to about 50 degrees.
How do you guys keep the little guy warm apart from the obvious, at the moment I'm using a 5 ply stump sock it's ok but not great. I'll elaborate a little it's not for when I'm wearing a prostetic just for when I'm sitting around or crutching it. Any thermal socks or battery heated ones? If you know of some a supplier would be nice!
Thanks in advance.
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Post by cherylm on Oct 31, 2017 1:08:18 GMT -7
Well, first some possible hopeful news...since you're still so new at this amp thing, you MIGHT adjust to the temperature changes with time. That said, stumps do tend to get pretty darn cold. The 5 ply sock isn't a bad idea...and you could add additional socks as needed. I have a knit "stump warmer" (basically just a very long, very heavy hand-knit version of a stump sock) with a drawstring I can tie loosely at the top, and that's very helpful on a cold night.
I've never heard of a battery heated stump sock...but I live in California so there might just not be a demand here. I know that there are "regular" thermal and battery heated socks for hunters and outdoor enthusiasts...if no-one's thought of something similar for amputees, you might want to try and develop one! There could be a market there!
For just sitting around, you could always use a heating pad, either electric or microwavable, but you've probably already thought of that one.
Wish I could be more helpful, and I hope you find a way to make it through the winter comfortably........
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Post by stonecutter on Oct 31, 2017 7:46:56 GMT -7
I've always wished for a heating pad w/ vibration for winter-related phantom pains. I would sleep sooooo much better. Vibration keeps the nerves stimulated and they don't fire (as often) producing the phantom pain. The heat - well - self explanatory. If one of you want to get your inventors cap on - i'm your first customer. Not sure there's a huge market though...  |
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Post by eplfan2011 on Oct 31, 2017 16:02:21 GMT -7
Thank you Cherylm for your input all good stuff, and for your input too Stonecutter but I'm no electrical engineer lol.
For the meantime I have cut the foot off one of my thermal fishing socks and sewed the end up that worked pretty well, I also tried sewing down the sides of a thermal beanie hat and cutting off the excess that worked even better.
After reading through this forum for most of the morning and some of a sleepless early morning, I'm a lot wiser and glad that I've found a place where I can find answers to at least some of the questions that go through my mind.
Thanks
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Post by stonecutter on Nov 4, 2017 20:00:44 GMT -7
That post...
that post right there is why we are here! I for one, am glad you found the experiences of the members of this group helpful. You'll find that people come and go from these forums, but there is a core bunch of members who stick around to help... they are crucial to the spirit of this little corner of the net that not a lot of people understand.
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Post by eplfan2011 on Nov 5, 2017 10:05:28 GMT -7
Since my surgery I feel that I have been left hanging in there breeze, my surgeon has been nice enough and my stump seems to be healing nicely, same with my leg guy but they can only understand so far, I feel unless you have experienced coping with a missing limb for the first time or felt the discomfort of PP its pretty hard to understand it.
I have no other contact with other amputees and until finding forums like this one information was purely text book, now I'm getting information first hand and learning lots of little tips and tricks to help me make it through the day from people who have been through the same problems and walked in the same shoes.
Thanks for taking the time to maintain this resource,I myself have ran a forum and know the work involved!
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Post by cherylm on Nov 6, 2017 1:33:28 GMT -7
I think that feeling of "hanging in the breeze" is pretty much normal for a new amputee...and probably a good part of why so many of us do commit to advising and sharing our stories on forums, in support groups, and in one-on-one encounters with other amps. I can remember the day after my own surgery; I was visited by my surgeon, my podiatrist, and my newly-appointed prosthetist. They all assured me that my surgery had gone well, the stump looked good, and that I'd soon be "back to normal." I nodded and said that was what I was hoping to hear....but I was thinking something along the lines of, "yeah, sure, that's easy for you to say; you're all three standing there on two perfectly good legs."
It wasn't until I met an active, healthy, experienced BKA that I began to believe that I could get back to fully normal life. I was very lucky there: he was the head technician in my CPO's office, so he was a ready resource for all my questions...and I asked a LOT of questions! And it was his advice, reassurance, and tips and tricks that convinced me that I needed to get involved in helping other new amps learn the lay of the land. I think a lot of us have similar stories in our past.
So as you're adjusting to this "new normal," DO ask LOTS of questions...of your doctor, of your prosthetist, of us, of any amputee you happen to encounter on the streets. (Many are quite happy to talk with someone else who "gets it.") If you can find a support group in your area, give that a try, too. No matter how highly educated you are in matters pertaining to amputees, there is nothing that compares to actually BEING an amputee, and it can really help to have an amp community to draw on for wisdom and support!
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