I’m a right BKA of 4 years. I had a lot of medical issues unrelated to my amputation that kept setting me back from starting PT to learn to walk in a prosthetic leg. Currently I have a wound on the bottom of my big toe that they’ve been trying to heal for 8 months. I was referred to a wound clinic and see them in a couple weeks in the hopes it will heal so I can finally start PT. I’m wondering a couple things. First, do you think I still need to wear a shrinker? I quit wearing it about a year ago bec my stump doesn’t seem to change sizes anymore. Is the shrinker more for when you are using a prosthetic and you put it on when your stump is not in the leg? Second, has anyone else experienced waiting this long to start PT? I’m scared my body won’t work anymore since I’m just sitting in a chair all day. My stump doesn’t have a lot of tissue at the end. I can really feel my bone stick out along the top of my stump close to the end of it. Is that normal? Thanks for helping me with any of these questions you can answer.

Barbell pad, cut it in two, comes with a Velcro strap.

I had my middle fingertip amputated right at the first joint about a month ago. I went back for my follow up appointment with the doctor and he recommended I see an occupational therapist to work on range of motion and nerve sensitivity. For those that have been through this have you found going to the occupational therapist benefitial to your recovery?

Overall, recovery has been great so far. Only thing I need recommendations with is the phantom "itch" that I'm getting mainly at night time. I've tried taking Tylenol PM and massaging my limb but nothing I've tried has helped these itches and sometimes sharp "pinches." I can feel these in the heel or arch of my missing foot. These sensations are just annoying and wake me up in the middle of the night, they go away after like 5-10 seconds but come back a few minutes later. Any advice helps. Thanks.

I’m wondering if anyone has experienced something similar and, if so, what you’ve done to help alleviate it. I had a bka (assuming that means “below knee amputation” - I’m new to using Reddit) back in March and am well into PT, getting back to “normal” life, walking without crutches, the whole shebang. However, I’m running into a slight issue with my prosthetic but only under the very specific condition that I’m wearing it and I’m sitting for more than 15 minutes. The issue is that my residual limb (below the knee) gets stiff, or feels like it fell asleep and it hurts to walk for anywhere from 3-10 steps. After that, everything is fine again, I’m back to walking normally, and the stiffness is gone. I know I’m not wearing too many or too few socks because I’m able to walk without issue to alleviate the stiffness and it doesn’t feel like my leg is being squeezed too much, but my prosthetist is concerned that it even happens at all. We thoroughly checked the socket and there’s no signs of anything that would cause a circulation issue. I also reached out to the vascular surgeon that performed the amputation to get their input but figured I’d ask here as well in case anyone experienced something similar and had some advice, input, or suggestions as well. Thanks in advance!

My cousin just lost his arm in a nasty accident. He's been in the ICU for over a month now, going in and out of surgery. I'm sadly a few states away, but I want to do everything I can to help. He's bored out of his mind, and I have no clue what to send him. The only thing I can think of is hand puzzles, coloring books, ect... but idk if this is a good idea since he might have difficulty with only one hand (he's having a rlly hard time texting). I don't know what he's going through, I don't know what will help, so I thought I might come here :( Any advice or reccomendtions?

Every so often I get in-grown hair on my stump (BKA). I am highly active and also sweat quite a bit, since I live in CA where is nice and warm yearly. Has anyone done laser hair removal? How was it? Did it hurt? Did it help? Thanks!

To my fellow amputees who are also online dating, female with a AKA here, when do you disclose you're an amputee? In your profile? Before meeting someone in person? On the actual date?

Went and saw my orthotic doctor. Its been 2 years since amputation. He became quite concerned at the crazy amount of atrophy in the amputated side thigh muscles, especially since I am quite active and walk alot. Even though Ive been walking on both legs for almost 2 years, my right leg is 2inches smaller in circumference than my left. Theres no muscle definition at all and even though my activity has increased, the muscle continues to shrink. Even a year ago it wasnt as bad as this. He recommended an EMG to see what might be the issue. Until then:
Any recommendations on isolated exercises to try and increase muscle tone on my right thigh for quads and glutes. Ive tried split squats, but trying to balance while doing them makes them lose effectiveness. Trying to use a band to do leg extensions hasnt gone great as I feel it in my knee and the band doesnt want to stay in place where the rest of my shin is.

Kind of getting desperate for some type of exercise thatll work thats isolated and able to do without crazy equipment or without wearing prosthetic.

Hey! You turned 21, guess your leg is perfectly fine now and no longer need any supplies. Good luck!

My amputation RBK is still fairly new. Im still shrinking like crazy. Thankfully was able to get approved through Texas Workforce Commission for some type of coverage, but now I find out they are incredibly slow approving.

Im currently stuck in a socket that is approximately 56ply too big and wearing a prosthetic with a broken foot shell that has started to damage and wear away the carbon fiber of the prostheric itself. Ive had to have them put 3 pads in the back and ive had to shove a sock in the bottom to help prevent bortoming out. Got cast for a new socket before getting the script. Took a week to get the script, but by the time I got it, I had to get cast again! because I had shrunk 6 more ply. In a week.

Now Im waiting for billing to send the information to Vocarional Rehab and pray it doesnt take more than a month for them to approve it so I can start the month long process of getting a new one!

This is so ridiculously frustrating. Ive had to cancel travel plans because theres no way Im going anywhere until I have a properly fitting leg which means I just wasted money.

Ive been fighting since AUGUST to get in to see my doctor to get a script, told they sent the script to my prosthetic place, found out they lied almsot 3 weeks later at my prostheric appt thinking I was going to get clear fit, instead im calling my doctors office only to find out I needed to be seen in person first after I cancelled my in person appointment since they said they sent the script over and its a 90min drive one way. Had to reschedule it another few weeks out and now I have to wait for more administrative red tape to aprrove it! By the time its approved, theyll have to cast me again and ill either be on crutches or using my wheelchair since theres only so many socks I can stand on. Currently Im up to 8-10ply again and down to about 2 hours of walking time a day. I normally am on my feet and/or walking almost all day with no problems. This is ridiculous.

Hey guys I’m new to the Austin,TX area I’m needing to find a new prosthetist problem is my insurance is PPO and there isn’t one in the Austin area the closest one is 150 miles away from me as we all know it takes several trips to get a socket made and I can’t keep taking off work and time off to drive 150 miles to get one made anyone had to deal with insurance not having a prosthetist close to them what did you do anyone have any advice

Basically I had my tight leg amputation above the knee I was depending on my mom for everything but today she said I had to get out and not call her mom anymore I'm feeling lose and hopeless I have appointments on Friday that she refuses to take me to at this point I'm feeling like the world and are against me I did something drastic but it wasn't the outcome I expected god has never love me and I see it more now it's already hard missing a limb and I also have to battle my bipolar disorder and anxiety and depression I'm just looking for resources to help me please

Any above knee amputees have the rubbing in the groan? All of us, am I right? However, I’ve noticed over the past 5 plus years the skin is really discolored there now. I’m a female and if I were single it might bother me but I’m happily married and my spouse and I never skip a beat with intimacy. I digress. The epsom salt bath soothes the knots that’s usually arise due to the friction there. I know the preventatives: an and d ointment but that’s it. Also it’s a greasy feeling and slippery when I walk. Feels like it takes away the suction of the socket.

Do I have some sort of discoloration and a cyst that’s reoccurring or am I just not taking enough preventative steps? Nonetheless looks like chicken skin. Haha

Hi, I had a left bka on 10/3 and just have a few questions.

First, what is the timeline for shrinkers/ prosthetic like? Is it a few wks post op, more than that, etc.

Second, what is the best prep tips for getting ready for a prosthetic leg?

Third, I have had a lot of phantom pain and stump pain. My surgeons already is putting in a referral for a surgery that fixes the nerves that cause this pain. If anyone here has had this, can you give me your input?

Fourth, what are the best tips you have for someone starting this journey? Before the surgery i already had a significant walking disability due to lack of nerve/ muscle and contractions in my ankle and foot, but this is all knew to me at this level

Tia

Should it be uncomfortable to walk on I feel like I’m slowly getting better ..

But I’m having pressure on right front of stump I don’t know if it’s normal or not

I'm gonna keep this short and sweet. I lost my leg 8 years ago from an accident, my right leg, and have been driving pretty much ever since. Now 8 years later I'm being told out of nowhere that my license is revoked and i have to have special equipment installed to drive which will cost nearly 3 grand that i don't have, and not to mention i HATE THOSE ADAPTIVE DEVICES and like to just drive with my left foot.

This is reallly just a rant. I can't believe how fucked up our system is. All i want is to be able to get to and from where i need to go, including work, without having to go through all this trouble, but if i get pulled over now it would suddenly be a crime after almost 9 years of not even knowing this law existed.

I am just so angry. Not to mention, I don't qualify for disability (I don't even want their money im not a lazy dickhead. I just want their insurance).

So in the state's eyes, I am disabled enough to not be able to drive, but not disabled enough to get insurance through social security so i can get a better prosthesis and maybe even get assistance paying for this absurd shit i don't want in my car.

Also I have tried OVR, didn't do a thing for me.

I simply can't stand the world we live in. I would LOVE to make one of these government people walk in my shoes (shoe) for one day. How would they like it if they had an injury that fucked up their entire life, then afterwards got their right to drive taken away. It's just so evil.

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Has anyone here used the iWalk hands free crutch? Is it worth getting? It’s so expensive but seems like it could be a game changer if it actually works as well as it says! I just don’t want to spend a ton if it’s not worth it.

I'm LBK and want pants with a zipper on the leg for work and the few days of winter we get in SE Texas, I know some take pants to a seamstress or similar business to have it done. Fortunately, my wife has a degree in theatrical costumes and can do the alterations. Does anyone know what zipper to get and where to get it?

Hey everyone i just had a RBKA on 10/25 and admittedly am struggling with PT as the issue stemmed from osteomyelitis and was told to limit movement as much as people leading up to the surgery and losing some strength. The pt and ot nurses at the hospital think I should go to rehab to build up my strength. I wanted to go home and work on this all by myself but everyone seems to think rehab will work well for me. Anyone have experience with this?

Saw this on FarceBook...