How I Moved On After Amputation
In the past few weeks, I have seen people on amputee pages asking if you ever get over losing a limb?
I feel you can but it does take time and you need to allow yourself to move on from thinking about your life before your amputation.
As I said at the end of my first blog, telling people about why you had your amputation/s is the least interesting thing you can talk about, how you have moved on and what you do now is way more interesting and important thing to talk about.
So now you have your prosthetic/s, how do you live with them?
The first part is up to you. It is important to let your prosthetist know what type of person you are.
When getting my first prosthetics, I felt that my activity level was determined by the fact that I didn’t play sports. I said how active I am. I walked over 50 km most weekends and had a physically active job.
This did not move them to thinking I would be committed to using prosthetics and I was given very basic components—the knee had no swing function and was locked straight for walking or unlocked to swing free when sitting.
Advocating for yourself is important for everything you do. But at the start of your journey with prosthetics, it is vital as this can determine the components you can get for a long time.
One of the guys, a bilateral above knee amputee, was in revalidation with left with the same locked knees and was still told that he was not considered active enough for any other components. So he uses his wheelchair and can’t convince the doctors and prosthetist that he can and would be more active with better components.
Get it right first time and show that you are willing to put in the work.
I have read an article this week about a system of self-reporting on how active you are that could replace the K-level system that puts people into a category based on their life before amputation and what the medical team think is possible for the person’s mobility.
Once I proved my determination to use the prosthetics, I was able to get active prosthetics. Most importantly, the Ottobock X3 microprocessor knee, recently replaced with the X4 knee.
Microprocessor knees are a game changer and it is good that they are now being seen as a benefit to people with lower mobility, as they really do reduce the possibility of a fall.
If you have any questions or comments about this article, please reach out to me @crazy3amp on Instagram.
Thanks for your insight! I am in the exact position. I can’t seem to get through to them that I am active and do various activities because I have a large place and animals to take care of. My animals listened more than they did. I am on my second prosthetist and still the same outcome. I am going to look for someone else… Thanks!
Had two amputations below the knee.
First one was my right foot being amputated below my toes and however much we tried with special boots etc never healed properly. This included a month in hospital and a similar period in step-down.
This year in March after much consultation we decided that I should have a second amputation below my right knee.
A 3 day stay in hospital and after healing was fitted with prosthetic leg which enabled me to walk again.
I am having my second prosthetic leg fitted on Thursday as my stump has shrunk.
Have become much more mobiile and have my wife to thank for supporting me for over 2 years.
Docter and prosthetic company have assisted me to be positive .