Pitfalls and Progress – Page 3 – Two Feet Shorter Archive

So, I am getting up from all kinds of places with the help of a walker. Tall chairs in the kitchen, my wheel chair, the soft low leather chair in the living room. Let me tell you, it feels good!

It is also hard work. I have to get my feet under me, get my balance with my hands on the walker, then swing forward and push myself up using my thigh muscles. That is a hard task when you only have six inches or so of leg below the knee. You can use your calf muscles and feet to help those thighs get you on your feet, I don’t have that luxury.

The muscle I have left below the knee is nothing more than cushion for what is left of my shin bones. Oh, and let me tell you, that is the most freaky x ray I have ever seen. The ends of my bones down there not connected to anything, just cut at an angle and hanging there. Gives we the willies!

Any who….

So, walking. First, it doesn’t hurt my stumps. I have talked to death my vacuum system, so I won’t say too much about it here, but it sure does hold my legs tight, and keeps the end of my legs from touching anything! So, no pain. The actual standing part and walking reminds me of walking on stilts. I can remember my old man making a set for me out of scrap wood when I was a kid. Trying to walk on my legs is a lot like walking on those two by four stilts.

I am so tall with them on, and that is weird. When you spend your life at a certain height, you get used to that perspective. Now, suddenly, I am at least four inches taller, and everything looks different. Really, I don’t know how women can stand wearing high heels. Taller is nice, but it is going to take some getting used to!

I did a video of me walking and you can view it from my video/picture page. I would like to say here that I mis spoke in that video. My prosthetics guy, Matt, told me I didn’t have to show off, meaning, I didn’t have to walk, just get used to wearing them. In that video, I said screw them, I am gonna walk. That came out wrong. I meant screw that, as in not walking when I have legs to play with. I have the utmost respect for all my team of doctors, nurses, PTA’s, OTA’s and prosthetics people. They got me where I am now. So, the words came out wrong.

I was standing on my legs, I was excited and talking faster than my brain can process…lol

So, the walking with the walker. It gets easier the more I do it. I am not really afraid of falling, although I know I will at some point. I will just get back up. I have to watch what I am doing when I am walking in the walker. I don’t want to teach myself any bad gait habits. Gait is a fancy word for stride. If I get to rehab and have to un learn bad habits, I would be very pissed at myself.

I know at least one of the PTA’s and OTA’s I worked with reads my blog. I wouldn’t mind some input on this. Am I going to teach myself bad gait habits this way? I seem to remember somebody telling me that the process was parallel bar training, then walking with a walker later. I skipped a step, is this a bad thing, I wonder?

Well, for the moment, I am going to continue, because I am enjoying myself!

Just for a moment, I am going to spout some TMI. Going to the bathroom. Even when I am in my chair I wear my legs. So, if I go to the bathroom and roll in there with the chair, I can use my legs to help me get onto the toilet stool. Actually, transferring out of my chair to anywhere else is much easier with the legs on. I can get in and out of a car now without the use of a slide board!

Got off track, didn’t I? So, in the bathroom, on the toilet, with legs on. I know going number two with no legs is a chore. You don’t have feet on the floor to keep your balance with, so you always have to hold on to something. Bummer, don’t you think? With the legs on, I can plant my elbows on my knees and relax! That is such a nice thing, knowing I am not going to fall forward off the toilet stool if I relax for a minute!

Also, with the walker, in the bathroom standing up. You guessed it. I won’t elaborate, but it was great, let me tell you. But, remember what I said about being taller and throwing off perspective? Well, it throws off aim, as well! Whoops!

You know, it takes me about fifteen minutes to just get my legs on. I have these thick urethane liners I have turn inside out, then roll them up onto my legs. That takes forever! Remember, I have only one good hand. After I get both liners on I then have to but on “socks” over the liners. These creates an air gap when my legs go into the leg sockets. The socks keep the socket snug, and when under vacuum pressure, help keep my stumps in suspension and not knocking around like a clapper in a bell.

So, fifteen minutes just to get going with my legs on, but it is time well spent. Everyone was worried I would not be able to do it myself because of my bum left hand, but I can. I do. I will.

And I can and I will…..

Keep-a walking, after midnight, searching for you…….

Sing it, Patsy…….

😉

19th February 2011

Quickie post

Ok, new video up on my video and picture page. Me up and walking with a walker, and of course Bev, shaking my money maker!

I promise I will have some nice long reading material in the form of a blog tomorrow, I have just been busy!

Well, reading, actually. Found another Black Company book to get absorbed in…lol

New good blog tomorrow, I promise!

16th February 2011

Weird and wonderful…

As of the end of the day, today, I have had my new legs a little over two full days. Wow. You know, it is strange, I had legs for thirty seven years, but after only three months without, it is weird having feet down at the ends of my legs.

First and foremost, my brain is tripping out. It has spent three months trying to send nerve signals to feet that were not there. That is what causes phantom sensations. Well, my brain had finally calmed down, but when my eyes told my brain there were shoes down there, the brain said “I knew they had to be there!”

Now my brain is trying to talk to carbon fiber feet. If my brain is an idiot, does that make me one, as well? Rhetorical question, BTW. 😉

So, dealing with itches I can’t scratch again. No biggie. All in all, so far I am well pleased. The sockets fit well, the left being a bit big, but spacer socks make it ok. I have these cool liners that go on my legs, they are like socks, but made of urethane. When they go on, they stick like glue. They protect my skin from rubbing and irritation.

The simple act of walking pumps air out of the system when the legs are fully on, increasing circulation, and holding the leg in place. The circulation makes my legs feel almost normal, and keeps the constant buzzing feeling I have to a minimum. Of course, walking is still a challenge.

Today I walked about six feet with the help of a walker. The important thing is, I got up without any help from anyone. I am getting stronger! I hope to be well ahead of the game before a bed opens up at my rehab place in Louisville.

Getting around is a challenge in my chair, now. I had to put one of the foot rests back on my chair, and that extra length out front makes it a bit hard to navigate! Getting from my chair to other places, though, is a lot easier. I can lift myself much higher because I can plant my feet and use my legs.

Those suckers feel like they weigh a ton sometimes! They are only about ten pounds each, but when you haven’t had calves and feet for a while, the thigh muscles protest! Oh well, they can picket and carry signs all they want, I think the legs are gonna stay!

Sorry, I know this a bit of a shorter blog than normal, but I am wore out!

G’nite, y’all!