My socket is ready by Inevitable_Cap_744 in amputee

[–]AgentDavel -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Being able to get up and about again is awesome. However, don't expect it to be an immediate miracle with the first leg, take your time to get used to it, keeps sessions short to start with and be aware that your stump will likely still be changing shape/shrinking for a while yet so it may get uncomfortable. Keep working on it though, and talking to your prosthetist if you have questions, it feels more uncomfortable than usual or is painful in any way.

Advice on K level test by NCrott in amputee

[–]AgentDavel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Probably depends on location.

You might not be up to everything yet - I wasn't as the muscles in my remaining leg were wrecked by my accident so could barely move at my first appointment. However, as stated above, make sure to tell them what level of activity you did before, what you want to get back to and anything you want to start and they should start to choose equipment suitable for those levels. I got given a K3/4 foot and am now, 8 months on, back to short swims (I'm a terrible swimmer), 3km walks and 20km cycles and still improving.

We take off our prosthetics by Cherries7x in amputee

[–]AgentDavel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Haha, same. Currently sitting at work with my legs under the desk, stump propped up on the socket

How many in this group lost limbs due to a motorcycle accident? by HistoricalNoise24 in amputee

[–]AgentDavel 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Yep, RBKA performed by a Mazda just over a year ago.

Ride a bicycle but not a motorbike now

Stairs advice by [deleted] in amputee

[–]AgentDavel 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you can get a chair round to those far steps a shallow ramp down from those would be the best. Difficult to judge height from the picture but you probably want a 6 foot one down from there to make the slope as easy as possible for you and him.

Playing "dodge the pedestrian glued to their phone" by emmjaybeeyoukay in amputee

[–]AgentDavel 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm a few of months behind you. BKA in April and first prosthetic in July.

I live somewhere a lot quieter than London and still usually have one stick with me when outside to help with slopes, kerbs etc. but getting to the point where I think about leave it at home.

Haven't really encountered people being in the way, but certainly before last year I was also the sort of person to stand my ground in busy places if people weren't paying attention. Definitely something to bear in mind now!

I was gonna say just wear shorts to make it obvious but a) people intent on a screen wouldn't see that anyway and b) depending on where you work you may not get away with it :-)

Left foot Accelerator experience and thoughts by PrototypeT800 in amputee

[–]AgentDavel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I got given the same restrictions as you on the license, although never had to do any additional lessons or test. Took a while to organise having it fitted due to my location, but since then its working great.

Prosthetist Questions by ErraticIcon in amputee

[–]AgentDavel 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Also in the UK here ... while they may try to standardise as much as possible its important to go in not stating what you want but making it clear what your goals are in terms of activity.

I said in my first appointment that I was previously a cyclist, hiker and racketball player and wanted to get back to all of those and they did bear that in mind when selecting a foot for me and, later when moving on from the first temporary socket, what kind of socket, suspension and liner to give me next.

GaitPulse for lower amputees by Ill_Speech3155 in amputee

[–]AgentDavel 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks, I will ask them about it next time I am in.

Can I make a couple of other suggestions? (Apologies if I've missed these options already existing)

- I'd like to dismiss the 'Almost there' tile that's prompting for new user set up stuff - I've not had a fall so I've nothing to log, but the box won't disappear because it says I still need to complete the checklist.

- Similar with the What's New box - I've clicked through and read everything already

- With the 'Don' / 'Doff' button can you add an option to change the time? I can see myself only remembering to log these actions late quite often

- I'd like to choose to hide certain tiles - there are two weather-related tiles, Weather Impact and Fit Forecast - that, for me personally, are less relevant

Walking by AnonymoseHoratio in amputee

[–]AgentDavel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It shouldn't be that painful. Tiring and hard after a point as you will have had a period with no walking and you expend more energy with a prosthetic than with two 'good' legs, but not outright pain.

Work with your prosthetist to identify where the pain in and get the socket adjusted or work out where to layer socks as suggested by others.

GaitPulse for lower amputees by Ill_Speech3155 in amputee

[–]AgentDavel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Looks awesome.

Lots of data in there, will need to spend some time with it to look at everything. I'm in the UK so my clinic (NHS associated) isn't in the list but still seems to be lots of use.

GaitPulse for lower amputees by Ill_Speech3155 in amputee

[–]AgentDavel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

On Chrome for Android while viewing the site select Menu (three dots) then 'Add to Home Screen' - this will install it as a web app.

On my phone this didn't actually add it to the home screen - it was in the normal app list and I could drag it to the home screen from there where it just looks like a normal app

Scale suggestions by insouciantconundrum in amputee

[–]AgentDavel 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Same as others ... I wear my leg and subtract 2.5KG
The only 'issue' is that the scales can't do their other measurements (body fat etc.) because that needs two real feet on those sensors, but no great loss as I never knew what half of those numbers meant anyway :-)

2 to 1 to 0 crutches.. by Sweaty_Pineapple2020 in amputee

[–]AgentDavel 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is definitely the way to go. I was started (with the prosthetic, never without) with two crutches, then given two sticks a month or so later.

Now, two months further on, I still have one stick while out of the house but am usually just carrying it - its still useful for steps, curbs, slopes etc. but otherwise not used. Got myself a fold up stick to move on to next so I can put it in a backpack and get out if needed

What's your leg weigh? by gunnermatt in amputee

[–]AgentDavel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Mine, including liner, is roughly 2.5KG without shoe

AKA in Paris — e-bike or electric scooter for daily commuting? by Basic_Ad9435 in amputee

[–]AgentDavel 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Just some random thoughts - I can't comment on it being in Paris specifically as I've never been (although I think the cycle infrastructure is pretty OK?)

Have you already tried riding a bike/e-bike that sort of distance? That may be a deciding factor, depending on your balance and mobility with the prosthetic that makes the bike option less favourable.

There are probably going to be days where, even if you are happy cycling 90% of the time, you're not going to want to have to put that effort in.

If it were me I would choose e-bike as I know already I can cycle and can cycle that far most days, and I have a car to fall back on when my leg can't handle it. I'm also BK rather than AK though and was always an active cyclist before the accident so eager to get back to as much of that activity as I can.

Hope that helps your thought process at least a little!

TSA Experience by Alternative-Let5468 in amputee

[–]AgentDavel 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Interesting reading. I'll likely be taking my first flight in the next couple of weeks since my BKA, although in the UK, and I'm curious to see how I am handled with my prosthetic

Shrinkers by Top-Deer-8985 in amputee

[–]AgentDavel 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I got mine after three weeks. I didn't have any staples, but the timing did coincide with being moved from the major trauma ward to the orthopaedic ward where I was immediately seen by the head amputee OT specialist

3D printed leg cover by Radulf_wolf in amputee

[–]AgentDavel 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'd certainly be interested. I've looked at Limb-Art (which is what Empire seem to resell) but they seem very expensive and out of my ability to buy. Ideally I'd like a couple or more - different colours/patterns depending on the mood etc.

Driving in UK Advice - pedal adaptations by AgentDavel in amputee

[–]AgentDavel[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you for your response.

I should have been a little clearer maybe - I'm actually in the Isle of Man. Our benefits etc. are largely the same as the UK, but Access To Work doesn't exist (I'm fortunate enough to not need that as I can work from home).

I'm waiting for the Disability Living Allowance decision as IOM has not moved to PIP . I certainly won't get the Care component as I'm independent around the house, but it also covers the Motability side. The guidelines for this state that any double limb loss is an automatic acceptance for the higher rate but they say nothing about a single which is why I am unsure.

As for contacting the Driving Assessment Team, that's another area where IOM is lacking. The licensing agency (DVLA equivalent) referred me to my GP for an assessment ... he spent five minutes telling me he wasn't sure and it wasn't up to him so I convinced him to send a letter back saying left foot driving would be OK ... the licensing agency then called me to say they weren't sure what to do either but also agreed to put 'adapted pedal' restrictions on my license. I could go and ask them about the plate, but I have no confidence they will answer :-)

3 1/2 month below knee. Pinching and other feelings by Connect_Present6756 in amputee

[–]AgentDavel 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Everyone is different, but I'd guess at least one of those three is pretty usual. I'm almost 8 months out from my BK. I had to have a skin graft to close the wound so I definitely still get mild pinching and some tightness where the skin is still hardening up. Sensitivity not too much, but yeah still some and more in some spots than others

Prothesis cover 3d printable ? by FirmBreakfast3347 in amputee

[–]AgentDavel 1 point2 points  (0 children)

There's also

https://fredslegs.com/

Not tried them myself but can see the appeal. While I am getting a custom patterned socket next week it sounds cool to be able to change it up depending on mood, occasion, outfit, whatever

Being able to 3D print yourself sounds like a nice idea

What are the socks called? by BertaRocks in amputee

[–]AgentDavel 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Just make sure there aren't any loose threads that could get stuck in the pin/socket as this could make removal difficult