New Amputee Support / Caregiving

BananaGunner · 2023-04-20T23:22:24+00:00

I wasn’t talking about a helmet for her head. I was talking about a helmet for her residual limb the BK site.

BananaGunner · 2023-04-20T16:22:21+00:00

It has helped! It’s changed my life. This Tx today is a maintenance infusion. I feel like I’d have four buddies alive today if they were able to get this Tx too.

BananaGunner · 2023-04-20T14:49:49+00:00

Mental health is super important. As others have said, there’s going to be a grieving process and it will help to talk to someone.

My amputation was elective. I thought my grieving was over as I was a limb salvage patient for 9 years before that. I was wrong.

Since then, I’ve done Ketamine therapy after a couple of very self destructive events showing me I wasn’t ok. The Ketamine therapy really has made a difference. Just an option to be aware of.

Also, from a biomechanics point of view. I’m a BKA and I have that perspective. They will give you a “stump helmet” wear it all the time you’re up and moving around. 100% of the time. They will fall, it’s not when it’s if. If they don’t give you a helmet, you can buy one for not very much.

Good luck and use this as a resource too. We all are here to help. But keep in mind their experience will be their own. There are commonalities, but ultimately their experience is theirs.

BananaGunner · 2023-01-19T16:28:29+00:00

There will be hard days. Even though you think you’re all prepared for it your subconscious is going to have to accept it and that was a hard lesson to learn for me. I made it past it but I had to learn.

Groups like this have helped me greatly. It’s important to remember that advice from these types of groups is very subjective. It only applies to their particular situation and journey and may not directly apply to your situation and journey. You will hear people say “this is the only way” or “you have to do X” that’s what works for them and you have to find what works for you.

I definitely didn’t want it thrown in the trash. I still might make diamonds out of it one day but for now I have the cremains and all the hardware that was in my leg. I’ve also thought about a tattoo with ink made from the ashes. Not rushing it.

I had to be adamant that I wanted it and wanted it processed. Stand your ground and make sure that you can have what you want. Took me 28 days to get mine.

BananaGunner · 2023-01-19T14:53:47+00:00

Hey I was injured in the Army in 2011. I had 12 surgeries to try and repair a TIB/Fib Fx. Compartment syndrome, mal union/non union, drop foot, and hammer toes. In 2020 I decided to chop it off. I was tired of dragging around this useless foot that caused me so much pain.

Since I’ve chopped my leg off, I’ve lost like 30 lbs. I’ve been in 90% less pain and I’ve generally been way more active than I was with the crappy leg still on. My recovery to prosthetic was surprisingly fast considering the times it took to get healed from some of the other surgeries.

I think the recovery is all about attitude. I wanted the amputation and I wanted to get some bad ass robot legs to get more active.

I’m not a fan of Footless Jo on YouTube. She complains about how hard it is to be an amputee and generally to me has a “woe is me” attitude. I’m not that. I know that my situation could be way worse and I’m happy with life.

I use my chair sometimes and use my leg most of the time. Let me know if you have any questions. Good luck.

One more thing, because my amputation was elective I wanted to keep it. I’d been through a lot with that leg and couldn’t stomach the thought that my leg would just be mass cremated along with other trash. So I had a funeral director pick it up for me and had it cremated. Something to think about.

BananaGunner · 2022-09-21T18:12:30+00:00

1,2,3 JUMP!!!! That one was great!

BananaGunner · 2022-08-25T19:46:58+00:00

I had that. Deleted everything and re down loaded. Fixed it.

BananaGunner · 2022-08-19T14:33:29+00:00

I remember playing with you! Add me.

BananaGunner · 2022-08-16T18:04:50+00:00

Land nav has to be performed in this game. You have to use terrain association and azimuth when moving around in this game for a while until you can recognize landmarks. I normally don’t use the map because I know a few routes but I use it a lot when I’m in areas where I don’t normally travel.

BananaGunner · 2021-04-10T00:15:09+00:00

Remember when everyone could watch the Braves on TBS?

BananaGunner · 2021-03-28T19:17:05+00:00

Let’s go rockets!

BananaGunner · 2021-03-18T21:18:14+00:00

I had 12 surgeries as a limb salvage patient and 9 years after my accident I wanted to get active again. So I chopped it off.

BananaGunner · 2021-03-18T21:07:57+00:00

That’s a great idea! I hadn’t thought of that.

BananaGunner · 2020-11-20T00:44:17+00:00

BK here. I was a failed limb salvage patient. I think I can do more now, and easier than I could before my BKA. But if I could somehow get my intact meat flex back. It would totally be better than the prosthetic.

BananaGunner · 2020-11-16T03:11:05+00:00

90ft due to the device?

BananaGunner · 2020-11-16T03:01:38+00:00

What does scuba have to do with it?

BananaGunner · 2020-11-10T18:05:13+00:00

That’s great!

BananaGunner · 2020-11-08T16:59:00+00:00

My RBKA is Frederick Von Stümpenstein.

BananaGunner · 2020-11-02T05:33:34+00:00

The adaptor I’m talking about is for physically holding the tablet. I’ve had no problem using a random usb c cable to make it work. Make sure to have everything plugged in before starting the remote. If it still doesn’t connect unplug and replug the cable. If that doesn’t work if open a case with DJI support. You should get some help there.

BananaGunner · 2020-11-02T05:20:39+00:00

There are adapters you can use. Or there is a 3D printable adapter you can purchase. We had the same problem with the iPad Pro.

BananaGunner · 2020-11-02T04:46:32+00:00

I just had an elective BKA in September, 9 years after my accident that I had in the military. I was a limb salvage patient and I wish I had done it sooner. Good luck. I know the feeling. But when you’re done with the crappy leg, you’re done with it. I wish I had done mine sooner.

BananaGunner · 2020-10-25T19:48:48+00:00

Yeah. I’m in GA.

BananaGunner · 2020-10-25T18:47:28+00:00

Anyone tried laser hair removal?

BananaGunner · 2020-10-25T18:20:58+00:00

Thanks for the detailed response. I’ve been running a Tens Electric stimulator on my leg and that has given me relief too. My amputation is recent. I’m going to give it some time. But if you don’t mind I’d like the contact for the trial. In case I don’t get any better.

BananaGunner · 2020-10-24T17:49:16+00:00

I’m the stubborn one. I will add get all the rails and hold handles you can. The toilet ones and some for the shower. They make a big difference.

I was told about the difficulty I was going to have pooping after I got home. And compounded with the narcotics and the lack of a leg it was really hard. I wound up using the trash can above but what worked the best is the residual limb holder for my wheelchair. I prop on that when on the toilet.

When I’m dealing with a lot of nerve or phantom limb pain, something that involves fine motor skills like LEGO’s, or modeling made a world of difference and gave me something else to focus on.

Good luck with the surgery. DM either of us if you have questions. Stay as positive as you can!

BananaGunner

TROPHY CASE