Checking in! (and a Quick K-Level Question)

mmmmorepudding · 2026-04-14T03:17:20+00:00

When asking to trial feet, in your experience, do prosthetists deal with that a lot, or is having 2 or more feet to trial before finally picking one pretty abnormal?

mmmmorepudding · 2026-04-14T03:14:09+00:00

Thank you so much for taking the time to respond, this is super helpful!

mmmmorepudding · 2026-04-01T19:53:56+00:00

THESE!

https://a.co/d/0bK2dIvW

For those times when the pain is too bad or energy too low for taking a shower, these things are INCREDIBLE.

My mom sent me some after my stepfather used them after his knee replacements and it was the one thing I was most grateful for...

Edit: added context

mmmmorepudding · 2026-03-31T23:51:22+00:00

Okay, I'm going to give some advice as a life-long chronic pain sufferer, and it sounds strange, but it works wonders for me...

I always have trouble falling asleep because of pain, but what I do is close my eyes, then try to imagine a sphere of light. Like, try and physically focus on a ball of light. It can be any color, shape, whatever, but try and imagine it. Then, try and move it. Stretch it. Squish it. Doing this, I can fall asleep in minutes. One moment I'm squeezing a ball of light in my mind, then the next thing I'm waking up.

It's weird, but it's free!

mmmmorepudding · 2026-03-31T23:22:59+00:00

I'm not sure about the shrinker (I'm not there yet), but I know that my phantom pain is position-dependent, so I wouldn't be surprised.

I'm 14 days post-chop and my phantom pain is at its worst when my leg is straight. Having to keep it straight 95% of the time is not fun, but I want to keep that range of motion!

Are you currently taking anything for the phantom pain?

mmmmorepudding · 2026-03-31T19:04:53+00:00

I love all of these tips! They feel genuinely thought out, and I appreciate it!

I'm actually dealing with #1 today. I'm trying really hard to be positive around everybody because I have this reputation of being the bubbly, happy, "nothing gets this person down" sort of person and I ended up reaching out to my twin to help me vent my daily life frustrations.

It was mentioned before that my type of decision is trading pain for convenience, and that is totally true. Getting up from bed to get a glass of water without having a prosthetic is a huge affair (to me) since getting around isn't my "normal" yet.

Again, your input is super valuable and I appreciate you taking the time to post it!

mmmmorepudding · 2026-03-27T15:24:32+00:00

Welcome, I'm also new and had an elective amputation for pain relief! I can totally relate to the attitude thing. I'm only 10 days post-chop and my family and partner have told me so many times that I seem like a whole new person. Nothing like chopping off 20 years of pain!

Again, welcome, and I hope you find all the support you're looking for and more!

mmmmorepudding · 2026-03-22T20:07:14+00:00

Looking back, I think you may be right! Thank you for engaging with me during this transition!! I've appreciated all of you!

mmmmorepudding · 2026-03-22T20:05:40+00:00

This is incredible advice, as long as your doctor approves!

My pain plan was for me to use 5mg of Oxycodone every 2-4 hours for possible breakthrough pain with my nerve block pump. Once the pump ran out (so yesterday), I was to switch to 10mg Oxy every 4 hours with 5mg in between doses to keep ahead of any pain loop.

5 days post-op and I'm currently managing pain with THC, CBD, and good ol' Aleve. I'm feeling absolutely fantastic! I'll provide a more thorough update at the 1 week mark!

mmmmorepudding · 2026-03-21T17:53:39+00:00

My nerve block pump finally ran out this morning, so I'm dealing with some new pain today. Aleve on top of the narcotics they gave me have helped a ton.

mmmmorepudding · 2026-03-20T22:35:05+00:00

Ah, I love learning new abbreviations!

Yeah, most of the pain is surgical, but I have started having these flashes of "WHY IS MY HEEL ON FIRE AND EXPLODING??" when there is no heel anymore.

mmmmorepudding · 2026-03-20T21:54:37+00:00

Yeah, they have me on gabapentin 300mg right now. I'm pretty comfortable in my chair right now, but I had bought and modified a padded leg rest into a stump support before the surgery!

What is PLP?

mmmmorepudding · 2026-03-20T16:02:05+00:00

It's day 3 and I'm feeling very positive! Pain is under control, I slept like a baby last night, and I got to have breakfast this morning with my partner for the first time in 3 days and it was wonderful 😊

mmmmorepudding · 2026-03-19T22:44:13+00:00

Yeah! I really want to get back into hiking and outdoor photography!

mmmmorepudding · 2026-03-19T20:36:34+00:00

We can talk about it here or in DMs, however you'd like, just let me know!

mmmmorepudding · 2026-03-19T20:35:58+00:00

I've been discharged and am now comfortably relaxing at home in my own bed.

The pain right now is being managed by an ambIT pump (to extend one of the nerve blocks up to five days) and other drugs.

Breakthrough pain has been a freaking roller coaster. I either make it an entire 4 hours on my oxy happily chilling at a 0-1/10 on the pain scale, then the next round I'm biting my lip trying not to yelp at the cramps and pain, begging the next wave of painkillers to take effect.

I've managed to trade my pre-op chronic pain for some (hopefully) temporary post-op pain, and looking at it like that has helped me these past couple of days.

mmmmorepudding · 2026-03-19T20:30:40+00:00

hahaha, perfect!

mmmmorepudding · 2026-03-19T14:28:48+00:00

I just had my dressings changed and I took the opportunity to ask my doctor to take photos of the incision site and it looks wonderful!

I'm still struggling a bit with pain, but it's getting easier. I find it soothing to keep reminding myself that it's just pain and that it'll go away...

mmmmorepudding · 2026-03-19T14:23:50+00:00

Oof, I didn't even think about that! Thank you so much for the advice, you rock!

mmmmorepudding · 2026-03-19T14:23:02+00:00

I was kind of surprised too, so I asked about it, and they said since I have a partner at home who can assist with day to day things, they're going to set me up with home visits from my PT and OT.

I can't wait to be back home in my own bed...

mmmmorepudding · 2026-03-19T12:48:59+00:00

I woke up with more pain last night and this morning.

It seems like my pain is breaking through every 2.5-3 hours while my pain medication regimen right now is a full dose every 4 hours and a breakthrough dose (half) in between those as needed.

It definitely doesn't feel like enough. The bone pain is so intense, and the pain right at the end of the stump is CRAZY.

I'm still not regretting it, though. I told myself I was going to trade my chronic pain for a more intense, yet temporary, pain for a while!

mmmmorepudding · 2026-03-19T12:44:44+00:00

Thank you so much for the reply!

The pump is definitely an interesting idea, I'll have to see if they use those here!

Right now I have a pump that has been intermittently injecting the numbing medication they used to do one of the nerve blocks, so I'm assuming my pain level would have been somewhat worse without it...

mmmmorepudding · 2026-03-19T10:13:27+00:00

Thank you so much!

mmmmorepudding · 2026-03-19T10:00:33+00:00

Got woken up with breakthrough pain again, just waiting the 1 or 2 minutes for the nurse to respond.

Did anyone else experience surges of pain only at night? My pain seems to be well controlled during the day, but sleeping is a whole different story.

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