Rich


    Location:
    Terre Haute, IN
    Your Disability AKA
    How long have you been an amputee? 10-20 years
    How did you become disabled? Bone Cancer
    What type(s) of prosthesis do you use? C-Leg
    About Me I am a 35 year old male. I was diagnosed with osteosacoma and lost my left leg above the knee when I was 16 (1988). I am on my 4th leg (C-leg). My others were two Mouch SnS and one Ca-Tech, all with flex feet. I have always been somewhat active. I weight train, ride my bike and play church league softball. I play first base because there isn't too much ground to cover and as long as I can hit the ball far enough to make it to first base, I can use a designated runner the rest of the way. I also am a percussionist in a band. I play congas, bongos, timbales with a full wrack (cowbells, blocks etc) and an assortment of hand instruments. The band Jimmy Dix (www.jimmydixband.com) is a rock band of the jam band persuasion. I am actually going to be quitting soon though because of time restraints.
    Music Classic rock, classic metal, latin, blues, Celtic. Some favorites: Rush, AC/DC, Ozomatli, Indigo Girls, Yes, Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Santana.
    Movies MAFIA MOVIES!!! Rocky I, II, Rocky Balboa, The Graduate.
    TV Favorite Sitcom: The Simpsons, The Office probably comes in second. Favorite hour long show: The Sopranos.
    Books The Godfather, anything by Ken Follett, history books, Catholic theology books, politics.
    Dislikes G.W.B.
    Hobbies Bike riding, darts, organizing my digital photo collection, newbe video editor, playing congas.
    Vices Road Rage swearing while I'm driving.
    Heroes Rocky Balboa, Mother Theresa (in no particular order :)
    Here For Dating, Friendships, Networking, Relationships
    Relationship Status Single
    Orientation Straight
    Children Maybe Someday
    Body Type Average
    Height 5'6"
    Religion Catholic
    Ethnicity White / Caucasian
    Smoke No
    Drink Socially

    New leg

    Thursday, August 14, 2008, 03:55 PM EST [General]

    I got me new leg and I like it.  I have the same socket which still fits and helps with adjusting to a new leg.  I love the Ceterus foot.  It is very comfortable and it does not rotate too much like I worried about.  I am back to a Mauch knee and being a 15 year veteran of this knee, I am comfortable with it.  I am having trouble getting it set up just how I like it though.  For one, the foot is heavier than I am used to so that effects the swing phase a little; not too much with sneakers, but it makes it hard with regular shoes which are heavier and I have to wear all day at work.  The other issue is getting it right for walking down stairs.  I've got the flexion set good for walking, but no matter what I do with the stance control, it still reaches a breaking point where it breaks fast.  So adjusting the stance control only sets the point where it will break (earlier or later on my decent down a stair).  I don't want it breaking hard like that at all, but smoothly.  If I set it too aggressively, it makes the knee to stiff for walking.  So here is what I am thinking.  I am thinking that maybe the socket alignment (front to back) has something to do with that.  I don't want to mess with the socket because I am not any good with that.  So, I have to wait until Tuesday to have my prosthetist do it (he's only in town on Tuesdays).  Anyone have any thoughts or insights on the matter?

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    Getting new leg tomorrow

    Monday, August 11, 2008, 12:37 PM EST [General]

    I am getting my new leg tomorrow, switching FROM a C-leg back to a Mauch.  I am keeping the same socket which fits so that is more than half the battle of getting a new leg right there.  The knee I'm familuar with, but the foot, the Cetrus, I am not.  That will be the big difference from the stiff foot I have now and never liked.  I will update on how it goes.

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    Leave a Comment | View All Comments

    Hey Dude-

    Glad I spotted your blog about changing feet. I have had I don't know how may different legs, and started with one made from wood.

    My last 3 knees were Rheo, Cleg and 3R80. Rheo is very difficult to switch to from a Cleg, reminds me of old mauch knees which I no longer use. Once I changed to a 3r80 from mauch/ktec type knees and really learned to 'use' it, Rheo and mauch are not an option anymore.

    I had one of those blue ball feet with the Rheo. Too much 'goosh' when I took a step. It was weird when I too a step. My idea of a good foot is one with little to none response , very stiff. For me that is very predictable since I am very forceful when I walk. Need the ankle to not do anything weird like twist or 'goosh'. They put a super firm foot on the rheo which made it better, but the rheo seems to do its own thing sometimes.

    Jimmy
    July 21, 2008
    04:32 PM EST

    I just got it yesterday, and I can tell it's not perfect. I'm going back in a week to work on it some more, since it's hard to tell if it's right until you wear it out in your day-to-day activities. But I'm just ecxited to have a leg that's not going to make me fall all the time, and I'm sure once it's set up right it'll be great.

    carolanne
    April 01, 2008
    06:46 AM EST

    I had a total knee, I think. It had no anything, just a mechanism. I would fall like every week when the knee would buckle out of nowhere. I've only had the c-leg for a few hours now so I'm not totally used to it yet, but I do feel a lot more stable. I'll keep updating as I get the hang of it more.

    carolanne
    March 31, 2008
    08:57 PM EST

    hey rich,
    sorry i havent been as regular on the site as i was last year...school has started and its getting crazy...
    peace

    Abe
    March 27, 2008
    09:44 AM EST