James
    Location: Alabama
    Your Disability Left leg Below Knee Amputation
    How long have you been an amputee? 2-5 years
    How did you become disabled? Complications of diabetes
    What type(s) of prosthesis do you use? Pathfiner II with carbon fiber socket
    About Me Just a big ole huggable teddy bear. An engineer by mind, an artist by heart and soul.
    Music I have a very broad style of music interest: Opera, heavy metal, new age, soft rock, alternative, country, classical.
    Movies Sci Fi and Fantasy: favorite movie of all time is Serenity

    TV Discovery Channel, History channel, Sci Fi channel

    Mythbusters, CSI, Dirty Jobs, Bones, Eureka, Ghost Hunters, Ghost Hunters International, anything on archaeology, forensics or art.
    Books Another broad spectrum of interests: Archaeology, Forensics, Buddhism, Rocks and Minerals, Antiques, Sci Fi/Fantasy, Mystery, Anthropology, Engineering Management and art. Yes I am a big geek.
    Likes Nice People who see beyond my size and disability to the heart and soul that lay within.
    Dislikes People that pity me and places that aren't accessible by handicapped people or are hard to get to or in to.
    Hobbies Rock and Mineral collector and hound, Autographs, Ancient/Antique Ethnographic Art, Archaeology, Watercolor and Pastel painting.
    Vices Uhhhhh what have you heard?!?!?
    Virtues intelligent, honest, compassionate. Not taking himself too serious.
    Heroes My wife Claudia and dog Sammie. Each and every amputee on this site and around the world that fight on inspite of what happened to them.
    Here For Not Specified, Friendships, Networking
    Relationship Status Married
    Orientation Straight
    Children Proud Parent
    Number of Children 1
    Body Type Some extra baggage
    Height 6'9"
    Religion Buddhist
    Ethnicity White / Caucasian
    Smoke No
    Drink Socially

    Getting a lot of stuff off my chest and other fun things.

    Thursday, June 17, 2010, 12:07 PM [General]

    I have noticed that I haven't been to the site a lot in the recent past, for that I appologize to all my old, new and not yet friends on here.  I will try to make it to the site more often now. 

    I guess you could say that once I came to the realization or epiphany about the acceptence of my being an amputee and that my prosthetic was as much a part of me as my own real full leg is or ever was, that I decided to even more to enjoy the life I was given and to live it to the fullest or until my wife has me commited to an institution.  I can't say I am out there climbing mountains, skydiving or learning to surf like the lovely Jo.  Somethings are just not me.  But I have started going back to a lot of the things I love to do: going to museums, my art and enjoying my wife and family.

    I hope by now most have maybe read my previous blog on my battle with phantom pain and possible winning battle against it.  I seriously believe in accupuncture now as a battle against those phantom pains.  I have been relatively pain free for months now and enjoying it.  My accupuncturist even helped with some back pain I was suffering in the recent past.  So please if you are suffering pain from phantoms or other physical reason, give accupunture a try you may be pleasantly surprised.

    I guess the next thing I wanted to talk or write about was the rather large rise in new members to the site.  WELCOME!!!!!!!  I am personally glad you are here now, you are among friends now.  We are all here to assist each other and help when we need it.  You are all among others that know what you are going through, there is not a thing that you have or are going through that someone on here hasn't experienced.  If you have something that we haven't gone through, then share with us so it will help all those here now and those that come in the future. 

    You should all always remember that we can't help if we don't know what is happening in your life.  Please share with us, write your blogs, talk with others here.  Like I said in the past we are all friends here.  Yes we are going to get those on the site that are devotees and such, if they bother you report them so they can get dumped.

    As a final thought I want to ask again, how are you doing?  What is going on in your life?  Talk to me, I really want to know.

    Big Bear Hugs and loads of luv to all!!

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    Phantom Pain possible treatment.

    Friday, April 2, 2010, 11:15 AM [General]

    Phantom Pain!!!!  Most all of us have experienced it to one degree or another.  For me there were times it would completely immobilize me by making it so painful that I couldn't sleep and really didn't want to move.  It is also rather hard to explain the pain to most non-amputees as they have no true reference point to understand it.  Friends would ask me, "How can something that isn't there hurt?"  Or they would tell me to just rub it.  There mouths would just drop open when I would reply to them to find out what dump the hospital used for my foots ashes and I would.

    Well another friend of mine who suffers from knee pain and muscle pain in his hip told me of an accupuncture doctor that has really helped him be able to be mobil again.  So I decided to give it a try.

    I have gone for just three treatments (one a week) and I have now been pain free for over a month!!!  The doctor told me that after the third treatment that the only time I need to come back is if the pain returns, like I said it hasn't after nearly 5 weeks. 

    Will this work for everyone?  No idea.  Accupuncture has been around for more centuries than modern style medicine.  What I do know is that it has helped me and I dearly hope it can help any of you that need it.

    Big Bear Hugs!!!!

    James

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    Thank you for the welcome back comment :) I really wish I could just get back on the other account, since it has the more detailed informagtion of mine, but I guess I'll just have to tranfer it over to this one. Lazy days and all. Plus since I only have the 5 fingers, it's not as simple, lmao. Just kidding. I actua;;y do type faster than half the people I know, but I like to pretend there is a valid excuse for why I am lazy. Hope things have been well for you :)

    Traci
    October 26, 2011
    4:43 AM
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    Thanks james It's just hard for I was marry for 23 yrs and ex I guess he did wanted to be around me with all the pain that I was going with or couldnt deal with me being a way so he found some while was in The Hospital we are not together but he still help me I guess it the guilty that he have and make him look good.But I some time miss him so wsih we where together but I know that aint gonna happen I don't think I can deal with be with other person but I know i should be like that either I have to move on thanks again for me venting out yes I am gonna talk with someone about all my feeling so that I dont have to deal with alone

    Joanne
    May 10, 2011
    2:27 PM
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    Hi James Hope you are doing well.

    BetsyLynn
    April 26, 2011
    4:25 AM
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    JAmes, thank you for the note and advice. Out there getting around and today was a long but productive day in the "firsts" (first time I did that as an amputee etc.) Attitude is good because I have been dealing with this for a number of years and now the pain is GONE!! So cool! Thank you again!! Steve

    Steve
    October 10, 2010
    2:55 AM
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