Well I have had two pt sessions so far and sitting here about to get ready for the third session.  So I decided to write something about it.  So far it is going good I think.  I am walking useing a parallel bar platform about 10ft long.  I am walking about 100ft total, which includes a step at times. 

I have noticed my endurance is not quite what it used to be.  They said that is normal and would return in time.  They also have me doing some cardio and strengthening exercises.  Al in all I am having fun with it. 

So far the therapists are pretty good and have proven to have my best interests in mind.  Have already been told to slow down, I am not running a race.  I tell him that it is because he is like a foot and a half shorter then I am and he has to take two steps for my one.

The biggest laugh is him holding on to the helper strap that they put on me to supposedly help if I start to fall.  HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA Quick comparison: me 6ft 9in tall and about 400lbs heavy, Physical Therapists 5ft 5in and about 130lbs.  If I fall only way he can assist is if he either gets under me to cushon the fall or just to get out of the way and yell TIMBER!!!!!

The only bad thing so far about this pt is that about 2 hours afterwards I feel like my wife has taken the leg off me and just beat the living crap out of me with it.  Oh well that is what they make nice hot showers for.

I am still hoping to be going to work on a daily basis after the first of the year.  Working from home is nice but my wife needs to get back to her life and not having to babysit me all the time.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful time

James

Yep just as the title suggests, I start physical therapy tomorrow.  I am both scared and excited.  Don't ask me which is bigger at the moment cause I may admit being scared.  I am having a hard time really justifying why I am scared.  I think it may just be because this is a true turning point in my life.  That soon I will be walking again after 4 and a half months.

Or I am scared of failure, of falling.  When you are 6ft 9in tall, that is a long distance to fall.  We shall not mention that impact when I finally hit the ground either. :P  Maybe the fear of failure really is my problem.  I have always hated to fail, but later in life I finally convinced myself it is not the failure that you should worry about but how you handle it and what you do with the knowledge gleaned from the failure.

I do know one thing about beginning pt is that I will be out walking, hopefully in no time.  I am happy even if I will still need my walker or whatever help I will need to walk...I will be walking!!!!! 

This little thing called independence.  Most of us prior to our amputations, took it for granted.  I know I did.  And the thought of gaining it back just gives me a high that I am pretty sure no drug could ever achieve.  I know a lot of you longer term amputees are immediately thinking, "I should tell him good luck but don't push it.  Take your time."  Believe me I am going to.  I have a wife and little dog that will keep me tempered and down to earth.  Just hope she doesn't tell the pt to whack me in the head if I push it too hard.  :D

I will report more if able after my first session tomorrow.  Hopefully I won't be too wore out.  Wish me luck my friends.  Tomorrow I WALK!!!!!

Hello all my friends and soon to be friends. 

 A truly wonderful event happened just a little while ago.  I actually took my first shower since my surgery over 4 months ago.  I put my leg on, stepped up and got into the shower.  I sat in a chair cause didn't want to get the leg wet, so I had to take it off.  BUT I SHOWERED!!!!!!!!!!

No more of those crappy bed side baths in a tub things. 

It was scary and had to think about it, but I did it.  All thanks should go to my lovely wife who without her it wouldn't have happened. 

WOOHOO. 

Tomorrow comes another test.  We are going to our goddaughters birthday party and to get into the house I will have to go up 2 short steps.  Now that I have done the shower thing, the steps, though still a bit scary, don't really scare the crap out of me now.

Oh and on another note I have also made my first appointment with physical therapists to start my physical therapy training to walk on Lefty Jr. (my pet name for prosthetic).

I am a Juggernaught, nothing will stop me!!!!!  Well except my wife and little doggy.  :D

Hello all of my friends and future friends.

 I have some wonderful news to relay to you.  After visiting my orthopedic doctor and prosthetisist this past week they both have agreed that I am almost ready to start the physical therapy portion of prosthesis use.  I am almost completely healed now, have a small spot about a quarter inch that has yet to heal fully.  They think that will heal before the end of the month.

So now as I type this I am still holding a written prescription for my physical therapy that will hopefully start around the end of the month.  Wife and I are going next week to talk to different physical therapy places to see who we think is the best for me.  The doctors and prosthetisist has given us recommendations so now it is up to us to find one that we both feel is going to do the best job with me.

I am sooooooooooo happy right now you wouldn't honestly believe it.  But then again you all understand what I am going through so you probably would.

Pardon me while I do the joy joy dance.    OH CRAP!!! That reminds me that I promised my wife that when I could walk on the prosthetic and all that I would take her dancing.  Hrmmmmm gives me one more thing to ask the prospective physical therapists about.  If they could help me with my dance steps too?  :-D

Today is my birthday, not going to tell you how old I am.  I seem to look older then I really am, luckly I didn't completely take after my dad and become completely grey headed before 30.

Today I got the best present from my orthopedic surgeon.  He cleared me to start putting weight on my left leg!!!!  So I got an appointment with my prosthetisist tomorrow and I guess we get together to adjust my leg stump cup and start the long fun process of learning how to use the leg.  I know this is going to be a long tiring process, but HECK I will be walking soon.  WOOOOHOOOOO!!!!!!!!