It has been one year since my bka and finally everything is great. I have my permanent prosthetic and all seems fine.
For a week I had to go back to my temporary leg and that was horrible. Could hardly walk and had to wear 30 sox. I spent the week doing absolutely nothing but I am on the go again and back at the gym (which I really need). After my amputation I gained a lot of weight, now I must work on that. Always something that needs our attention.
I love my flex ankle. For 10 years I had my ankle completely fused so this all seems quite new to me.
When I look back now it hardly seems like it has been a year....One year ago I thought this day would never come but here it is and I am quite happy about all of it. No pain, is the best. I have come to a point, the odd time, that I actually feel like I have a "normal leg" Now as long as I don't forget about it in the middle of the night when I have to get up. In the beginning I did forget and of course had a fall. It has never happened again. So here's hoping it won't happen again.
I still have to go to my prosthetic guy, once a month, but that's is the least of all I, or any of you, have to go through.
I have had absolutely no problems, as a matter of fact, it has been quite awesome lately, until now. For some reason the bottom of my stump is very painful. I am not sure if it is the prosthesis or my leg. Very painful when I put on my leg but when it is not on the bottom of my stump is very sensitive. I have never had this problem before. I will be getting my next let within the next 2 months but in the mean time I have this awful problem. It is so severe that it is stopping me from doing things that I enjoy.
I have heard that the first temporart leg is not to be abused and I am wondering if I have done too much such as golfing and exercising. I am not sure wheather this is true or false.
I am hoping my problem is not unique. If anyone else has had this problem I would appreciate hearing from you. Going to my prosthetic guy is surely not out of the question but he is 200 miles away.
Oh by the way, I also have an open sore which is under control and is not the pain I am feeling. The pain is not even near the sore.
I am getting along quite well but because my swelling has gone down drastically my prosthetic has been built up so many times it is getting quite heavy. The good thing is that they have taken a mold of my stump and are getting ready for more of a permanent prosthetic. I am so looking forward to that.
I have returned to golfing and enjoying it. I never was a great golfer so my expectations were not real high...but guess what? I can golf pain free. That is if I don't count the phantom pain which I have only just started getting quite frequently. The meds do help...but does anyone know how long phantom pains continue. I have a feeling that they hang around a long time.
I have learned to slow down and start getting ready to go out or whatever I have to do. In the past, I left eveything to the last minute, but not now.
The one thing I have trouble doing is shopping in a mall. I find that very tiring. Even more tiring than golf or playing with my grandkids. Does anyone else have a problem shopping in a mall? Maybe it is just me. Hopefully it will be easier when I get my more permanent prosthetic.
I am so happy that I have had this amputation and am completely pain free. No more narcotics for me.
I know I sound very positive, but don't kid yourself, I have my days when I could be down. But reading others blogs, I don't feel alone. The one positive thing is through all this I met a lady that had the same amputation as myself on the same day and we have become great friends. So we can cry on each others shoulders or have a great laugh.
Well here I am getting along not too bad. They (the Dr.s etc) say I am doing extremely well. Of course, they do not have a "fake leg". Seriously, though I am doing well and am back driving my car which I rely on so much. Pain wise, it is so nice to be relatively pain free and I should have opted out for this surgery a long time ago, but happy I did it now.
But now emotinally, I am having some minor problems. First and mainly I have my nights all messed up. The Dr. gave me meds but I feel like they are candies. I need a switch on my brain to turn off when I go to bed. Wish someone would invent one.
My horrible car accident was 12 years ago and I though I had put that where it belonged, out of my thinkings. The fella that caused the accident was not drunk or anything bad like that. It was what I call a real "accident" Although someone was killed in the accident I never had ill feelings for the person that caused this mess. Now that I am missing a leg I find myself thinking more and more about him and sometimes getting good and angry. I am sure that is why my sleep patterns are out of this world.
Physically I am doing fine except for these darn phantom pains that want to reappear once in a while. As a matter of fact, I was able to go off those meds but I can see that I need them again. There is nothing like having a pain in my foot or toe that is not even there. I can feel my phantom foot quite plainly but wants to pain at times. I will get that looked after.
I do not have my permanent pros. yet so I am still using my temporary one and keep trying to get the sox thing right. I have had a lot of adjustments to my leg but now I am back to wearing 12 sox. Next adjustment on the 19th.
I am very fortunate that I have such a great support system, my husband. Although I do not know how he puts up with me at times. Without him, I am sure it would be a lot harder. He gives me a lot of confidence to try things etc. This week I am going back to the gym where I once belonged...not sure how that will go, but I have to lose the weight I gained over this past year.
Hope my blog finds all of you well and trying your best.
I have been home for about 6 weeks and they sure have been up and down times. I hate to say that I am feeling down but I guess I am. Although, saying that, not every day. The more I can do the better I feel. I am needing so many adjustments that that is a problem as my prothestic fella is 3 hours away. I do have something to look forward to if I just could be more patient. Of course, when I had my amputation, the Ministry of Transportation has not allowed me to drive. Because I have a right BKA I have tried driving with my husband and it was alright so I am going to make my appt. to try my license. After driving 44 years, it is discouraging but that too shall end.
My other issue is that we live in a townhouse with tons of stairs and I love our home but we have to make some decisions about our situation. That, to me, is stressful. Is there anyone else that had to move because of an amputation? If so, let me know how you handled all that.
I am so glad to be pain free in my ankle and I have to keep remembering that. I am grateful for the opportunity to have this amputation and great rehab but it sure is a different stage of my life. I have had a few melt downs and after that I feel much better. Thanks folks for hearing me out. It feels better when you can blog this. Folks without amputations try to feel what you are going through but of course they can't, now like all of you.
Next blog which will be soon I will post some pictures of myself...
