my name is Jim. I am 56, and I live in Houston. My right leg was amputated below the knee on my Right leg on March 23 of this year. What can I say? You will have good days, and bad days. This is natural. There are several issues with an amputation and everyone is different. Phsntom pain, mobility issues, problems bathing just to name a few, You should, however get stronger every day and this will be behind you!. The worst thing for me is the sitting around without much to keep my mind busy. It will take you over 45 days to completely hear from the surgery. Just remember, you will soon get a prosthetic leg, and you can get on with your life. please respond, and let me know if you have any more questions.

Hey Bethany, My name is Tom. I am a BKA left leg. I had it done because of infections in my foot that never healed. It was Oct 2011. The first Month and a half were very rough, healing, not having a leg... Once healed, I progressed rapidly through getting my first prosthetic and learning how to walk, run, and do whatever I wanted. I now goto the gym 3x a week. Play basketball, whitewater kayak...everything I did before and more. Keep exercising, even if you are just stretching while healing. Contact me if you have questions. .facebook.com/tdoerr

Hey Bethany, I'm a Left BKA; my amputation was over 5 years ago. I concur with what the others have said - it'll take a while to heal and get your first prosthesis, but you will still be able to do virtually everything you used to do before the amputation. I just want to add that keeping a positive attitude is one of the best things you can do for yourself. I know how depressing this whole amputation can be, and I won't try to tell you that being a BKA is not a huge change in your life... but if you make up your mind to accept what has happened, and to strive every day to get the most out of your life, your recovery from the operation will be easier and less traumatic. No matter what happens, you are still you! Even with a limb difference, you are still the same person you've always been. I know of people who withdraw from life after having an amputation. I also know of people who thrive, who continue to live life to the fullest, simply because they make up their minds to do so. What happens to you after the BKA is largely up to you! I was back at work full-time 6 weeks after my amputation (I managed to heal quickly, and get my first prosthesis almost immediately after my amputation - an IPOP [Immediate Post-Operation Prosthesis]). I'm honestly in better physical shape than I was before the BKA, and I have started doing adaptive sports, like kayaking. Hope everything works out for you - I'll be pulling for you!

Hi Bethany, I am a right below knee amputee. I was in a car accident in Aug. 2008, and one of my injuries was the amputation. It'll take time to heal after the initial surgery, and it will probably be hard to keep a positive attitude while you heal (around 6 weeks of healing without a leg can be stressful even for the most sound mind.)but it's important to remember that there's a light at the end of the tunnel. I wish you the best of luck, and if you have any questions or just need someone to vent to, feel free to contact me.