I went this past Monday to the prostetist to get my new leg made. Casted, and fitted, all same day. the guys are amazing. It felt 
good. Fit good. The only problem is when I walk, the top part wants to flap back and forth. So I have to go back tomorrow to have another one fitted. this one will have to be fitted tighter in the top part of it. It seems as if on the toe roll and lift up, the top wants to flip, which causes a milking type effect on the distal end of the limb. I’m the first in Pa to have the new Iceross seal in liner. The one with five ribs on it. The old ones use to have one rib for seal. It seams pretty cool so far. I can imagine it will be good once we get the pros to fit correctly. It’s just frustrating trying to get a comfortable walk. Once I get a good stride going it starts to clap really bad. So I’ll keep you posted as to the progression. I’m going tomorrow night after work. My guy is going to work a late night in order to get it done for me. What a guy! I haven’t quite figured out my design yet either for this one.
My best friend and I were traveling through Mississippi on a trip we planned to visit the casinos there and later to visit Graceland. I am from Georgia, so I was about 400 miles from home. We were traveling in my SUV, I ran off the road slightly , which jerked the vehicle I lost control of it , we flipped about 5 times and we were both thrown from the vehicle, I thank God every day that my friend’s only injury was a broken arm and a few minor cuts. Mine was a little worse, I had a broken pelvis, torn bladder, and I dislocated my left knee, which severed the main artery in that leg.I stayed in MS. hospital for 12 days. The first and only surgery performed there was to repair the artery of course, but just my luck there was only 2 DRS. in the state that could do such a surgery , one said he wouldn’t touch it and the other was 50 miles away on his way to a golf tournament. He was reached and turned around to do the surgery, but by the time all this occurred, alot of pressure had built up in the leg from the bleeding. He made the incision to repair the artery, and the pressure made the leg burst open all the way to the bone and all the way up the side of my lower leg. It was decided that the surgery was a success, and I had good circulation in that leg, but it had to be left open to heal. I was finally flown by medical jet back to Ga. , after I was stable, no other surgeries were performed there on my other injuries.
When in GA. It was determined the pelvis break I had would have to have surgery ( some do not) mine was broken completely in half and I had some slight nerve damage, it was determined my torn bladder would also require surgery. I had been told in MS. , that my pelvis and bladder would heal itself, but doctors here said no. A specialists was called in to do the pelvis surgery, again I was told only 2 in the state that did this type surgery and the one I was getting was suppose to be the BEST. I know I have to shorten this story…at any rate during all this discussion and focus on my other injuries , everyone must have forgotten about my leg, except me of course, the nurses changed the dressings regularly, it was packed since it was an open wound, but I don’t remember any doctors paying much attention to it, so when I finally went into surgery for the pelvis break, the DR. was under the impression she was just suppose to graft some skin , clean up the wound and possibly close it, but when the dressings and brace was removed in surgery , much to her SURPRISE !! GANGRENE!! and everything in it had died , for lack of a better word…sorry I just don’t know all the medical terms. My family was informed the pelvis surgery was a success, but my left leg had to be amputated, and had to be done quickly, it was my leg or my life they said. I wasn’t told until a few hours later, and was on my way in to surgery again only 1 hr. 10 minutes after receiving the news, so not much time to get used to the idea. I was in so much pain and had been for 18 days, they could have told me they were cutting my head off, and if it would stop the pain it would have been ok with me. But I am sure all of you know when reality hits it can be a different story. I feel I am a classic case of getting lost in the paperwork of the details of my case, I really will never have any true answers if it was something that could have been avoided, I really haven’t ever searched for those answers. I was in the hospital 2 months, and under went seven different surgeries.
Thank you all for being here. My name is Jamie and my husband Theo (he is also a member here) is currently enduring severe chronic pain due to a work related accident. He is facing the decision to either amputate his left leg below the knee or find a conjunction of pain relief by way of fusion, nerve blocks and meds. However, due to the continuing degenerative bone density, increasing arthritic condition and nerve/soft tissue damage, fusion no longer seem hopeful.
We are here because this is affecting our lives so quickly and so drastically. We are so thankful for finding Less Than Four.
It has been very difficult to be going through this and no matter how much love and support we are finding through each other, our friends, family and doctors, knowing that there is a community here that understands exactly what we may be going through first hand is so comforting. The support and inspiration we have found here in such a short amount of time has been positively overwhelming.
We are very thankful for having the ability to ask questions and find out real answers from others here who share in what we are facing.
After doing some basic exploring, I have found that, very similar to myself, there are people here who are not amputees but who are a relative, friend or significant other of someone who is.
I have also noticed that some are people who have, or are looking to devote themselves to helping, like physical therapists, prosthesis technicians, and disability counselors for special needs.
Some people even seem to be unsure about how to go about addressing others here, because they are not amputees themselves, and do not wish to make others here feel uncomfortable.
Theo and I felt that perhaps having an open and non-judgemental place for discussion would be beneficial to some people and families.
