#amputee outing

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Next weekend I have tentative plans to pick morel mushrooms. A childhood pastime I have always loved but haven't had the chance in the last 12 years to go. These are my favorite food. 

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Twist The Knee

Of course the day I think I'm finally making some improvement in healing and adjusting I step on the wheel of a grocery cart. I was trying to get into the elevator since some guy held it for me and I go and step directly on the wheel and twist my right knee. I mean seriously. Who is this accident prone? It does make sense you are more accident prone when you are already hurt but come on. I have been struggling through the last five weeks to learn how to walk. No falling or major tripping has happened. Tonight I sleep with a bag of frozen peas on my super swollen knee. 

Cheers?

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Living in a non-accessible world

I went grocery shopping after some snow fell the other day. I park in handicap stalls pretty consistently right now and will until my walking improves. The grocery store had plowed the parking lot all except where I got out of my car in a handicap stall. Snow and ice was everywhere. I do need to figure out how to walk on difficult surfaces. It's funny how most people seem to ignore little things like this. Of all the places in the parking lot to not take care of, why was in front of the main doors in handicap stalls? 

I was with my grandma since I'm nervous still about carrying various items and a months worth of groceries is one of those things I haven't yet mastered. I really don't know how I'd live without the help of my grandma. Seriously, she's the best thing to ever happen to me. I asked my grandma if she thought it was funny they didn't put any salt down on the ice or shovel away the snow/slush from this area. She agreed with me and I told her I'd say something to the customer service person just inside the door. My grandma walked right up to the woman and asked if someone could go out and shovel and throw some salt down so no one falls or gets injured and the woman said, "Oh yeah, thanks for telling us". It's amazing what people forget to do and I'm sure it wasn't intentional but it's also disappointing it's just not thought about. Our society is very self-centered in that if something doesn't affect you directly - we don't give it a second thought or any thought to begin with. 

We went about our shopping and came out to the car and the shoveling and salting hadn't been done. It was rather disappointing. I hope someone was able to clear the handicap parking later on that night and that our request wasn't just disregarded. I told my grandma that I need to keep a jar of road salt in my car for situations like that. It's funny but I used to have a jar of the salt in years past and after the mellow winter last year I didn't think to get any. 

I didn't slip, fall or wipeout on the ice and snow outside the grocery store. Luckily I adapt quickly to most situations and move forward and I was able to do just that in the grocery store parking lot. This is ability! 

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First image of me in my new prosthesis while wearing jeans. Pretty excited about this. 

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Successful Prothesis Appointment!

Today, I had to go in for an appointment for my new prosthesis for a few minor tweaks. My left leg needed to be shortened by an 1/8 of an inch and also needed my cosmetic padding fixed. Both things were taken care of within an hour. This would have never happened at my last prosthetics company. They always made me feel bad for asking them to fix things that were causing me trouble/pain. 

I wore the new prosthesis all day and am now taking a break from them for the evening. I was actually able to walk without using the crutches after my appointment at the hospital for my reconstructive surgery issues. My prosthetist was shocked I was just walking around with my new prosthesis on. She said, "I just need to stop and take this all in. I thought you were only going to wear them around the house at first." I told her I needed to go head first into this otherwise I'd never switch over in a timely manner. I wish my back felt better already but I think once the final switch happens it should get back to normal. 

After the blizzard the midwest is getting in the next 24 hours I'll be doing the final switch of wearing them all the time! So excited to be done with my old prosthesis that have caused me nothing but pain/issues for the last 6 years if not the entire time I had them (almost 10 years).  

Next issue to overcome: driving. 

Questions, as always, are welcome!

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My first outing in the new prosthesis...

Last night, I went to a show downtown. This isn't something out of the ordinary for me. I go to shows a lot around town. Last night, however was the first time I wore my new prosthesis out of my apartment. I was excited to wear them 24/7 after picking them up. I realized I'll have more of a slow transition since I'm going to have to learn how to drive and walk again with these. I was lucky enough to have my friend pick me up and drive me downtown. I used some crutches I had from a few years ago and things really went smoothly. I had some general discomfort as my legs aren't used to the pressure/suction system. It felt like pins and needles if I was standing or sitting for too long. I did a bunch of moving about between both standing and sitting during this little show at my favorite bar in town. I was just so excited to be out of my old prosthesis that I couldn't wait and there was no reason not to. When we arrived to this bar, it was packed and we had no where to sit or even stand out of the way from the door. One of the employees noticed I was using crutches and grabbed me a stool for me to use. I was pretty grateful that someone noticed but I also almost felt better standing up than sitting down. Since I dived in head first with wearing the new prosthesis, I rewarded myself with some amazing gelato.

Does anyone else have any similar stories or situations when first learning to walk in your new prosthesis? I'd love to hear about it.

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Happiest Day Of My Life?!

I almost wrote life as lyfe. But realized that is dumb. Today, I finally got to bring home my finished prosthesis!!!!!!!!!!! I had to hold back my tears of happiness at the office as I was there by myself and didn't want to be that girl who is hysterically crying by herself. Granted my legs will never look like perfect legs but these are pretty great just the same. I've always wanted to have beautiful limbs but that is just not in the cards for me. Enough sadness/disappointment. I came home and put on the new ones immediately. Granted my legs are still super sore from my old prosthesis and now getting used to the new ones is going to cause more pain. But it will eventually go away. I'm going out to see one of my favorite singers and local acts before the snow storm hits. I luckily have some crutches I am able to use to keep my balance and my friend is picking me up. It should be interesting. I haven't ever left my apartment in these prosthesis and now I'm going to a little show for about 2+ hours. I just took a pain pill and am hoping that helps. Also, I think standing may distribute my weight better and maybe be less painful than just sitting around at home. I'd like to wear them to work tomorrow but I'm not sure how driving would go. I should mention I don't use hand controls to drive but actually use my right leg/prosthesis to drive like everyone else. I'll have to mess around with that on Saturday. This is just so crazy. Here's to hoping I don't slip and fall because of the snow/ice and that I only fall because I tripped. Ha. Questions and any help would be appreciated!!!! Thank you followers. 

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My baby brother is the sweetest

This evening I was thinking about my new prosthesis and how I don't have them yet; it'll be a few weeks yet. I was only thinking about them since today my right leg was hurting pretty bad and I was just sick of walking around. Anyway, this summer I took my littlest brother to a Packers scrimmage game and a fun night at a hotel. The Packers stadium isn't very accessible; if at all. There are stairs everywhere inside the stadium without railings!!! I couldn't believe it. I can handle stairs as long as there is a railing but when there isn't I am bound to fall. A long story cut short, my legs were killing me after this little fun get away with my 10 year old brother. The next morning I had to drive for 4 hours to make it to my cousins wedding. I was quite literally crying and driving (luckily cruise control was my best friend). My brother kept asking if there was anything we could do to make it better. Seriously, he's the sweetest. Cut to the next slumber party in september/october with my baby brother and he asked me about when I'd be getting my new prosthesis. He was actually interested in hearing about them and was thinking about them when we weren't hanging out. Which is pretty often as I don't live at home any more and he's there for another 8 years. I am more than thankful for my siblings and all family members throughout my lifetime and especially right now as I am in pretty constant pain with my old prosthesis.