Update:
I got my new leg! It took over
two hours to make the adjustments and get everything ready for me to take my
first steps. They call it a two layer
system; but I’ve got lots of layers to put on.
First my silicone liner goes against my bare skin. Then an extra-long gauze sock goes over the
liner. The tail end goes through the hole
in the bottom of the foam sleeve and then up and over it after it is pulled
onto the leg. Finally the test socket, (what
we would call the prosthesis) slips on and locks into place. The ankle has multiple adjustment points and
the test socket itself can be adjusted heating and bending it or by grinding
and cutting away certain parts.
Right now the prosthesis feels great except at the back of my knee and
upper calf muscle. It’s been adjusted
some, but they don’t want to take off too much (it’s like cutting a board—“measure
twice, cut once” because once it’s gone you cannot put it back). So they want me to wear it a few days to see
if my leg settles in and adjusts to it or not.
So right now there is some discomfort wearing the leg. Right now I am supposed to wear my prosthesis
for one hour twice a day, each day increasing the time by 15 minutes. By Sunday, I should have enough time built up
to wear it during church and Sunday school.
Within a few weeks I should be wearing it most of the day.
Here is a short three minute video of the final fitting and me taking
my first steps:
From the moment of putting my prosthesis on it was easy to stand and I
felt very balanced and comfortable. I
felt like I could take off walking without any assistance; but they have me
holding onto parallel bars as I walk right now.
With just a few instructions I started walking; the prosthetist was very
pleased with the mechanics of how I was walking. It seems to be coming naturally to me which
is good because I am not certain how well I would “think” myself through
walking. On Thursday (3/20) I have my first
big walking training appointment where I’ll be put through my paces and be
given more instructions. I assume that
depending upon how I am doing I could be given instructions on climbing stairs,
ramps, etc. as well.
I am gaining quite a collection of socks and various kinds of
stockings. I was given several different
thicknesses of socks to put on my stump as it diminishes in volume. Especially in the beginning, over time the
muscles grow smaller in the stump. A
tight fit inside the socket must be maintained so I have a number of socks to
put on as it shrinks.
This prosthesis is pretty big and heavy. It especially feels that way after not having
the normal weight of my leg on my left side for several months. This first
prosthetic leg is made to be highly adjustable so the parts weigh a bit
more. My final prosthesis will be made
of more durable, lighter materials after we know more about exactly what I
need.
One of the challenges that I will have to work out this week is what
pants fit over the prosthesis. It is
fairly large and flared out around the knee and the ankle doesn’t really flex
like the original part God gave me, so it is more difficult dressing. I was told to “dress” the prosthesis first—in
other words put the prosthesis on my stump first, then put pants on over
it. Think about the problems you’d have
if you put stiff work boots on first and then try to put your pants on over the
boot. I’ll probably be wearing sweat
pants for a time until I get it all figured out. Right now I am just wearing shorts around the
house because I have to take it off and on so often.
Especially right now, I have to do a careful inspection of my leg after
wearing the prosthesis to insure that I am not creating any sores. If that happens, I have to put the prosthesis
away until the sore heals. I want to
avoid developing sores, so at the first sign of something going wrong, I have
to scurry back to the doctor’s office and the prosthetic lab for further
adjustments. All this is kind of
intimidating when you first start out.
It is difficult to know “Is this okay or should I contact the doctor?” A few weeks from now I will understand
exactly what to watch for; but right now I am much less certain and perhaps a
bit jumpy not wanting to do anything
wrong.
I am thankful to be at this part of my journey. A whole new world has opened up to me as I
begin to walk. This first transition is
a bit clunky because to walk on my prosthesis, I need my walker. But once I take the prosthesis off, I need my
wheelchair. Since I am frequently donning
and doffing the leg, if I leave the house I am packing up a circus worth of
equipment and supplies. That should get
better as I can spend more time in the socket and transition away from needing the
walker.
One last thing, a number of people have asked me if I am getting one of
those cool S-shaped spring legs like the Olympic runner had. The short answer is NO. I was told that to purchase that kind of
prosthesis along with the fitting process costs over $20,000 and the insurance
company does not see it as a medical necessity since those legs are really only
designed for running and not everyday use.
People who do have those fancy running prosthesis also probably have a “normal”
looking leg as well that they wear off the track. I don’t really have $20K to drop on an extra
leg—and if I had an extra $20K I could think of a number of other things I’d
rather spend it on.
I’ll tell you about yesterday’s eye appointment that I had tomorrow.
Thought for the Day:
Luke 5:12-16 “While
Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy.
When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, ‘Lord,
if you are willing, you can make me clean.’ Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ he said. ‘Be
clean!’ And immediately the leprosy left him. Then Jesus ordered him, ‘Don't tell anyone, but
go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded
for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.’ Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came
to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
There are a number of things to note from this passage (and many similar
ones). First, Jesus spoke to huge
crowds, yet also took time to speak to individual people. Jesus was moved by compassion to reach out to
touch the man and to heal him. Secondly,
notice that Jesus not only took care of the spiritual needs of people, but met
their emotional and physical needs too.
The last thing I want to point out is that Jesus gave the man
instructions to lay low and not tell others about what had happened to
him. This man like many others that
Jesus healed did not obey Him. They couldn’t
keep quiet because their hearts were so filled with love and gratitude for what
God had done for them.
It is easy for us to sit in judgment upon those who disobeyed God in this
manner. Jesus told them to stay quiet
and they didn’t—that’s wrong! We on the
other hand have been instructed to go tell everybody about what God has done
for us. We are told to be witnesses to
the fact of God’s love towards us; yet we remain silent. The man and many others were told to be quiet
and yet they talked. We are told to talk
and yet are quiet. Warren Wiersbe asks, “Which
of us is the greater offender?” [Everyday Wisdom From the Gospels]. Wiersbe concludes with this piece of advice, “If
Jesus has done something special for you, tell somebody.”
Acts 4:20 “As for
us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.”
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