Getting my next socket fabricated as we speak. I've had trouble keeping a fit now so that means that my stump has shrunk to a point that my current socket just isn't work like it should anymore. This is very exciting. This means I am making great progress, my stump is maturing and I'm getting closer to getting to a point where i should be able to start taking some steps with just one crutch or a cane, the new socket keep me from bottoming out. I am so thankful that my body is agreeing with my impatient attitude, much to the chagrin of my prosthetic company. Sienna, has stated that she is amazed that my body is agreeing with me. I'm so excited at the prospect of being able to take a few steps, each step I can take with fewer appliances is a step closer to my freedom. To the dream I have of being able to walk and hold hands with my love. We haven't been able to just take a walk and hold each others hand in months. We are both wore down and stressed, each step forward helps take that stress away some. Another exciting moment is that Dennis, my physical therapist, has started working with me on some skills I'll have to learn in order to treat patients. The first lesson is like doing a lunge with the prosthetic leg, rotating down to both knees and walking myself back up onto 2 legs. This will be a change from my normal way of operating, which I can imagine that I am going to have to learn to do a majority of my normal patient care motions over again. Finally, learning skills that I will be using in the field helps me get a feeling for my new goal in life. My favorite thing Dennis said to me was that his goal was for me to get in and out of a scene and only those who know me be aware that I am a one-legged paramedic. That is a wonderful thought.
Another option that my brother amongst others seem to think that I need to look into is writing a book about this experience. They feel that I have a lot to give in way of inspiration and motivation. Who knows, maybe I can be a speaker at the next EMS conference. I'm thinking about starting typing in a more organized fashion, not for here, but to see if I can even begin to write a book. Anybody out there have any tips for writing a book? Anyway, tomorrow is a new day with new challenges, I should get my new revamped socket Thursday. I cannot wait.
Follow along on the adventures of an amputee Paramedic. I have now fell into activism/advocacy work for Insurance Fairness for all amputees. I occasionally do some Motivational Speaking, I'm writing a book, and of course blogging all that stuff here. Follow me through all my wins and losses in the fight to break the stereotype of what amputees are capable of. I may write about EMS, Healthcare, Amputees, or Nonsense. Follow the blog and see what today brings!
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
I WANT YOU---> to give me an idea or 2
Occasionally I ask for your feedback. I know the feedback mechanism is frustrating but please let me know if/how this blog had helped you or if you feel I should keep going. I'm facing a major life decisions and am trying to streamline my life. If this blog is causing any damage that is I completely unintended and I'm looking for ways to improve. Let me know what you think.
Joe aka The Prosthetic Medic (hopefully)
Joe aka The Prosthetic Medic (hopefully)
Monday, March 12, 2012
Just Keep Swimming
I've decided to take down the donate button off of the blog. Your support has been amazing and I cannot express how helpful it has been throughout these past months. I realize that during these trying times that there are better organizations and people that could use your heartfelt gifts. I want to say from the bottom of my heart that your generosity has been a constant motivation to keep fighting to accomplish all my goals. I will continue to blog and keep you updated on my progress as I go forward in learning to walk again and building up my strength to return back to work as a paramedic.
Today I was able to keep the prosthetic leg on for about 4 hours. I'm still relying heavily on the crutches to take weight off of the stump while walking, but I am able to knock it down to one crutch for short periods of time. I don't know how long it will take for me to learn to walk without assistance but I can't wait for that day. I'm so ready to just be able to go again. My prosthesist has assured me that becoming an amputee will teach me patience. I have a feeling that this will be a hard lesson to learn. I've never been good with having patience, that's why I work on an ambulance, I get the patient for 15-30 minutes then it's on to something else. It makes my ADD happy. Today I started learning how to kneel down onto my good knee then get up off the ground. I'm not very graceful at all at this point, I'm sure it will come with practice and time. There's more of that patience that I have learn. I'm going to keep going...for those with kids, kinda like Dori from Finding Nemo...Just keep swimming. I'm still feeling that jones deep inside everytime I see an ambulance go by. I got my medic kit out and just sat and looked at it. I've used that kit to save countless lives. I'm just so ready to get it stocked and put back to work.
As I've said, Thank you all for all the donations. I may bring it back one day. For now, Kate and I are going to make it work. Thank you all again.
Today I was able to keep the prosthetic leg on for about 4 hours. I'm still relying heavily on the crutches to take weight off of the stump while walking, but I am able to knock it down to one crutch for short periods of time. I don't know how long it will take for me to learn to walk without assistance but I can't wait for that day. I'm so ready to just be able to go again. My prosthesist has assured me that becoming an amputee will teach me patience. I have a feeling that this will be a hard lesson to learn. I've never been good with having patience, that's why I work on an ambulance, I get the patient for 15-30 minutes then it's on to something else. It makes my ADD happy. Today I started learning how to kneel down onto my good knee then get up off the ground. I'm not very graceful at all at this point, I'm sure it will come with practice and time. There's more of that patience that I have learn. I'm going to keep going...for those with kids, kinda like Dori from Finding Nemo...Just keep swimming. I'm still feeling that jones deep inside everytime I see an ambulance go by. I got my medic kit out and just sat and looked at it. I've used that kit to save countless lives. I'm just so ready to get it stocked and put back to work.
As I've said, Thank you all for all the donations. I may bring it back one day. For now, Kate and I are going to make it work. Thank you all again.
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Promise of Normalcy
Took a few days off from the blog. Just needed some time away from everything. This weekend I've had a few things going on. I was interviewed for a radio show and went to a symposium for physical therapists. It was good to see others who have been on prosthetics for years, to see that there is a promise of a normal life once I get used to wearing this and my stump has gotten to its normal size. I'm hoping that in the coming months I'll be able to start walking without any assisstance.
The reason I needed the break from everything is that I'm realizing that there is no way for me to be ready to be back by May. Not to say I'm not going to try, but physically I doubt I'll be ready to go. I want to get there, I'm just realizing that getting there will probably be with another service. That's ok. Just moving forward in life.
It was great to hear that this is some of the roughest times as an amputee. This period where you have to let your stump mature and get the right fit for the socket. Once things even out I should be able to start living again. Right now I'm living life a few hours at a time. Once the leg is tired or painful that's all I can do. I can't wait till I've adapted to this. I think things will get much better for us once I've moved in to this. For now I'll continue to try to move forward inch by inch.
The reason I needed the break from everything is that I'm realizing that there is no way for me to be ready to be back by May. Not to say I'm not going to try, but physically I doubt I'll be ready to go. I want to get there, I'm just realizing that getting there will probably be with another service. That's ok. Just moving forward in life.
It was great to hear that this is some of the roughest times as an amputee. This period where you have to let your stump mature and get the right fit for the socket. Once things even out I should be able to start living again. Right now I'm living life a few hours at a time. Once the leg is tired or painful that's all I can do. I can't wait till I've adapted to this. I think things will get much better for us once I've moved in to this. For now I'll continue to try to move forward inch by inch.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Learning to Walk
Been walking a lot today. Had the chance to walk a little using just a cane. I am not able to stay on it for long periods of time yet, the more the pain increases my gait gets sloppy and I don't want to form bad habits. I'm going in to the prosthetic office tomorrow to have some more changes made. My leg is hurting and I'm not able to keep the socket attached in the back. This has made walking more painful since the prosthetic pulls down and grabs the skin. I was not prepared for the weight of the leg itself. It weighs about 35-40 pounds, so as you can imagine, when the leg gets tired it feels like I'm lugging around a ton of bricks. I know I have to build up my stamina with the leg and with this will come the strength to start walking without assistance. Patience has never been a virtue of mine, but thankfully persistence is. My goal is to just keep building on each day, if I can take 4 steps today, I want to take 8 tomorrow. I'm ready to keep fighting through this and I will keep you updated on my progress as I battle towards getting back on the ambulance.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Moving Quickly
Had another appointment at Kentucky Prosthetics today. I had been having pain when walking because my stump was impacting the bottom of the socket. They made some minor adjustments to the socket and gave me a latex liner with some padding at the bottom to help with the pain. After they had gave me this liner I was making great progress. I have been given the clear to use the cane as long as it doesn't hurt when I walk. According to them, I am months ahead of where a normal new amputee is. I am able to walk with pretty equal strides and use the knee as it's supposed to be used. I'm very happy with the prosthetic that they got for me. I'm such an impatient person when it comes to my health. Blame it on my ADHD tendencies, I get distracted easily and want whatever I want now. It does feel good to know that I am ahead of schedule. If I remember I'll post a better picture of me standing in the prosthetic. At this rate they are going to have to make me a new socket in a month. I'm sure the volume loss with plateau off and make it easier to get a more secure fit.
On a funnier note as we were leaving dinner with Kate's dad tonight I lost suction on the socket. The vacuum suction is what holds the socket to my leg and make the prosthetic an extension of me, anyway, I lost suction and every time I took a step it sounded like I was farting...loudly. Logan got quite a kick out of that. He, in fact, enjoyed it immensely. It was a very welcome moment of levity for all of us. It's easy to get lost in the seriousness of the subject matter, so it's very nice to have a moment to remind us that you can't take lifer seriously...you'll never get out alive.
Tomorrow I try again. Another day of trying to walk, strengthening my leg and one day closer to living life again. I can't wait till all this is behind us and we can enjoy our lives as normal as possible again.
On a funnier note as we were leaving dinner with Kate's dad tonight I lost suction on the socket. The vacuum suction is what holds the socket to my leg and make the prosthetic an extension of me, anyway, I lost suction and every time I took a step it sounded like I was farting...loudly. Logan got quite a kick out of that. He, in fact, enjoyed it immensely. It was a very welcome moment of levity for all of us. It's easy to get lost in the seriousness of the subject matter, so it's very nice to have a moment to remind us that you can't take lifer seriously...you'll never get out alive.
Tomorrow I try again. Another day of trying to walk, strengthening my leg and one day closer to living life again. I can't wait till all this is behind us and we can enjoy our lives as normal as possible again.
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