The first time is always the best, right? Wow. What a week it has been. Last Wednesday, October 8, I was scheduled to be fitted for my prosthesis. I woke up early to shower and be ready and rode with my wife, Shari, to Joplin. As we arrived, the office manager pulled us aside to inform us that my leg was not in the office. It was scheduled to arrive from Springfield (via UPS) the day before, but the office was closed due to an illness and the UPS driver left the tag on the door informing them of the missed delivery. On Wednesday morning, Steven attempted to hunt the package down. He went to the UPS office to get the package, but is was not there, it was on the truck out for delivery. They called the driver and Steven met the truck, but the package was not with the others going to the office that day. We would have to wait until later that day for it to be delivered. We reappointed for Friday (October 10) and I went home, very disappointed. You see, for the whole week I had been counting down the days until I could be fitted for my leg. Patience. Later that day, I called and found out my leg had been delivered, and the office wanted me to keep the Friday appointment. I was not going to wait that long. I had my receptionist call to reappoint my first patient on Thursday, and I called to cancel physical therapy that morning. I was going to do whatever it took to be fitted on Thursday morning. A Thursday morning appointment was secured. Persistence. On Thursday morning (October 9) I went to the appointment. I was introduced to my leg!! The socket was not the hoped-for black carbon fiber, but rather a caucasian-esque color. Steven offered to remake my socket. I would not let him. This prosthesis is just an interim one, I could deal with the wrong colored socket for a short time. I just want to move forward. Steven instructed me on how to don and doff the leg. He showed me how to roll on my gel liner to assure it was smooth and no air bubbles were trapped. Trainable. This liner would provide the friction needed to assure my leg would not fall off at the wrong time! Next a lanyard was attached to the end of the liner. This lanyard would attached the socket to the liner. The socket is slipped on. The first time, it all was so tight, but with a little effort, the lanyard is secured. As I wear the leg, I experience shrinkage of my stump. This is normal. With this shrinkage, my socket becomes loose and is uncomfortable when I walk. The remedy is to add socks to the outside of the liner. These socks come in many thicknesses (or plies). 1 ply, 3 ply, and 5 ply. Depending on the shrinkage, the correct thickness of sock is used--a single 1 ply sock = 1 ply (obviously), two 1 ply socks = 2 ply, a 3 ply, a 3 and 1 ply = 4 ply, and a 5 ply. My leg can vary in size from day to day even hour to hour. I can start the day with no socks and add then as the day goes on. My firsts this week include donning my leg and walking. Many have seen my video of me walking. It was a great experience. However, it also drove home the fact I still have a long way to go in my progress. Another first, was the need to put on socks during the day. Remember when I mentioned the likelihood of falling. Well, that was another first this week--twice. The first time I fell, I was not even wearing my leg. It was raining this week and I crutched into my office and hit a wet spot on the floor. Down I went. My team members felt really bad for me. I reminded them that God gave us a thick muscle on our buttocks and that all was fine. No damage was done! The second first-time fall occurred at home. I was wearing my leg, and lost my balance and hit the floor. It was on the carpet, so once again, no harm done! So I guess it is safe to say, it begins! Shrug it off. The first couple of days, I wore my leg about an hour at a time. I removed it to check for sore spots. I rested a while. On Sunday, I wore it about 3 hours straight before doffing it and checking for sores. On Monday (October 13) I wore it 5 hours and then 3 hours. On Tuesday (October 14) I wore it 11 hours. Each time I observed my leg, no sores or redness! That is great news. I have also graduated up to using two canes while I walk. Next it will be one cane, then none! I am still moving slowly, but I am concentrating so hard on assuring my knee locks before I commit to the step. Soon my therapy starts. I found a therapist who specializes in gait (walking) training for amputees. I will be evaluated on Wednesday (October 15), then the treatment begins. I am so excited about this process. I am thrilled to move back into the things I did before July 4, 2014. Walking, running, biking, hiking, Harley riding, skiing. There is still a long way to go, but these small steps (pun intended) keep me focused. I am sure there will be lots to report soon. So much to learn and do. I will keep you all posted. Thanks to following my progression. Thanks for your thoughts and prayers. Until next time!
Posted on: Wed, 15 Oct 2014 13:03:30 +0000
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