(first time posting)

i’m a 24F with bilateral above the knee amputation when i was 8 and have been recently feeling disconnected from this type of community. especially with people that have had their limb differences for years , what’s something new that you never had to worry about or something that is coming as a surprise for you dealing with your amputation(s) or physicality over your own body !

pls feel free to share your own stories if you want to ! i made this post because i wanna hear everyone’s stories and would LOVE to gain insight on different perspectives/ struggles since i have no one else in my family that is able to relate to me or understand what i experience on the daily.

I used to smoke casually and really enjoyed it, my doctor says I can’t smoke yet as I had a significant skin graft over my stump. I’ve seen herbal cigarettes and such , would that be bad ? 19m right hand and forearm amputee

Any ladies out there that are going through or went through perimenopause/menopause and have an increase in phantom or regular nerve pain on your residual limb?

My pain has increased SO MUCH in the last year that it's unbearable. Much more frequent and intense and it wakes me up and keeps me up at night. For 6 years, it had decreased more and more, and it was always just a quick zap and then gone. Seemingly overnight it went from 0-60. I've ruled out any changes to my limb or the neuroma I have, tried all the medications, massages, TENS unit, and still nothing helps.

I spoke with my menopause specialist yesterday and she said hormones do play a part in nerve pain, but she hasn't worked with any amputees in peri or full menopause. Same with my prosthetist. Have any of you experienced this?

I've got some nerve block injections starting next week which I'm hoping will help, but I may end up needing to do a nerve abalation or explore other options.

If anyone else has discovered anything that has helped their pain, I am open to trying anything at this point!

RBKA here. 2 + years. I am normally very comfortable in my prosthetic. So well that I am a fire fighter and paramedic. However, about every 2 months I take a step and I get a jarring sharp pain behind my knee cap. Takes sometimes a few days for it to completely go away. I’ve checked socket fit. Anyone else experience this?

I'm RAKA (Genium + taleo).

I think I'm K3 user with potential to upgrade to K4, the KISS thing stops me to start at least a little bit jogging (I've been trying, kiss sucks at it) and hiking so I'm waiting when my vacuum will be done, and wondering which foot I have to choose next: pro flex xc or all pro, or some other one?

Weight of the foot is important.

Anyone else out there with one arm use a fitness watch? I am trying to figure out what watch would work best that I could still use by starting the workouts/run on my phone and not directly from on watch. I know Garmins don’t let you do that. Any suggestions out there?

I'm just back from the Red Cross to give blood. The nurse was a bit short on foot like me, so naturally we discussed missing bits.

At some point, I asked her if she was allowed to draw blood from an amputated arm (below the elbow of course): she said she didn't know, that she never found herself having to find out.

If you have a BE amputation, do you give blood from your little arm? I'm curious now.

Well my friends…I want to introduce you to my future! This is a video my amazing daughter-in-law Jess made of my new myo-electric arm. This arm is the most advanced on the planet. But that’s not why I’m sharing this with you! The Wall is my personal favourite way to describe how I’ve always been hiding my limb loss (and my favourite Floyd album). In my 35 years, I have always had a flesh coloured hand. This is now me coming out from behind my “Wall”. This is who I am…who I want the world to see…and how I will show the world my blessing in life!! Don’t hide behind your “walls”! Show the world who you are and how you can make it a better place for everyone!! Love to you all…turn up your volume!! I hope you like it!❤️🎉🦾

I think there should be a device that a non amputee could put on to simulate what an amputee has to go through. How difficult the smallest tasks are. My wife thinks I have it easy. Even after explaining several times she still doesn't get it.

Sincerely,

I hate my life

I have a Catrike Expedition that I absolutely adore, though I haven’t ridden it since my amputation. I know I’ll need to get clips or a strap to connect my prosthetic foot to the pedals and the stand-assist hand grips to help me get onto my feet.

I’m a little concerned about my socket losing suction. I would love anyone’s insight so hopefully I can avoid unnecessary frustrations.

Thanks in advance!

I have been a RN-BSN for 15-years. I lost my leg-above the knee and I can’t imagine doing bedside care on a prosthetic, so I went back to school and got my MHA from UNCW.

I’m not entirely sure what I’m going to do, but I have to do something. I doubt I’ll be in scrubs again and I’m really struggling to figure out how to dress professionally with a prosthetic.

Participating with the University of Nevada Alumni Band at UNR Homecoming yesterday.

Heyyy guys - can’t believe I’m almost 2 weeks post surgery! Absolutely crazy. My numbness is still there and the doctor said it will either come back slowly or not at all so will just have to wait and see. The swelling it going down already too which is great.

However, I am now suddenly experiencing AWFUL awful phantom pains. Like OMG. It’s constant pain and tingling and then I get the shooting pains that feel like my foot is being stabbed which happens like once every few minutes. It’s just horrendous I feel like I’m stepping on nails.

I’m taking 50mg pregabalin 3x a day and have been for around a week. I haven’t noticed any improvement yet but I know it can take time. I just wanted to ask if anyone had any advice on how to manage / medication ideas to ask my dr / or how long this pain might last or when it lets up 🥲🥲

Thank you ! 🙏

This video and trail is suitable for regular day hikers, occasional hikers, families with children who are used to easy hikes, Cub, Webelos and Scout troops, and school field trips.

Im a Croatian left handed music producer, i mostly do harsh industrial noise and witchhouse music. Long story short i was strapped to a bed in a Psych ward when i found a lighter in my back pocket. I tried to burn a strap off but the bedsheet caught on fire exactly where my dominant hand was fixated. I was burning for maybe 5 to 10 minutes until they let off the emergency fire shower. My entire fist was carbonated and now after 10+ surgeries I am left with 3 fingers that have also been half amputated.

I have been in this hospital for over a month and I feel mentally stronger than ever, I’ve been practicing using my groovebox now with only my right hand and it feels so natural and like nothing ever happened.

If you have any more questions of any type, about what exactly happened, about my music or anything else feel free to ask!

Much love to the community and I’d love to see what you guys think or want to ask! ❤️

Tamarack GlideWear Prosthetic Liner Patch | Small 2 Pack | Amputee Relief
Dual-Layer Fabric Absorbs Shear Breathable Moisture-Reducing Washable; 85% Nylon/15% Spandex Fits Gel & Silicone Liners

Any feed back on this product?TIA

I have a 5 hour drive coming up next weekend. I will not be the one driving but this will be my first long time in a car since my RBKA with a prosthetic. I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions or tips? I am tall and should have enough leg room but it my new leg isn't as bendy as the old one. Thanks!

Hi,

This is my first post here. I had an ATK amputation on June 22nd. I don't know the prosthetic terminology yet, so excuse me for sounding uneducated about the topic.

I've completed the casting process, and I had my first try-on this past week. The plastic is very hard, but I was told the final product would be softer. When he first put it on, I was surprised by how much room there was between the end of my limb and the bottom of the socket (maybe a few inches). He had me stand up and push my limb down into the socket. My lower groin area was directly in contact with the upper part of socket. He had me take a few steps, but it was painful, as if all my body weight was resting on that one part of the hard socket. When he took it off, there was blood on the socket and a small cut on the lower groin. He made an adjustment, but I noticed little difference. Is all of this normal at this stage?

Hi all,

I am looking for community and support. In February i had a routine ACL reconstruction & menisectomy and caught a really severe chronic pseudomonas infection. Despite going to every post op appointment and being hospitalized for pain, it took 2 months for doctors to find the infection and at that point, my infection had progressed to septic arthritis and septic prepatellar bursitis. I underwent surgery to remove the graft, hardware, and to clean out the joint, but I was left with end stage secondary osteoarthritis and such severe arthrofibrosis that I have not been able to bend my knee past 20 degrees. Despite multiple washout surgeries and rounds of IV antibiotics, my knee has abscessed for a second time this weekend and it appears the infection wasn't cleared again.

Yesterday, i met with a limb salvage/amputation specialist who confirmed that I most likely have chronic osteomyelitis, based off all my imaging, symptoms, etc. Sadly, I am no longer a candidate for a staged knee replacement surgery due to the already high risk of structural failure from the osteomyelitis as well as the high risk of reinfection due to the chronic pseudomonas. we are now moving forward with a above knee amputation in the coming weeks. I am absolutely gutted about losing my leg, i spent 10 months doing everything i could to save it and I just couldn't. Before this injury, I was an active mixed martial artist (i was supposed to receive my blue belt in brazilian jiu jitsu this year & i also train Muay Thai), hiker, and was getting into weight lifting - now i need perscription pain meds to just exist and need my fiancés help to do all ADLs, since i cannot walk or bear any weight through my infected leg. I am so scared about what the future holds, because I don't want to lose the sports and hobbies that make me who I am. I know that i am really tough and resilient and will survive this new journey, considering all I've endured this year, but to say I am afraid, confused, and grieving my past life is the understatement of the century.

I'm not looking for medical advice, but if anyone has any advice on how to prepare for the loss of a limb and getting through the surgery & rehab process, it would be greatly appreciated. I am incredibly lucky to have an awesome therapist and support system, but it's hard to relate to my friends and loved ones right how since none of them have ever lost a limb before. I just feel so alone and scared, but i am hoping that the amputation will be the final step in this traumatic year and I can get back to being myself - it's just very scary and I didn't envision this being my reality at 27. This year has been incredibly traumatizing already, i was basically unmedicated for the first 2 months of this deep knee & bone infection and now that I am losing my leg, I am so scared that I will never be the person I was before my injury. I know that a lot, if not all, of y'all probably relate to this trauma and feeling of never being the same, it's just so heavy to carry alone right now.

To those who read this far, thank you for providing a space for me to rant and process my feelings, I truly appreciate it. Like I said, I don't really know any amputees in my IRL circle, so finding this community and reading everyone's stories makes me feel less alone.

My mother in law got an bilateral below the knee amputation last year and I want to get her a gift to celebrate all her hard work and everything she’s overcame. What kind of gift do you get for something like this? Thank you! 💗

this might not be the right place to ask, but is it nessescary to be completely naked during a leg amputation? i’m supposed to be getting my leg amputated in a few months and i’ve had a few surgeries in the past, however i can’t remember if nudity is fully necessary.

i know it sounds a bit stupid but i’m just really uncomfortable being fully naked, are you allowed underwear and a bra? or is it nessescary to be fully nude? i understand the gown but as dumb as it sounds i just get really uncomfortable being naked, especially infront of people. thank you!!

edit: i know there’s a gown but my question is are you allowed anything underneath like underwear?