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Practice Practice Practice. I lost my big toe due to infection. I thought I would have a hard time learning to walk again. While in the hospital they showed me ways to learn balance. I wore a special shoe so I could walk for a bit. 2 yrs later, I ended up having to get same leg RBK amputated due to another infection. It's been 10 mos. I just got my prosthetic 2 wks ago, still using a walker to get around. I must be patient but it's so hard. Best wishes to you as you recover.

Hi David, first up, thank you for your service. Your comment is really interesting, i've never heard of botox being used to help with infections. I'm going to look into it, thank you for sharing this info. I used to struggle with chronic infection, but thanks to a good socket and liner now have not had issues for a few years either. All the best with everything, I hope the infection has subsided, and your mobility improved.

Hi, good question! I'm very careful, and use compressed air to blow off the fine sand if it happens. These knees are so durable though, but some care is definitely a good idea.

Hi Charles, thanks for watching, and the message. I hope you're doing well, and we hear some more from you. All the best with everything!

Hi James, you're welcome, thank you for watching and your message!

Hi, thank you for the message, and I'm so sorry to hear about your son's experience. I can't imagine what it must be like at such a young age, my heart truly goes out to him, and to you. Although his life will be different, aspects will remain the same. With support and love he can retain what makes him who he is, with that same determination and dedication he showed to become a state champ. An important change to consider with the loss of leg is how this will affect his identity, as he is an athlete with good mobility, balance, strength, and strong physique I imagine. This will be affected by being less mobile and losing some abilities. I can strongly suggest that he talks to someone who understands this change to give him guidance. This is something I had to cope with and it took me a long time to understand it. He can start working on it straight away and likely spare himself a lot of pain and frustration. Some good news - eMTB is a growing sport, with competitions and sponsorships. I started riding mountain bike again last year, and it's been an absolute life changing experience for me. I opted for an E mountain bike (Giant Trance X E+2) and been able to hit the trails quite hard, do some downhill riding, and a 120km cross country ride. It's very manageable and great exercise and distraction. I can only encourage him to try this later on when the leg has healed, and he has a good prosthetic fit. He can write me any time for more information or suggestions. My suggestions for now: Let the wound heal well, rather be safe than risk infection or skin damage. Stay as fit as possible at present. This will help to get going when the leg is ready. Using crutches is a really good workout, as is swimming. Watch some You Tube video's for guidance, the more he knows the better. Get a really good prosthetic leg. When I started using the Ossur Rheo my life improved drastically. I don't know where you live, but there are mobility clinics which provide amazing support, tips, guidance and where you can meet like minded people. Let me know if I can help you find one in your area. I wish you all the best with then journey, and if you need any help please let me know. I'll help the best I can with suggestions or tips. Life as an amputee can be incredibly rewarding, it is really important to get the right support from the start. Warmest regards, Chris

Hi Sue, apologies for the late reply! It's a pleasure and good to hear it helped. It's amazing how a few simple pointers can make such a difference. Maybe next time wear a belt? :-) Thank you for watching and for your message!

Hi Bob, thanks for the message, and welcome to our conversation. I was in your situation 20 years ago coming October, so I think I can understand the questions about pain and healing time. I can share my experience, and what Ive heard from my many amputee friends who have experiences similar to ours. I experienced way more pain before the amputation than afterwards. Part of the reason for amputation was to stop the pain, and I will never regret the decision, to was the best thing I did for sure. Pain after amputation was minimal, some during the healing process for the first two months, thereafter very little and not at all unmanageable. I had / have occasional phantom sensations, but these subsided quite fast and are rare events now. WRT healing time, seven weeks after the amputation I was walking on my prosthetic leg - less than two months. This will depend on where the amputation is, scarring, skin grafts etc, but most of my mates and I overcame this quite quickly. A few things I think are very important to bear in mind - choose the right surgeon, thoroughly discuss the planned procedure beforehand, get some advice from a prosthetist on what surgery should work best for you, pre-op. A good, well shaped residual limb (stump) will make a very big difference. Beware of opioid pain medication dependence - this happens to a lot of amputees and can really escalate and impair quality of life. Rest / heal the residual limb well before wearing your first prosthetic leg. Take it easy in the beginning. My top suggestion is to find the best possible prosthetist, a good listener with good references, and to build a relationship with him / her. The prosthetics manufacturer Ossur really helped me to find the right person. They also offer the Ossur Mobility Clinics which are awesome to come to understand life as an amputee, in all of its aspects. I wish you all the best, please join future Live Streams and feel free to ask questions about this topic, I'll be happy to answer them and the subscribers offer excellent support, advice, and tips.

Hi Ibiang, thank you for the message. I feel so happy for you for getting the leg, it's a big step towards your ability to move freely - awesome stuff! If you're feeling painful pressure, one of two things are wrong. Either the liner is too thick, or the socket is not a good fit. Either way you need to ask the prosthetist to take a look to help you with a better fit. If it's the liner, it's an easy fix. If it's the socket it is a bit more complicated, and needs to be adjusted or re-made. Your socket should feel comfortable, you should feel no pain. I hope you get it fixed, all the best with everything.

Hi Julie, thanks for watching the video, and for your message. I'm so sorry to hear you're facing an amputation. What I can say at this point is that, even if it is a hard to process situation (as you know I've been there - elective due to pain and infection), there is so much life after amputation. We all find our own way, but I believe that it is there for everyone. Just today I spent a day with some amazing amputees, everyday people like me, who are all living their lives fully. Sharing this with your family can often be harder for them than it feels for us, but this differs from person to person. My experience is to keep it honest, authentic, and keep it an uncomplicated conversation. This is our choice, it is not for us to justify our decision to anyone. At the same time we want to be kind and understanding, and hopefully we get the same in return. Allow them time to ask questions, but don't feel pressured or compelled to manage their responses and emotions. If you don't know the answers to the questions, just say so. Just like us, this is something they need to figure out for themselves too, with each other's support. Right now you need their support, not the other way around. Hopefully the support will end up being felt from all sides. For what it's worth, I have a wonderful life as an amputee, I wish the same for you. Julie, I wish you all the best. Be kind and caring to yourself. Feel free to ask any questions you might have. Maybe join the next live stream, and put your questions in the live comments, I will be happy to respond to anything you want to know. x

Thank you for the message, and for watching the video. I totally can identify with the weight being lifted after amputation, and the relief of the uncertainty ending. I hope that you experience the improvement in quality of life that I did after amputation, certainly it sounds like you have a great attitude and sense of determination under the circumstances. I wish you all the best, and hope you get the most out of your decision!

Hi Cecil, thank you for reaching out. I would so much like to give you some suggestions, but this is hard from what you have shared in the message. My best suggestion is to see a prosthetist for guidance and support. They have dealt with these situations, been trained for it, and often know what the best solutions are. Whatever happens, I believe there is always a possible good outcome, I hope you find what you need.

Thank you for watching, and for the message. This really motivates me to make more video's, I think I'll do one this weekend!

Hi Tony, thank you for watching, and the kind words. Hope there are many good traveling experiences ahead!

Hi this is the translation of your message I got: OS amputee myself, 3 Kinder (geb. 00,04,08) OS amputee myself, 3 children (born 00,04,08) 2 broken marriages, formerly, despite my disability, always tried to give everything, business-like. Society, good money... economy and company broken, everything lost... especially my children. Do not want anymore... It sounds to me like you've had some really hard experiences and setbacks. This is something many amputees I've met, in life and in my work, can relate too. The ones who found their lives back all found support, and especially in the form of a good, experienced counsellor they really trusted. This is also the way that worked for me, after a very dark time in my life. Something we all figured out was what we wanted from life again, even something small, and slowly found our way to a content life again, with help, kindness, support, and hard work. The first step was to trust someone. I hope you find this person my friend, and that you can figure out a way to get what you need and want. It's so worth it.

Hi Francois, thank you for the message, sorry my response took so long! I really respect your dedication to find a solution to your situation, given the complications and extensive damage. Just amazing that you're back on a bike, doing what you love. So we both ride motorcycles, about 10 years after my amputation I got back on a bike again - which I thought would never happen! Love the freedom, and a small victory to get back to doing what we once loved. Much gratitude for this. I opted for a bike with an auto gearbox (lost my left leg) so no modifications needed. Keep on ridin' man! Alll the best.

Hi Tim, apologies for the delayed response! Thanks for watching the video, and the kind words. I can empathise with the residual limb issues, I experienced something similar with cuts and scars, but it worked out OK with some self-care and rest without the prothetic for a day or so. I've learnt to slow life down, which was hard, but has served me well in many areas. I really appreciate the support, hoping to post a video this weekend about my prosthetic leg history and setup. All the best, keep on walking!

Thank you for watching the video, and for your kind words. My solution came with patience, practice, but most important were the right prosthetics and socket. I feel very fortunate to have sorted this out, just took me so long! Made many mistakes which I hope other amputees can avoid.

Hi Johan, thank you for the message, and kind words. I think it's great that you're mobile and walking after 5 months, researching tips and intentionally thinking about improving your gait. The Capitol is a great knee, perfect for getting going again. I still use one around the house occasionally, it should serve you well for quite a while, until you possibly consider a MP knee, like the one I use in the video. When you do switch you'l be amazed at how your abilities and mobility will drastically improve. I always step off with the sound side first, to get the balance with the first step, and build the swing momentum in the following prothetic side. WRT a foot, my capitol knee is paired up with the Ossur Pro Flex LP Torsion www.ossur.com/en-za/prosthetics/products/feet which I also use with my Ossur Rheo XC in more extreme conditions, even though its a great all rounder. For day-to-day I use the Ossur Proprio foot. I think it's a great combination, the Capitol and Proflex, maybe give it a try with a loaner from your prosthetist. I'll def make another video soon, it's been too long! since the last one. Thanks for motivating me, I miss the interaction on the screen! BTW Ill be doing a live stream again soon, hope to see you there. All the best with everything. Considering you're taking the early initiative I fully believe you'll get to the gait you want.

Hi Amputeeme! Thanks for the message, sorry it took me a while to respond. I too get blisters, but have learnt to spot the signs early and take off the leg for a day or two. Fresh air and some sun really helps. I found that the main culprit was not washing my limb twice a day, morning as well as evening at bedtime, also the liner, and using the wrong cream on the limb. The best change I made was moving to the Iceross Seal In Liner. It's a super skin friendly liner, ended my issues with blisters and infections. Hope this helps, all the best!

You're welcome, any time. Thanks for the message!

Hi! Thank you for watching, and for the message. Love doing this, water, sun, the breeze ... and kayakers are great people to meet. I liked your tips on loading a kayak, thanks for sharing and showing!

My dad became an amputee 1.5yrs ago below the right knee and he wants to try kayaking but we arent sure how to go about it. He is still learning balance and is fearful of uneven ground and falling N walking without a stick or something to lean on, he is 70. So any videos or tips would be great thanks

Hi, anything from a short walk, 2 to 5 KM, up to a max of around 20km a day. Anything more will damage the limb, so I try to keep it safe. Thanks for watching and for the question!

Thank you for the message, and for sharing your experience. Only four days standing, and moving with a walker sounds pretty motivated. With a desire to be physically mobile, independent again, your progress will surely be rapid. Just a thought, I think in the first few weeks our priority should be to become mobile again, but not at the expense of the healing of the residual limb. All the best, look forward to hearing how things have progressed for you. Maybe join the live streams and hear how other amputees have dealt with their struggles? Hop to see you there!

Support is key, so please keep on finding the right people to help you find the life you want. Maybe join us on the live streams and see if you can connect with a few of the other viewers? I found that a combination of family, professionals, on-line help, and other amputees really helped me through dificult times.

Hi, thanks for the message. I hope you've found some helpful info. I think that research, information, and support can make the world of a difference.

Hi, thank you for your message, and for sharing your difficulties. This is a good question, and Im sorry to day I don't have a definitive suggestion for you. I'll do my best though, from what Ive seen with other amputees with a similar issue and speak to some of them. Our ams play a big role in helping with balance, so I imagine in the absence of this you will have to find another way to help with balance and stability. I hope that someone else on the channel will see your message, and also send a response to you. Please join our next live streaming event and ask this question, real time in the comments, someone out there will have good advise. All the best and, I hope that things improve soon. Hopefully this channel subscribers will give us some answers.

Thank you! Yeah I love my prosthetic setup, it sure changed my life That is not an exaggeration! :-)

I am a KD currently trialling the Rheo XC after 3 yrs on the OB 3r60 (1st knee). Overall I prefer the Rheo (I can jog, and load bear with a great degree of flexion, things which weren't possible on the OB) but I am finding that I am working my hip flexors like a MF with the Rheo for fear of catching my toe (perhaps a setup issue) and that it is not suitable for club cycling (my main sporting hobby) would be great to a vc with you some time. atb Valente @@theampedlife

Hi Peter Thank you for sharing your struggle with us, and I'm really sorry to hear what happened with how your family handled your loss. That money you received was supposed to set you up for a different life, and even though what you did was a kind thing to do, which I respect, it looks like it cost you dearly in the recovery and growth process. Im thinking surely if you helped your siblings to create opportunity, it is now time for them to return the kindness? Asking for professional help is certainly not a weakness, in fact it is courageous to acknowledge that we struggle , and to get support from someone who can help with something that we cannot see in the moment. It took me almost 10 years to ask for help, and when I finally did my life changed for the better, by a big margin. I really hope you find someone to guide you to a better place, and I hope that your siblings are willing to provide the resources to do so. I think you've earned the favour you gave them all the years ago, when in fact you wrwe the one who needed help. Take care mate, please keep in touch. Hope we see you on the next live stream, maybe we can help you by listening, and giving some support.

Hi Chris it's Peter Chudleigh again. Thanks for inviting me to stay in touch I would like to keep in touch. And share experiences. My leg loss was in 1979 I was 20. Now I'm 65. My biggest challenge is working and earning something to take care of my family. When I was younger I took up painting house's and working for a builder. Other tradies couldn't understand me doing such a physical type of work for an above knee amputee. But I enjoyed the exercise and my disability only held me back minimally. But it's got harder now I'm 65. More in employers minds than mine. I'm finding it hard now because I've become dependent upon my wife and feel my independence is gone. It's painful and depressing getting past other people's phycological limitations. Even my own wife is affected more than she admits and a strain in our relationship results. I hope you keep going and keep reaching out.

Hi, thanks for the message and questions, I'll try to answer them the best I can. Ive been an amputee for 19 years. I started using a prosthetic leg about 7 (seven) weeks after the amputation. I did not use walking sticks for normal walking, but now sometimes when I hike in the mountains I do use them. I only got a micro processor knee after many years, but I regret this. I should have gotten one immediately on my first leg - there is no reason not to do this. The Ossur Rheo is a fantastic knee, it changed my life. I hope this helps, all the best with your amputee journey! You seem to be researching this and asking all the right questions, so things should work out well for you. Hope we see you in our live streaming podcast chats soon!

@@theampedlife Thank you it’s helpful to get information from your experience, only an amputee understands the daily struggle. Had a work accident in 2016 Crushed tibia, then got compartment syndrome had fasciotomy done to relieve the pressure. Basically in the end after numerous surgeries I elected to have amputation done, this was carried out in May this year. After amputation I lost around 7 weeks because I had infection and hematoma removal, on the road now to recovery, received my prosthetic leg with mechanical knee socket isn’t a suction one as yet. Basically it’s a waiting game for residual limp or stump to shrink before getting another socket and micro processor knee. Once I get a suction socket and micro knee I feel things will start to get better for me. Ya it’s a journey and expect to be walking without any aids with a good gait by 16/8/2024 that’s my aim 8 years from day of the accident. Anyway keep up the good content and thanks again 👍🇬🇧

Hi! Thank you for the message, and for the question :-) For the record, I am a left TK amp. I use an Ossur Rheo Knee XC. This is a fantastic knee, it is super safe and gives me maximum mobility. I am active, just like you. I climb mountains, ride mountain bikes, do long hikes etc. About 8 weeks ago I cycled 120km with this knee, and was able to go of a nice hike afterwards. I've decided not to jog, as I don't want to harm my remaining good knee with too much pressure. I think this was a good decision as my good leg is still strong after 20 years an amputee. I wish you all the best, you sound very motivated! I hope you find the leg which will give you the freedom you want. Take care, hope to hear more from you and see you in our live streaming podcasts.

PS, I wanted to mention in my reply that the leg I use has many pros, but really only one con, which is the price. The pros - it's robust, durable, gives great safety, very easy to get used to, the battery lasts long, and also looks good aesthetically. A great combo of positives! All the best with choosing the right knee for yourself Sunny (is this your name?) and let us know what you decided please, id love to share your question on a live stream if you don't mind.

Hi Brandon, thank you for the message! It's a huge pleasure, it's really good to hear that it is helping you and others. Hope we see you on our live streaming!

Hey mate, thanks for the message, and for raising a very important issue. Intimacy is something many amputees struggle with for a while, but the vast majority overcome this pretty soon. I want to re-assure you, but suggest you build a relationship with a trusted professional / therapist to work through a few things to make it easier, if needed. Mostly this has to do with body image, it's more in the mind and not in the physical side of things. If you stay healthy in mind and body things should be fine with a trusted partner and sexual intimacy. Pain is a passion killer, as is the medication prescribed to deal with it. My suggestion is to stay away from the opioids as much as possible. Just a last thought, I had immense pain and the amputation said my life. I am happily married and have a great relationship with my wife. I wish you all the best, please feel free to ask more questions if you are looking for support. I'll raise this topic in the next live stream as I think it's so important, and rarely talked about. Take care mate.