Back from the doctor!

I was at the clinic today, and I now have my cast off! It feels so good to finally be out of my cast! I only saw Dr. D briefly, and then I saw one of the prosthetists. He gave me some stockings to shrink my stump, that I have to wear all of the time. I have to go back in two weeks and if the swelling is all gone, then they can mold me for the socket that attaches to the prosthesis. The socket goes on the end of my stump.

I have to start doing exercises to stretch the muscles in my leg. I couldn't really do them before, because my knee was bent in the cast. Once I get the prosthesis, I can start to walk!

I haven't been in a whole lot of pain lately, and the spasms pretty much went away, but this afternoon, they (the spasms) are starting up again. I don't know why. But they will go away eventually.

I'll write more later.

My 2nd doctor's appointment since my surgery

I saw the doctor again today. The staples were removed from the stump. The nurse had some trouble getting them out so she asked Dr. D to come in and remove them. He got them right out. It kind of hurt. I still think the stump looks cool.

Before I had the amputation, I always thought it would have to be right below the knee. But it was done about 6" below the knee. I have been in a cast for 3 weeks now and my knee has been bent the whole time. So the two times I have had the cast changed, it has been hard to straighten my leg. Once I get out of the cast for good, I will probably have to do some exercises to strengthen it.

I am supposed to go back in two weeks to get this cast off, have an xray, see Dr. D, and maybe start the wrappings that the prosthetist will do. I guess because there is still some swelling in the stump, they can't start that yet. I can't wait until I can get the cast off!

As far as the pain goes, I am usually always in pain. My leg jerks on it own a lot too. The medicine does help, but it doesn't take all of it away. I just try to not let it bother me.

I am still glad I had it done, even though I am in pain. Years ago, when my mom and I would talk about maybe needing an amputation, I thought that I would not want it done, I thought I would miss my leg. But now I feel differently about it. My own leg kept me from being able to do a lot of things I wanted to do. Or at least from being able to do them for longer than an hour or so. I am looking forward to getting a new leg and being able to do a whole lot more.

Well, I am tired and my leg is hurting so I will go now and write more later.

John