our gang

[James Street]

Thanks Ester.  I've got an appointment with a prosthesis specialist who
works for my HMO and he is supposed to be one of the best in the SF Bay
Area.  I haven't talked with a PT yet however.  Maybe the prosthesis
specialist will know who the PT's are.
Jim
----- Original Message -----
From: "Esther L." <esther-l at alumni.virginia.edu>
To: "Amputee Information Network" <amp-l at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Friday, August 01, 2003 8:09 AM
Subject: Re: our gang


> I'm a BK.  My advice is to be demanding with the physical therapist who
> teaches you to walk.  A good PT can teach you how to make the most use
> of the leverage and muscles that you have after amputation surgery.
> It won't hurt to call the physical therapy places that participate with
your
> insurance and ask if they have actual experience teaching above knee
> amputees to walk.  Good PT will also teach you to strengthen your
> lower back and protect it from the extra strain.
> Esther
>
>
> R. Edmund Turner wrote:
>
> > James Street wrote:
> >
> >> Hello everyone, I don't qualify for your group yet but I will in
> >> about a month.  My leg isn't in great shape now anyway, so I'm not
> >> going to be celebrating my last days with a five mile run either. I
> >> know this is a difficult question but can anyone comment on the kind
> >> of mobility and AKA can expect? Is the kind of prosthesis VERY
> >> important?  (PRICE!) They're  going to try to give  me a stump almost
> >> to the knee but worst case will be a high amputation with only about
> >> six or seven inches measuring from the inner thigh.  Third case is
> >> middle thigh with a bone implanted ceramic rod. Jim
> >>
> >> Jim
> >> I am a high upper thigh AK amputee.  The only trouble I have is
> >> walking up stairs and airports.  I ski on 1 ski and I ride a mountain
> >> bike with one leg.  You will have trouble with what you want to have
> >> trouble with.  Be positive, attack and don't worry about the other
> >> people.  If they have a problem with what you are doing, then it is
> >> their problem. My artifical leg is very comfortable, tell the doctor
> >> to to do the best job he can on your residual limb. Where are you and
> >> who is doing the surgery?
> >>
> >> My thoughts are with you.
> >> Ed
> >>
>
>
> --
> ---
> Esther L. esther-l at alumni.virginia.edu,
> Speaking only for myself
>
>