The electric leg

01.10.15

Hi all

I have had my electric leg now for a month and as i previously said i didn't like it. It felt stiff and i felt like i was waiting for it to swing through when i walked.
But i liked the suspension on it. It makes it more comfortable to walk, kind of spongy like you are walking on foam. But i found i still had the old problem of my socket slowly turning when i walked. But as you know i have found a solution to this and quickly stuck on my Velcro.

I was disappointed as i thought with this leg i would be able to go up stairs foot over foot, like a normal person. But what they don't tell you in the adverts is you have to scrape your leg back like a charging bull. This tells the leg you want to take a step, either over something or up something. You then quickly bring it in front of you so your foot is on the step. The problem i have if because I'm short (5ft) i then cant step up as the knee gives way because it thinks i am sitting. I am ok on short steps, just not in house steps. But i will not be using this technique outdoors either because i dont want to kick anyone in the face coming up the stairs behind me. Stupid design flaw.

The only benefits of this leg so far are that i can stand on a slope with out my knee slowly bending, so i can distribute my weight evenly now. Also i can go down slopes but this needs more practise and nerves if steel.
Apparently you can also run with this leg if you attach a blade.

The only other downside as it is electric it has to be charged like a mobile. It has a 5 day life but to check the battery you have to turn it upside down. Another stupid design flaw. Why not just show 5 lights on the side, rather than me having to do a handstand if im camping out!

But this is teaching me to walk upright and correct and as such the scar tissue at the bottom of me stumpy has come loose grabbed a few nerves and now when i walk its kind of a crunch, pain, crunch, pain. So went back to plastic surgeon and im back on the slab in November so will be back in my pea over Christmas, again!
Then (everything crossed) this should be my last operation!

I never thought this would happen

September


Hi all

I had to take my dog Lilly to the vets for a check up on a lump. She was fine and just had a biopsy. I was able to walk from the bus station with my hydrolic leg and a stick 200 yards to the vets. My mum came with me to help collect lilly because she pulls like mad. When i walk her i have to do it on my mobility scooter with her lead strapped to the handles and even then she pulls.
Well i walked beside my mum up the road, and noticed Lilly kept stopping and looking back at me then walking on and looking back, so i asked mum to let me hold the lead.
It took a lot of effort not to cry as i plodded on and she slowly walked by my side waiting for me to catch up and always looking back at me right up to the bus station.
I never thought i would be able to walk my dogs again for fear they would pull me over but this gave me hope. One day i will be able to walk them in the woods again.