My Left Leg!!

24.8.12

I went for another prosthetic fitting today having everything crossed that it would fit this time.

This was the second time I had gone, and you may have to go for more it's best to get the fitting right you don’t want it to rub.

They decided rather than shrinking and cutting down the plastic liner to fit my cone shaped leg. They would build it up with rubber gloves to make it square shaped (like a stump should be if I had skin on it.)

It felt like pulling on a wet suit but was not uncomfortable. Then he brought out my leg!

It had my trainer on the end and was just the bare metal parts. It also has a strap that goes around your waist to hold it on.

Be warned ladies and gents if you are an above the knee amputee the plastic cup your thigh sits into comes all the way up to your groin. They do bend it outwards and put soft rubber around the lip but it’s still right up in there when you walk.

So he showed me how to strap myself in and I stood up for the first time in 3 months it was ace. I then took a step and couldn’t believe how heavy it was, and as my prosthetic had a loose knee it flicked out when I stepped forward, which looked really weird.

After some more adjustments he then went away and put the cosmesis over it. (the foam skin.) This adds more weight to the leg, and do not get it wet as like a sponge you will be dragging even more weight around.

I was really excited and wanted to wear it home, but wasn't allowed I had to take it home and then take it with me to my next physiotherapy session, where I will learn to walk on it.

Of course when I got home I put it on and stood up in it, and when my mum saw me she burst into tears, bless.

I have been told that at the end of the physio once you get used to the weight of the limb you are then referred back to the prosthetics unit, and they will give me another leg more suited to my day to day activities, i.e. walking, cycling etc. This one will be waterproof, but I have felt that covering and boy is that heavy!!

Also when you get this first leg you will find that when you sit down the leg sticks out and you have to physically push it under you. This is because of the foam; I have been told the trick with this is to store the leg in a bent position to get a crease in the foam.

Also when sitting down the top of the leg (the cup) does dig into the underside of your bum,  this unfortunately you will have to get used to.

Just another hurdle to get over

Since my accident I have been using my hands a lot, they bare my weight on my crutches, and they help me get around on my wheelchair. But if I have been using them a lot during the night they start to go numb to the point where it becomes very painful.

I had tests done at the nerve clinic; there was a strange doctor there who looked after the electric shock machine. He put metal loops around my fingers and then held them in place as he shocked me. Of course I was twinging all over the place and he said 'don't worry soon it will become pleasurable.'

I just looked at him and couldn’t get the picture out of my head of what he would get up to with his little hooks and clips on a night. I was glad to get out of there.

Unfortunately I was diagnosed with moderate to severe Carpel tunnel Syndrome.

This is where the carpel nerve gets trapped in the wrist, causing numbness and pain.

The only way to relive this is surgery.

Both are done on local anaesthetic, and can either be open surgery. (they make a slice from the bottom of your hand, to the middle of the wrist.) Or key hole surgery, I would prefer keyhole, as I didn’t want my favourite tattoo destroyed.

Another problem is recovery time, this can be up to a month and in the mean time your hand/wrist is wrapped up in a sling. This is not good news for someone who relies heavily on their hands.

There was no way I was going to be reduced to one arm and one leg, so I have decided to be put on the waiting list until I have finished my physio and get my leg, that’s more important. 

suzie's angels

15.05.12

I finally got to meet Alison and Natasha today, the two ladies who stopped and helped me.

All I remember of them was Alison's big bushy hair, but both of their faces were a blur.

It was so nice to see them and to show them that I was okay. They gave me some beautiful lilies, and we sat and talked through what happened that day.

I hadn't realised how other people would be affected by my accident because I am dealing with it so well.

As I have said I remember everything clearly, and I think because of this I don't have flash backs or nightmares.

But Alison told me when she saw me it was like something out of a horror film, and to this day if she sees a cyclist she is nearly causing accidents trying to stay away from them and always looks at their ankles.

Natasha was also amazed at how no one else stopped. They noticed one man a few cars back that got out of his car and looked like he was going to help but just watched.

Whilst they were explaining how my accident was still affecting them my mum said that she still gets anxiety going down Manchester road, because the first time she went down it she saw the police tape still in place and markings on the road where I would have landed, and of course this upset her. This was the first time I had heard this story and when I asked why she hadn't told me this before she said she didn't want to worry me.

I don't know if I have been selfish thinking if I’m dealing with it, everyone else should be okay because I’m the one who had the accident. But now I know they are acting normally to an horrific situation. I guess I’m strange in that case, that I can just put this behind me so quickly and look to the future.

Anyway my angels stopped for me that day and even though they saw blood and horror, one held my hand whilst the other called for help and I will be forever grateful. I hope seeing how well I am getting on eases their anxiety.

Nose to the grind stone

I wanted to get my life back to as normal as possible, and this meant returning to work.

I returned on Wednesday 8th August, 3 months after having my accident.

As I work for a patient transport company it wasn’t a problem being collected and taken in.

There was a buzz of people around me, and my first day back mainly consisted of telling my story for the hundredth time, and reassuring people that I was okay and doing fine.

Even though I had been given shorter hours it was still mentally exhausting and I soon began to get tired.

I have been very fortunate working for Bradford Council in that they have been very accommodating with my adjustments. Even going as far as building me a ramp to get into the office, and fitting bars and an emergency cord in the toilets. I tried to keep the mood light and stated that the only time I would pull that would be if I ran out of toilet roll!

You do find that people will stare; you probably did when you were able bodied. It’s just a natural curious human reaction. They want to ask 'how did that happen.' but daren't, however get used to small children asking you all sorts of questions.

 

My 1st day back from work

Prosthetic Fitting Part 1

I was asked to go to Seacroft Centre to have my first fitting of my prosthetic leg because I had gone as far as I could with the P.A.M aid and I was really excited.

You have your measurements two weeks before then you are asked to go for a fitting.

I arrived at 9am and was told to bring my other shoe. The prosthatist then brought out my leg.

I don’t have a picture yet but when I do I will post it.

It looked so strange my whole leg with a shoe on the end in a plastic bag. He gave it to me to feel the weight of it, and I couldn’t believe how heavy it was.

Apparently it weighs just under a stone! But if you were able to weigh your own leg it would be heavy, you have just grown up with the weight as it’s grown. So to have it missing for 2 months, then have it given back to you was really strange.

I was able to stand up in it but couldn’t walk, as the fitting wasn’t correct. Because of my injuries all I have is a lump of muscle covered with skin, and then a layer of bandages, which ends up being cone shaped.  So when I put the prosthetic on my 'stump' slid into it and the end was touching the bottom, which it shouldn’t. You should never have to bare any weight on the end of your stump. If you find this is happening the fitting is wrong.

Also I realised the top of the prosthetic went right up to the top of my inside leg, and when I took a step the plastic, even though it was padded banged against my pubic bone.

The prosthatist was very thorough, and wanted to take it off and tweak it to get it right, this meant taking it away and re-moulding it whilst I was there. 4 hours later and it still wasn’t right, I was very disappointed, as I wanted my leg now I had seen it. But I also knew because of the shape of my leg it wouldn’t be right first time and probably will need lots of tweaking before its was correct. My next fitting was due in 2 weeks time, in the mean time it was back on the P.A.M aid.

The P.A.M Aid (Rubber leg)

After living for a few weeks without a leg, and slowly building up my strength in my right leg I was given the P.A.M Aid leg to practise on.

This is basically an inflatable leg, your stump, thigh or residual limb as the experts like to call it sits inside. Its then pumped up around you and a strap goes over your shoulder taking most of the weight.

Not me, borrowed photo

It takes a few goes to get used to, the trick is not to lean on it. Its not a leg and will burst. You need to do a kind of hop walk whilst putting most of your weight through your hands on the bars.

This does make your arms ache, but your strength will build up.

My mum was allowed to come and see me walk up and down, and at first I had my back to her and when I turned she was crying holding her mouth. Bless.

It does feel good to be upright again and to have two legs (technically) Then when you have mastered walking up and down the bars, you then walk out side the bars with one quad stick, then on two quad sticks.

By then you will have mastered distributing your weight as you walk.

Don’t rush that’s the key just do what I did chant in your head. 'Left stick, right stick, foot, foot, left stick, right stick, foot, foot.' Then after a couple of weeks you will be swinging the sticks and your fake leg out together and striding through with your good leg with out even thinking about it.

The Orange Man Part 2

I had been out of hospital a month when the Telegraph & Argos wanted to do a catch up story with me and Martin Copley. They met me at my house (which I missed) and took some photos. We were both embarrassed and glad when it was over but it was nice to see him again.

The following is the clip from the T&A the description of my injuries is wrong but hey ho I'm     here anyway :)

‘He is my hero’, says young woman who cheated death thanks to former soldier

A woman who cheated death in an accident with a lorry has hailed as her hero a roadworker whose military training saved her life.

Doctors told 33-year-old Suzie Unsworth she should have died from shock and blood loss at the scene in Manchester Road, Bradford, due to the severity of her injuries.

Her left leg was so badly crushed it later had to be amputated (Leg torn off at scene) and her right foot was so mangled that the bones were embedded in her other foot ( i didnt have another foot for my bones to me mangled in to, silly).

By chance 45-year-old Martin Copley, who served as a soldier during the Northern Ireland troubles, was working on the construction of a bridge nearby when Miss Unsworth, who was cycling to work, ended up under the wheels of an articulated lorry in April this year.

She said: “I was lying there still with my rucksack on when I just saw this man in orange. He jumped over road barriers and dived across me. He told me not to touch my leg, my hand was right through it, there wasn’t anything there. He told me to hold on to him instead, to look at his face and scream as much as I wanted to.”

She added: “He is my hero. It was only luck that he was there at the time and had his military trauma training. Doctors told me I would have died then and there if it hadn’t been for him. I only had a ten per cent survival chance but he kept me focussed.

Only five weeks after the collision and being airlifted to Leeds General Infirmary, Miss Unsworth, dubbed a ‘miracle lass’ by surgeons, was out of hospital, amazing her medical team with her positive attitude and sheer determination to get on the mend.

“They told me at first to expect to be in hospital for at least six months but it was only five weeks. I got in a wheelchair, helped do things for other patients on the high dependency ward, made my own bed then got them to show me how to change my own dressings – so they had to let me out,” she said.

Twelve weeks on she has been fitted for a prosthetic leg and plans to be back at work with Bradford Council’s Patients Transport Service next month.

Of Mr Copley she said: “We managed to track Martin down and he came to see me in hospital. We just hugged and hugged and cried. He’s the loveliest man ever.”

The Telegraph & Argus has again reunited Mr Copley with Miss Unsworth at her home in Wyke .

Recalling the incident, he said: “I remember seeing traffic backed up on the day and something like a high-vis vest lying there.

“I just shot off up the road and saw Suzie. I’ve seen terrible bomb blast injuries and shrapnel wounds in Northern Ireland but nothing like that day. I will never know how she survived it. I’m full of admiration for her – she fought for her life and won.

“It’s her who’s a hero – not me.”

Two other women also stopped to help at the scene while Mr Copley’s workmates helped slow traffic until the emergency services arrived.

“I am meant to be here on earth. I feel very strongly there is a purpose for me still being here,” said Miss Unsworth, who has now challenged herself to climb Ben Nevis for charity.

Me & Martin