We all could use a
Tip now and then, even more so for the amputee. I've learned several on my own
and through frustrating experience. For those who are non-prosthetic users, you
may find some of these tips useful as well. If you have a Tip or Trick that
would benefit my visitors, please share it with us.
E-mail me. I would be happy to add it to
this already growing list!
New Tip from
Higgy:
Higgy's tip was such a God-send for me, I had to share it. When your prosthesis isn't covered, dirt, dust, dog hair, cat hair, etc.,
can get into the foot area of our leg. This can decrease the life of your leg. She suggests using a can of the compressed air you use
to clean your keyboard. Hold the can about 6 inches away from your foot when spraying, but it's great to clean the foot area and the
pin hole if you're using that kind of socket.
New Tip from
Sara: The issue of gardening for an AKA has
come up. In my mind, this would be near to impossible, but I've learned that
'when there's a will, there's a way' and when a LadyAmp has a question she can't
find an answer to, she only needs to ask someone here at LadyAmp. Of course,
foremost is safety for an AKA LadyAmp. As can be expected, gardening is a dirty
job, and keeping your prosthetic shoe from looking like it's gone three rounds
in a pigs trough is important. Sara answered the 'call'. She told us she's been
using a rubber shoe that simply fits over her prosthetic shoe and it keeps her
prosy shoe safe and dirt free. I've also added these links to the
Information Links
page. These are link for different the different kinds of the rubber shoes that
Sara was able to find on the Internet.
Here are some
sources and examples:
Some basic French gardening boots:
http://www.gardenscapetools.com/pages/Boots.htm
- This is a nice looking, probably quite serviceable example. I'm not sure the
heel is high enough, but it's not dead flat, so it would probably work quite
well, especially with all that lovely traction. $50
Wellingtons: The
Standard -
http://www.wellie-boots.com/usmofcart/original.html
English people don't usually say "garden boots" or "rubber boots"; they say
"wellies," meaning Wellingtons. These are top of the line, brand-identified --
even have owners' social clubs. People who own them are passionate about them,
and apparently for good reason; I've heard of people losing their wellies, but
never wearing them out. The "Hunter Original" is probably the best for our
purposes, with its nice heel, exemplary traction, and big calf buckle. It is
$89, however.
(NOTE: Even if the heel looks big in the picture, so does
the sole. When measuring the height of a heel, you really only want to take into
consideration the difference in thickness between the sole and the heel. So even
though this heel looks like it's an inch or more high, the sole looks like it's
at least half an inch thick, so the actual height will nicely meet the arch of
your average prosthetic foot.)
Muckmaster
http://www.growersupply.com/muckmaster.html
- The groovy thing about these is that they breathe. $98, on sale right now for
$79.95
Currin Rubber Work Boots
http://www.currinboots.com/rubberbtwebpg/rubber_workbootsHP.htm-
Much of the variety I described above is represented on this one page, from
cleats and steel toes to economy models. You see a lot of this type in Southeast
Alaska (nicknamed "Skagway sneakers") because of all the rain:
http://www.currinboots.com/rubberbtwebpg/xtrtuf.htm
Everyone wears them everywhere, and even eventually wears them out.
These, though, look like they might be made just for your purposes:
http://www.currinboots.com/rubberbtwebpg/gray%20max.htm
I don't see any prices.
A more feminine option:
http://www.clogsonline.com/IBS/SimpleCat/Product/asp/product-id/341322.html-
These are smaller, lighter, and more fitted. You don't have to roll them down to
get them on, but you also can't go calf-deep in mud, compost or manure in them.
However, they might be just the ticket for more ladylike activities or just
puttering about. They've also got awesome traction and what looks like a perfect
heel, they come in some nice colors, and they're only $26.95.
A good deal
on another solid choice:
http://www.sierratradingpost.com/product.asp?wc=true&base_no=64372
- I think Le Chameau is another respected brand of well-made gardening boot, and
this is a classy looking but still quite practical boot with great coverage at a
sale price of $45.95.
Lacrosse hunting boots at L. L. Bean:
http://www.llbean.com/ If you can hunt in it,
you can weed-whack in it. Here's another nice, tall boot with somewhat sculpted
calf, appropriate heel, traction, and a buckle. You can get it in camouflage so
the weeds never see you coming, or go for the nice smooth green.
New Tip
from Jan: "Hi, I’m Jan from Indiana,
and I’m a double BK, 9 years now. My best trick ever is to spray your stumps
with deodorant. I found out soon after my amputations that by the end of the day
my legs smelled like dirty tennis shoes. I’m a girly girl, and this was driving
me wild. I tried every powder, soap I could find and nothing helped. Finally out
of desperation I sprayed my legs with deodorant, and IT WORKED!!!! No more
smelly legs."
New Tip from Cvicfaris: "One of the things that makes bathing so
much easier for me is having a basin or basket which hooks onto my tub or bench
which contains my soap, shampoo, bathing sponge and anything else I might need
such as razor, etc. This keeps everything at hand so that I don't have to risk
injury by reaching for these items on shelves, etc". (Thank you
Cv!!!)
1. When using a bath bench in the shower, make sure it
is stable and fits well between the sides of the tub. A bath bench has a tendency to gather water in the metal legs. If you take
the bench out of the tub before the water has time to drain, you'll end up
with water on the floor and that is extremely dangerous!! Keep your bath bench
inside the tub until the water has completely drained from the
bench. Remember too, your bench is necessary! Give it a once over every
couple of months. Make sure screws are tight, that there is no wiggle in the
leg frames. Your safety comes first and taking a couple of minutes to make
sure you can take a bath safely is important!
2. When using a
walker, when you want to sit down on a chair, toilet, couch, move backward into
it until the back of your good leg touches where you want to sit down. This way
you know you've hit your mark.
3. If you're still using a wheel
chair, find a tote bag, an old purse, something you can hang over the handle of
your wheelchair. If it has a long strap, ( ie: an old purse) put a knot close to
the purse itself to keep it from rubbing against the wheels of your wheelchair.
Keep your medications, glasses, pen, paper and even the remote control in it.
This way you always have what you need close at hand.
4. If you
are on a walker, there is a wire basket that can hang on the front of your
walker. This is a life saver in a lot of ways. You can carry items from the
kitchen to where you are going, such as a soda, something to eat....these
baskets aren't expensive and you can request one prior to being released from
the hospital. Your Occupational Therapist should make sure you have it by the
time you are released from the hospital. Using one of these baskets made me feel
just a little more independent. I was able to get some things for myself without
having to ask someone to get them for me.
5. My biggest fear was
steps when I lost my leg. It took me weeks to even attempt to try and climb just
a simple 3" high step. A trick my Physical Therapist showed me was instead of
going up the stair in a forward motion, turn around and go up it backward. I
know that sounds silly, but for me, it worked. Work with your P.T. to see if
going forward will be a problem. If so, ask about going backward, it couldn't
hurt.
6. With my first temporary prosthesis, I had a hard time
keeping the sleeve from sliding down my leg. With it sliding down, my prosthetic
socks kept bunching up. What I finally did was take a strap piece of Velcro and
wrap it around the upper part of my leg. It worked wonders keeping my sleeve
up.
7. Using a walker day in and day out will cause callouses on
the palms of your hands. My hands got so sore I could hardly hold myself up. The
handles of the walker are hard, though they are sturdy, they're still made of a
hard plastic. I ended up wrapping a wash cloth, folded in two around the handles
of my walker very tightly with rubber bands. I didn't want them slipping off and
me taking a tumble. The wash cloths helped considerably and I finally didn't
have sore hands any more.
8. Adaptive aids are expensive. Walkers,
canes, wheelchairs, bath benches, they all add up to a lot of money. I've always
suggested if a family member, friend are garage sale venturers, ask them to keep
their eyes open for some of these items. Using 'used' adaptive aids is nothing
new. With a good cleaning with soap and maybe even bleach, you'll have a good
piece of equipment, and at the same time, save yourself a bundle of
money.
9. This may sound grasse, but when it comes to tushies,
some of us are more endowed than others:-). A toilet seat can suddenly become
your enemy when you're trying to use it and you have only one leg. Here is a
suggestion my husband figured out for me. When you receive your toilet arm rests
(this is a brace that is attached to the toilet seat frame. It enables you to
use both hands to push yourself up from a sitting position), there is one for
the left side and the right side. For me it was uncomfortable to sit with those
cold, metal rods against the side of my tush. In my case, I had the bathroom
counter on my right and the tub to the left. I couldn't use the tub to push
myself up, but I could use the counter. So my husband took the right hand arm
rest off and kept the left one there. It made for a much more comfortable
experience, if you know what I mean.:-)
10. Don't sit all day in
your wheelchair and watch TV. Get out!! Move around, use your walker even if
it's to just go out on the porch or patio. Getting fresh air and a change of
scenery can make a gloomy day feel a little better.
11. Be patient
with yourself! If you are like me, you wanted to walk the minute you got home
from the hospital, but it just isn't possible. I had to take small steps toward
my goal of walking again before I could actually take that first step. Believe
in yourself and you'll get to your goal.
12. Try and get back into
the activities you enjoyed prior to your amputation. If you loved jogging, then
read about. Just because you can't do it right now, doesn't mean you won't in
the near future. Reading magazines and books on your favorite pasttime or hobby
helps the time go by and you are kept up on current events. For me, it was my
computer and writing. I found I could still participate in my job as a news
correspondent by writing articles about other amputees in need of assistance.
Doing something you enjoy will bring back the feeling of
independence.
13. In the beginning I was terrified of taking a
shower! Before my amputation I could stand outside the shower and wait for the
water to warm up and then jump in. But that changed! With my amputation came a
new way of showering. Now I had to BE in the tub before I could turn the water
on and there was no telling what was going to come out of the shower head!
So.....my husband bought a hand held shower head. It worked miracles! I was able
to hold it, until the water got warm and then take my shower. You can buy them
just about anywhere anymore and the cost can be very minimal.
14.
SNOW!! That was a four-letter word in my book!! For most amputees, snow and ice
can be a horrible experience. I can remember once getting out of my car and
taking two steps and feeling the ground slipping out from under me. I froze
right where I was and was scared of moving. If you are using crutches or a
walker, this is especially terrifying. BUT, there are ways around it. If you're
going to family or a friends house, ask them to prepare a place for you to walk.
Believe me, they don't want you hurt and will be glad to help you out. Salting
the driveway or sidewalk will work wonders. If you are using a prosthesis (which
I was using at the time) it can still be a scary moment. I've had other amputees
tell me they take an old broom stick, hammer a nail into the end of it and use
it as you would a ski pole. If nothing else, it can help you break up the ice in
your path and allow you to get to where you're going. IF, you can't find a safe
way into a building or house, then DON'T risk hurting yourself, even if it means
going back home.
15. Newly out of the hospital you can expect to
be exhaused with every little thing you do. Even as times goes by, moving
around, getting from one place to another will tire you out. Don't think you're
being 'whimpy' if you have to stop and rest. Do it!! If your muscles are
tightening up, if you feel a strain on your good leg then it's time to sit and
rest. This is a sign you're overdoing it. Heed that sign!!
16. A
'dressing stick' can help an arm amputee with dressing by taking hold of clothes
and holding them in place while slipping arm through shirts, blouses,
etc.
17. There are elastic shoe laces that enable a leg amputee to
easily slip into their shoes. Taking advantage of Velcro laces that can be
easily closed are also useful.
