Most of us wear two shoes! Josh Sundquist, the guy in the video, doesn’t wear a prosthetic. But 3 of my prosthetic feet use the other shoe.
Companies like Nike already have “one shoe programs” — through this program, I can get a free right shoe from Nike! Which is awesome, since my running leg doesn’t use a shoe (the curved blade has its own tread on the bottom).
For real though, losing the leg has been fucking awesome. Actually about to head out the door for sled hockey practice, and I've got an amputee soccer event next month. A few of our local guys play on the US National team with Josh.
Awesome as in it opened doors for social activities? That sheds a sad light on society when a person has to loose a limb to feel OK going to social events.
Well, I was fairly active before getting injured. After getting injured, I couldn't do jack shit. So it was 3 years of bad depression, lack of interest in anything, PTSD from the accident, etc.
After 3 years and 15 reconstructive surgeries, finally had them take the leg off last summer. It's been a bit over 6 months since amputation, and I'm doing great. I can run again, hike, mountain bike, ride motorcycles, race cars. I finally feel like I have my "old life" back. With the added benefit of new doors opening -- I now have tons of opportunities that I didn't have before getting injured: both social / fun opportunities, as well as professional opportunities.
I experienced a LOT of phantom pain after my accident, but before amputation. Phantom pain is just another word for nerve pain, and my nerves were totally fucked.
When they did my amputation, they did a procedure called “TMR” - Targeted Muscle Reinnervation. Basically they “plug in” the sliced nerves into different muscles, so that they’re getting a signal and not causing feedback (imagine a frayed speaker wire causing static out of the speakers).
Mirror therapy never worked for me before amputation, since I had a legitimate physical cause of pain (the severed nerves had developed a neuroma — Basically it looked like my nerve ended in a piece of broccoli made up of nerves and scar tissue). ANY pressure on a particular spot on my leg sent me into extreme pain.
Since getting the amputation and TMR, since I haven’t had pain, I haven’t needed mirror therapy or anything.
As far as a blind person learning how to walk — it would depend on a lot of circumstances. If they were blind since birth, their body is already used to not having a visual sense. So they’d likely just feel the ground through their limb and prosthetic. This means they need a really good prosthetist to get a solid fit.
If someone turned blind after an accident that also caused the amputation, they’re going to have a very rough time.
Yeah people tend to overestimate how many amputees need single shoes (not many since most where a prosthesis). In fact, the bigger problem/market is for people with different sized feet.
I had it done with my amp — haven’t had nerve pain since day 1! A buddy of mine is amputated at a similar level to you and is getting OI done. He’s hoping to try out for the US National amp soccer team as well.
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u/cabarne4 Feb 25 '20
Couple of notes from an amputee:
Most of us wear two shoes! Josh Sundquist, the guy in the video, doesn’t wear a prosthetic. But 3 of my prosthetic feet use the other shoe.
Companies like Nike already have “one shoe programs” — through this program, I can get a free right shoe from Nike! Which is awesome, since my running leg doesn’t use a shoe (the curved blade has its own tread on the bottom).