28 April 2008
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| The car that hit me |
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| Remains of my BMW650 |
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| Last image of my leg |
After my motorcycle accident, I lost my right leg and this was all that was left of my right femur.
I spent 6 weeks in hospital, and did plenty of exercise there with weights bought for me by my husband, Gordon. I knew that I had to keep my arms strong for the future on crutches.
Together with Stephan Kritzinger, my prosthetist, I did manage to walk with a pin-type socket, but ended up having endless problems with the leg not fitting, hurting me in my groin, etc etc.
To prevent the socket chafing me in my groin, I had cycle-type pants made, with the padding on the right inner thigh instead of in the middle of the crotch area, which helped tremendously. The only trouble there was that when I needed the toilet, I had to take the entire socket off so that I could get the cycle pants off. This was a bit of a pain, but needless to say, it was a small price to pay for the discomfort of the socket.
The phantom pains were quite hectic. For the first 6 months they were quite unbearable and not being able to rub or hold the aching leg was terribly frustrating. I tried accupuncture, hypno-therapy, mirror therapy, to name a few. In the end I found Lyra medication was probably the best, although it never really took the pain fully away.
Sept 2009Dr Hosking removed my hip ball and socket and femur and inserted a titanium one which was now 19cm long. He also made a skin flap to cover the extended femur using soft tissue, skin and muscle from my left inner thigh. It was touch and go that the flap would take, but luckily it did and within the next 6 months, I was up and about on Zoey (my C-leg) with suction type socket. I found this to feel far more secure than the pin method, but it did often fall off after sitting, as air managed to creep in at those times.
Dr Hoskin lengthened the femur by another 4 cms to try and assist with my walking with Zoey
January 2012
Unfortunately the end of the implant was steadily moving outwards and starting to put pressure on the outer bottom RHS of my stump. It was also restricting the blood supply to the bottom of my stump, but I could not feel any discomfort so wasn't aware of the damage happening there. The skin did look a bit suspect and had a grey purply look about it and felt spongy. The doc felt it was fine and instructed the prosthetist to change the socket to relieve pressure from this sp
5 May 2012
Pressure from previous implant when weight loading had been cutting of blood supply to stump, so huge abscess had formed and caused my body to go into shock.My hip was now totally infected. I Was rushed to hospital where Doc removed entire titanium implant and put a spacer there instead. Stayed in hospital 2 weeks but was in terrible pain. Battled even to turn over in hospital be to be washed. Back developed tiny spotty sores after a week of lying down.
Came home but really battled to get in and out of bed and sitting on the toilet really a problem. Had to basin wash for a month before I could have a decent shower due to bandaging.
The spacer is not a very comfortable implant. It is very heavy - makes my leg feel like a piece of lead hanging down and doesnt allow for much movement.
Have now been on crutches for 7 months and not able to wear Zoey at all.
Ariel is my swimming leg on the left
and Zoey is my C-leg.
Shame, they look very sad and lonely not having being used for so long now.
8/11/12
THE BIG OPERATION - OSSEOINTEGRATION.
Had a titanium hip and femur, and osseointegrated implant inserted with an abutment protruding from my stump so that I can connect Zoey (my C-Leg) hopefully within the next couple of weeks.
The op went relatively smoothly, and thank goodness for the epidural, didnt have any pain for the first 4 days, until that wore out. Still then, not as much paiin as I had in previous operations.
11/11/12
My skin started to react to the plasters (the waterproof type) within 3 days after the op. Red welts appeared under and around the adhesive parts. Doc prescribed antihestimine tablets for me which seemed to help within a few days. It was terribly itchy and I couldnt help myself scratching all the time. As I could only lie on my back, the skin also started getting all red and itchy and developed a terrible rash within a week. I found that good old Camomile lotion was still the best and the nurses would turn me onto my side and apply the lotion and then fan my back with a magazine to dry it before rolling me onto my back again. I also think the plastic mattress under the single sheet causes one to sweat and get very hot, which doesnt help matters.
16/11/12
One week later I was discharged but had to return a couple of days later for dressing change which was done in theatre as they didnt want to risk infection.
The plasters they used have silver in them which apparantly is the best when there is a great infection risk. I didnt see the stoma but doc took a picture of it with his celphone.
I was sent back home with strict instructions to remain lying down and not move the leg too much.
Not being able to bend the hip joint caused huge problems trying to sit on the toilet and found this to be a quite a challenge, so tried to keep it in for as long as I could so that I wouldnt have to go too often. A week later went back into theatre to have the dressings changed and took in my own cel to take pics.
This is a pic of the abutment protruding from my leg. The skin seems to have attached really nicely to the implant and doc covered stoma again, after cleaning it well with alcohol, and asked me to still try and keep it as still as possible till he sees me again the next week.
5 Dec 2012
Hip ball dropping a little out of socket so have to see Eugene tomorrow to fit a temporary leg so that I can weight bear.
Started to drive today but not 100% comfortable as I cant really bend up my thigh very well into a comfortable sitting position. Hopefully will get better in time.
6 Dec 2012
Went to Eugene and fitted temporary leg. Really a very wierd feeling as he was working on the metal abutment. I could feel the vibration of it into the hip and felt quite nauseous at one stage. Actually felt ok when I put weight onto it. Problem now is that the weight of the leg is definately threatening to pull the hip out of the socket. Very easy to put the leg on and off with the R pin. What a pleasure after sleeves and sockets.
Eugene called doc and he said I am only to weight bear. not to walk, and to try not lift the leg off the ground so as not to pull at the socket. Not going to be so easy.
is doing really well. He came to give me moral
support for my first fitting.
the hip out of the socket, Eugene has now given
me a 'stick' leg and I have made a suspender belt
system to hold it in place when I walk. This leg
and me didnt last very long together. A week later
I went back to Eugene who fitted Zoey again for
me. With the suspender belt system, the weight
of Zoey is no longer a problem.
