Feb 4 - New Prosthesis Socket

I slept very well. 

I tried something new, and it worked well for one night, but I don't want to jinx it by saying how much I hope it works.

I took no pain pills, and no muscle relaxers last night. Just a Cymbalta (which is a long term nerve blocker), and a large dose of anti inflammatories. I thought that if the phantom pain was caused by wearing the leg so much, that the irritation of the end of the stump was putting stress on the cut nerves that used to run down to my feet. So maybe an anti inflammatory would relax the tension on those nerves to remove the phantom pain. I had very little phantom limb pain (PLP) last night. It was there, but manageable.

I didn't wear the leg much the last few days, as the stump has shrunk so much, that it bottoms out in the socket. Yesterday I went to Bradley, and he said that I need a new socket. But he doesn't think a permanent one can be used as the stump varies so much in size from day to day. But he made a zillion measurements and took my leg and told me to come back today.

I did laundry and managed to hang it up using crutches. I miss my leg.

Maybe me not wearing a leg for a few days was the reason for little PLP last night.

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I went to Bradley today and got my leg back. 
Bradley had the new socket ready. It is MUCH thinner than the old one. I
kept the silicone liner on all night, and wrapped the stump in addition. So this
morning was the smallest it has ever been, and into the new socket was
tight. It feels very snug, and there is much less movement. It feel a
lot more like a part of my leg, than a big thing on my stump.

In the factory I walked all over without a cane or crutch. He expanded
the socket flare at the upper rear of the socket. I like that, because
when I stand it feels almost like a seat, and forces the knee into lock.
So I can stand for long periods of time without thinking about the leg
collapsing. (Washing dishes, brushing teeth, hanging laundry, chatting
with people)
He also expanded the bottom end of the socket, so the end of my stump is never touching anything. So maybe it will not cause as much phantom pain.

But now that I am home and walking around, I find the little flare seat
to be restrictive to my walking. I think I might have a blister already.
I wanted to walk to a restaurant for breakfast tomorrow, but not now. I go to Bradley at 10:00 tomorrow and they will remove the "seat" I like so much 

The whole walking feels more natural with the tight socket. There is
much more feed back from the motion of the leg to my thigh. I might even
be able to increase the extension resistance a bit. Now the leg sort of slams into full extension. I feel like a Nazi goose stepper. Increasing the resistance makes the leg go forward slower. That makes the feeling at extension more subtle, but also makes walking look more natural.

I told Bradley that I walked with a cane and found it much easier. He
says that about 80% of his long time above knee patients use a cane, but
are capable of walking without one. Sort of like me.

I have worn the new socket all day today. I'll try the same drugs tonight, because I know there should be lots of PLP tonight.

I was able to get the laundry off the line easily.
I had a good chat with my neighbor.

I hope the removing of the little seat will allow me good walking.

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