Feb 9 - Another Blood day

I had a good night sleep, but it was drug induced. :-( Lots of PLP.

Today I have not used the wheel chair or any crutch. When doing long walks I do use the cane.

I found a wonderful web site about Transfemoral amputations and the prosthesis used.
http://www.amputee-coalition.org/inmotion/mar_apr_04/transfemoral.html
They have 5 articles.

Today was blood test day. I walked to the blood test place. They were not busy, and I ended up talking to the ladies for about a half hour. I then didn't feel like eating at the local restaurant, so I just walked back home.

Today I walked 1.9 km. Walking time 1:05. I think I walk at about 2 km/hr. The articles I have read say the average patient selected walking speed for AK's is 2.5 km/hr.
With both legs, I used to walk at about 5 km/hr.
I was upset because I am so slow, but it looks like I am almost up to the average for above knee amputees.

In the last 5 days, I have walked 5 km with just a cane for support.
 One problem everybody has with an AK prosthesis is taking smaller steps with the good leg than the prosthetic leg. The physio is always telling me to lengthen the stride on the good side. The cane helps with that, because the cane is on the good side. One reason it helps to lengthen the stride on the good side is because it make the toe off at the beginning of the swing phase more pronounced, and should reduce stumbling. But I feel going faster to be scary.

Even the 1 km walk in 30 minutes is very tiring. I am not in good shape for this type of exercise.
I need a good soft grassy area to learn to run on. Then I'll be zooming.

Tomorrow is chemo day. I think it will be number 14. Two more, and I will be done.  :-) .....
Till the next time :-(

I will only use a cane and the leg at the chemo tomorrow.
--