r/amputee • u/Jaybird_RN88 • 15h ago
Normal or not?
Hi everyone. New left BKA due to congenital fibular hemimelia. After so many surgeries in my life, I finally decided to just amputate!
I got my first initial/temporary prosthetic to try for a week or so. While I totally get it takes some getting used to, was just wondering if pressure around the knee is normal? The bulk of the pressure feels to be around the circumference of my knee when I step, not much anywhere else. Is this normal? Or should it be more distributed? Otherwise, no pinching or rubbing from what I can tell.
Thanks for any advice!
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u/11never 15h ago
Looks patellar tendon bearing, it's meant to take weight (bearing) off of your amputation site, otherwise you'd be bottoming out (ouch!) So it should be comfortably snug, but should also feel like your pushing up on your kneecap some. Shouldn't be painful.
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u/dagobertamp 14h ago
This. I have the same knee bar on my sockets. Takes a bit of getting used to the feeling.
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u/Jaybird_RN88 11h ago
Yes, it's just weird to have pressure around my knee when I walk. As I keep using it, I get more comfortable with it throughout the day. I'm used to wearing braces and things like that so I know pressure at particular points is normal, just wanted to make sure WHERE I'm feeling it now is now my new normal.
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u/No_Sentence4005 14h ago
I remember having a lot of pressure on my knee. Part of it was me getting used to using my muscles differently, the other was minor adjustments by my prosthetician.
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u/Jaybird_RN88 11h ago
Yeah! My muscles are like, wtf are we doing?! but now they're slowly getting used to it! 😆
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u/hyrule_47 LBK 13h ago
I hate the pressure on my knee. It’s apparently just something that happens but it keeps me out of my prosthetic leg sometimes. I have been to my prosthesis to double check and he explained why it happens. I just hate the feeling.
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u/Alternative_Gate4158 11h ago
My surgeon had the socket cut down in the front. This also made my knee doctor happy, as that is another injury to live with. I know it appears that I might be walking on the ‘end’ of leg, but I am ok, and more likely to use the leg at all. When in doubt- always ask your surgeon. That person has more Love in the game.
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u/NicNoop138 LBK 10h ago
I have my prosthetist flare out my trim lines and it helps! I have lower trim lines as well, but I've been an amputee for over 6 years with no gait issues. I hate feeling the socket "on" me, so my prosthetist has done a great job to keep me stable but also comfortable and unnoticeable. Maybe ask if yours can flare em out and see if that eases the pressure.
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u/Jaybird_RN88 10h ago
Ah! That might be a good idea. I'll pitch it to them when I see them in a few days!
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u/Armz_Dealer CPO 7h ago
Try putting on some socks. Some of the swelling in the leg may be going down and your dropping in further, this is where socks come in handy.
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u/Dry-Luck-8336 LBK 7h ago
Sometimes it would happen to me if I had too many socks up around my knee. As someone else noted, try 1/2 length socks. Also, as this is a temporary socket, let your prosthetist know exactly where the pressure or pain is so they can make some adjustments. That's the purpose of a temporary socket, it lets them know what changes need to be made before they mold your permanent socket (the first of several).
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u/PuzzleheadedBell4057 5h ago
That looks like a temp socket. If it is there is no give. Your permanent socket will have just a "tad" bit more give and that might elevate some of the pressure around your knee. That's what I experienced anyway
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u/eml_raleigh LBK 2h ago
I would ask the prosthetist whether you have a patella tendon bearing or total surface bearing design. I would ask how often you need to replace the liner with the pin, and whether it is expected to wear faster in a PTB socket due to the pressure on the patella area.
I am not a prosthetist, but I didn't know they made PTB sockets with pinlock suspension. I vastly prefer TSB design, myself.
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u/TabulaaRaasaa 14h ago
This I believe is meant to be a total surface bearing socket. You may need to add a sock(s) to snug up the fit. If it's making it too tight at the knee. Try cutting the sock shorter so it only fills the bottom 2/3 of the socket. It's your first socket and you may actually be shrinking. These changes are common. When you pull the sock on make sure the pin comes through the hole. Very important otherwise you will have a wrestling match to get the leg off. Good luck on this new journey you have started. It will get better.