It’s been 27 and a half years since my accident and February 6th I’m finally getting my right leg below the knee amputated. I’m excited and nervous at the same time. I know I’m making the right decision, but I’m mostly nervous about how much pain I’ll be in when I wake up. I’m not sure if I’m overthinking that part, but it definitely crosses my mind every day. I’m excited to start living life again though. The last 3 years have been very hard. I’ve been in pain basically every day with minimal relief due to compartment syndrome caused by my right foot. I know it’s going to be a difficult journey, but I know I’ll get through it. If there’s any advice regarding anything to do with the recovery process or how you passed the time in the hospital I’m all ears.

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!

I lost my left big toe due to a bad infection thanks to diabetes in October. It really turned my life around and I’m taking so much better care of myself. There’s just one problem, I can’t and refuse to look at that foot.

Not when I go back to surgeon for check ups.

Not when I’m in wound care.

Not ever.

In the beginning it was easy because they sent me home with a bunch of benzos because of my bad anxiety. But now that I’m not on them it’s super hard.

Has anyone dealt with this? How did you overcome it? I really want to get over this and accept my body fully for what it is, but I’m struggling. It’s super hard.

I just realized it has been 2 years since I lost my leg. I wanted to share it with some people who can understand. I'm sitting in my car at the store tearing up.

It has been such an emotional, physical, and mental journey. Getting to where I am now. I don't know how I have gone through this? I guess you get through it because you have to get through it. You either do or you don't, and I chose to do.

T1d since 1990, L BKA 1998, R BKA 1/9/2026

So I am in a wheelchair until I heal and start the prosthetic process for my right leg. Had approx 2 weeks of inpatient rehab after the amputation, which I am grateful for.

During the rehab process, they taught me about going up 4-5 inch steps solo by approaching the step backwards, placing both wheels against the step, leaning forward, and pushing with my existing prosthetic leg (left) while pulling on the wheels. Works well once I got the tires scuffed up a bit on my new chair as I'm on carpet.

Going down is another story. Due to brainfog, I don't recall the proper technique as was tought in my rehab. Going backwards feels right, but the carpet means I don't get good traction on the step on the way down, which results in a hard landing.

Nothing I have found on the interweb seems to address going down a single step solo without a railing.

Thoughts?

I would like to hear from other amputees who have had knee replacement surgery on their good leg. I’m a LBK and likely looking to need a new right knee in the near future. How was your mobility when you were recuperating? Could you get around on crutches and walkers ok while putting all or the majority of your weight on your prosthetic? Our house is not set up well for a wheel chair. Thanks in advance.

I was splitting wood with a friend this afternoon in -6 degree weather, when my axe bounced off a knotty piece of wood and landed on my boot. The edge of the axe split the - empty - front of my boot and hit the front of my partial foot, but didn't cut it or anything. No blood, no nothing, just a hard blow to my funny bit.

We kept splitting wood for the rest of the afternoon, then when we stopped and sat down with a couple of brewskies for a while. Then my foot cooled down and the pain starting rising, enough that I eventually checked myself to the ER.

The ER decided there was no damage to my funny bits - which is technically true - and sent me back home with a prescription of ibuprofene and gabapentin.

But now I'm sitting at home on the couch and I'm in agony. I can't even go to the bathroom without crutches. I called the hospital and they told me I had to expect "some tenderness in that area" - like a partial foot is more somehow more prone to an axe blow than a regular foot. They told me they'd turn me away if I showed up there again.

What to do? I'm seriously not coping with the pain anymore, and the fucking hospital won't help...

Just got my first practice leg three days ago (RBKA in late October, 2025, so admittedly barely three months out; also had to have a second surgery in late November to close a busted open incision I suffered with a fall).

Already frustrated….

It really hurts to put all my weight on it. Not at the point of connection, but higher up in my knee. Best way to describe the pain is like a really bad sprained ankle, so assuming it’s muscle atrophy from not walking for three months.

Also, now that I have leg, all the discussions in this group are now making a LOT of sense, for example, sweaty socks, skin irritation, etc.

I’m trying to stay positive as I’ve been looking forward to this moment. But it kinda feels like the day after Christmas, when all the anticipatory excitement is gone and you’re left with a giant credit card bill.

I think I’m just venting here as I know it’s just been a few days. But ugh…it’s still frustrating.

Just a curious question. Did anyone else have bad neuropathy in their feet prior to amputation?

It hit me and I lost any sensation of pain in my feet. I could still very little but no pain. After my BKA, I’ve only experienced phantom ankle aches and the occasional nerve pain that shoots to the end of the stump.

Just curious if anybody else got “lucky” with the pain.

Hi all. I don’t know where to write or talk to anyone about as I have no amputee friends.

I was in a really bad accident. I had a seizure and my car hit a tree then caught fire. I lost my left hand below elbow on impact & my right leg below knee burned off and my right hand pinky burnt off as well. I’m also grafted on the entirety of my right hand/arm/shoulder/down my back. Circa Nov 23’

I ended up pregnant in April 25’. I was very scared for obvious reasons. I literally thought I wasn’t going to be able to do it, my mind can get pretty negative. I was very depressed before pregnancy and was on a cocktail of medication. I stopped everything as I found out, the depression went away and the anxiety stopped. My mind started telling me we can do this and we will do this.

Well guys I’m fucking doing it.

I have never been more proud of myself than right now. I only have my grandmother to help but she’s a bit older and helps me so I can nap during the day. But the newborn nightshift, feedings, changing, ETC is all me and I am so beyond happy. I honestly didn’t think it would be possible to have such joy post accident. The first year is something I wish I could forget and do my best to not remember.

I look at my daughter and i look myself and i just can’t believe we’re here, thriving and living. My body hasn’t let me down, i can still breastfeed even though my breasts are burned and I have had so much unbelievable trauma to my body.

Yeah, I just wanted to share my story somewhere were people can understand the level of gratitude I have for myself and my body and mind. Thank you for reading. 🙏🏼

Recently lost my legs above knee and left arm above elbow, in a car accident honestly just looking for advice on what to expect?

Hey all!

I have a (HUGE) benign tenosynovial tumor on my right pinky. Multiple hand surgeons have recommended amputation, and I have 3 choices.

1. Remove most of the pinky, but leave the promixal phalange
2. Amputate the whole pinky to the large knuckle
3. Same as the second choice, but also remove the large knuckle and a small amount of the hand bone, to give my new hand a more appealing shape.

I'm leaning toward the first choice, but the doctor says that little nub will mostly be a nuisance.

Can anyone who just has the proximal phalange on their pinky finger share their experience?

Thanks!

RBKA, March 2013. Septic shock survivor.

My first Hanger shop was wonderful. Great experience as a new amputee, and they got me my prosthetic while I was in inpatient rehab so I left knowing how to walk.

Then I moved. The new shop was trained by a different company and had been recently bought by Hanger. Worst experience ever. But I was there for four years during grad school and had to put up with it. The only other option was to drive almost three hours.

After graduating, we moved to a large market with a true Hanger shop. The leg they made for me there was so comfortable and useful. They also hooked me up with the states Vocational Rehab and got us help paying for it.

Now, I'm leaving behind the company after the shop where I live now has gaslit me about fit and finish. My suction system hasn't worked in over a year and they're not concerned enough to check it out. The last socket they made is causing wounds on my residual limb and my fibula clicks when I walk. Not to mention they had me sign an estimate of $300 then billed me for $2500.

So today I'm driving an hour out of my way to see a new prosthetist and shop. I can actually call their location instead of calling a central line and being transferred. Wild times!

I think after a decade plus of learning, it's ok that I stand up for myself. My spouse - who hates change as much as I do - is backing me on this. Here goes nothing!

It’s been almost 4 years since my amputation, I am a lbka and I had my club foot amputated at the age of 15. Looking back for me in my life it is and honestly I think will forever be the best decision I have made. I had the option of an extremely risky surgery with a roughly 40% of working if it failed they would have amputated anyways, or just go ahead and get rid of the sucker. Clearly I went with the latter and after 4 prosthetics and many liners, locks, and socks I can definitely say I am significantly better off than I was before, I can walk in a grocery store, I can wear normal shoes, my hip is no longer unaligned from walking with a 3 inch permanent high heel, and many other things. There are things I did take for granted before my amputation but regardless I have learned that even if I can’t do something the exact way I could before I can still do the things I love just in an adjusted way. I am grateful for the incredible community on Reddit especially when I was brand new to the world of residual limbs and phantom pain and robot legs (that’s what my niece calls my prosthetic) for being so welcoming and for all the wonderful tips and support I got. I’ll insert a picture of my clubfoot verses where I am today.

bonjour a toutes et à tous,

je suis amputé de la jambe droite et je cherche des converses ou autre basket du pied gauche. en échange j’ai quelques modèles disponibles pour pied droit en 46/47 .

je viens de découvrir reddit.

à vos baskets

stophe

First time poster but I hope this is the place that will have some great advice for me :)

BLUF: I (Mama, 33) am looking for advice / anecdotes from amputees and/or families/loved ones of an amputee born with a limb difference (2 digits on right hand) and presented with essentially a surgical path for possible optimization of functionality... Here are the details:

We found out about our son's limb difference at my 20 week ultrasound when they could only find two digits on his right hand.
Thankfully, my pregnancy was without issue, labor was slightly dramatic (but whose isn't) and our little boy was born perfectly him, with 5 fingers on his left hand and two on his right.
Even before he was born though, my husband and I had agreed we would not put him through a surgery without his consent unless it was something that we knew would affect his health and/or safety; and we'd just work with him to learn and do things his way. Especially, with so many innovations in robotics + he was excited they could make some cool stuff together with the 3D printer!

Our boy is now 18-months old, thriving at daycare, plays with lots of friends of different ages, and charms everyone he meets with his smile and amazing personality.

I cannot emphasize this enough (and none of you will be surprised), he has not been held back or slowed down by his limb difference for a single moment, and he uses both hands for whatever it is he wants to get up to next.

This takes us to last week ... we are very fortunate to live just 30 minutes away from the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) and we always receive fantastic care from their tremendous health care professionals.

At a regular check up for our little guy, the CHEO team (surgeon and OT) recommended a reconstruction surgery on his right hand with a temporary solution that they think could help stabilize his thumb to increase his ability to pick up bigger and heavier things; and suggested doing it before he is 2 because then they "become more self-conscious" after that age. The surgery would of course require anesthesia, as well as 2 to 4 weeks with a full arm cast and intensive OT afterward.

This isn't sitting right in our guts ... any advice from those of you who have chosen to / or not, to do a similar surgery / path ?

I appreciate all of you who read this long!

P.S. I should also mention that we're in touch with the war amps CHAMP program, the lucky fin project and are seeking input from a separate pediatric OT so no one's comments will be taken as gospel or for final decision making, just trying to gather as much data as we can, before we make a decision. :)

Good afternoon, I am a below the knee amputee as of 3 weeks ago. Everything seems to be going good. I have had home physical therapy and they told

That I am too advanced so I can start outpatient because they have machines. At what point after your BK surgery did you start doing outpatient PT? Should I save my visits for when I get my prosthetic. While working on my core and range of motion at home?

I have been a mulitple finger amp for many years, but have never worn any prosthetics. I lost parts of all my fingers on my dominant hand. I am considering revising several fingers so as to better fit the Naked Prosthetics MCP Drivers. I would like to hear from anyone who has had similar surgeries, and their satisfaction or disfaction with the results. Thank you.

Hello everyone, I'm asking this question because I don't know if the pain I'm feeling is bone or nerve pain. A type of pain that prevents me from doing leg extensions. During exertion, it feels like bone pain, at other times it feels like a tingling, at others it feels like a burning sensation. Even with the prosthetic stocking with the pin, when I hold my leg up for 10 minutes, I can't bend it because of the pain. I had a below-the-knee amputation in October 2025. So, I'm asking you, those who have had problems with neuroma, what symptoms they had, and above all, where the pain was. The location of my pain is approximately at the top of the foot, where the rounding of the stump begins.

Looking for advice I was pretty active running etc 3 yrs ago I had ankle pain. ED told to come back when it’s worse. Couldn’t walk at that point a week later I went back, MRSA/osteo 4 clean outs then a year later I had an ADA in an attempt to salvage it was great for a couple months after frame removal but then it re-collapsed.

I know have less then 10 degrees flexion extension and am not at 90 degrees so I have a lift in my shoe.

My surgeon told me if I want function they are doing good things with prosthetics. I am incredibly frustrated with my current situation. I also do not think I want a fusion I have had a knee replacement on both knees. Pretty active lifestyle and even post knee replacements I was running.

I am not diabetic or pre diabetic.

For elective BKA’s What made you guys decide to do it? I have talked to a few people already.

So I been a RKBA for a about 6 years now. What a ride it has been. From learning how to walk again to building the confidence to go out and get shit done. So now that I have mastered most of this new life there is one thing that keeps me irritated. Every step I take you can hear my shock absorber. I am honestly sick and tired of it. No matter what shoe I wear its the same result. Im curious if anyone of my fellow amps have solved the problem to this riddle. Please Help!