Walking after amputation? Here is some Amputee Motivation. I recently in a bid to lose weight started focusing on walking after amputation. Realizing that now being amputated I don’t move as much as I use to. Even though I regularly ride my exercise bike for 30 minutes a day, sometimes twice a day. I was not losing the weight. One day I am looking at my smart watch, which sometimes is too smart for its own good, I noticed 1,237 steps… It was 8 0clock at night. What, I had only taken 1,237 steps all day. There was my problem, I’m not moving enough. So, I thought about, yep for the most part I am sitting all day. From the house to the car, from the car to the building, back to the car then sit. I’m not cutting grass like I use to, or parking a distance away and walking, walking downtown at festivals and I began to think how much I missed those things and the fact that my stomach was too heavy for my frame. I began to walk the treadmill every day, since I have a treadmill in my home, I can use it when and how I want. So, to start it was a quarter mile a day. The first week it took 2 times on the treadmill to reach my quarter mile, and I increase everyday with the thought of walking festivals and to games and the amusement parks clearly on my mind. This was to simulate the steps I’m not taking by working mostly free home sitting all day and sitting mostly when I go being that I am a musician by trade. But learning to walk again after amputation is challenging to say the least. There’s the physical aspect of it for sure, but then there is the mental
which could sometimes be harder than the physical. Where to start?
My Story
For me it started in the bed or the floor before receiving my prosthetic, doing exercises for amputees. Now there are a lot of stump exercise you can do, and I’m speaking from a below the knee perspective, but I’m sure you can google above the knee exercises etc. So, before I had my prosthetic I was preparing and getting my stump as strong as I could. Once I got my interim or early prosthetic leg, I began to put weight on my leg with a walker with the assistance of my in-house therapist. Maybe 3-4 weeks later I got my permanent prosthetic and started to go to therapy where there was a more structured plan to regain my mobility. Strength work to get my limb stronger, cardio, range of motion, balance and mobility exercises to progress my rehab. I then went from the walker to crutches which I hated. The pain under the arms from using crutches was a motivator to move up to the cane as soon as possible. One day I bought a cane and just used it.
Walking after Amputation (how long?)
So how long does it take an amputee to walk again? Is probably a question you may be asking yourself for I am assuming you are an amputee if you are reading this article? The answer to that question depends on a
few factors. One factor would be how quick your residual limb takes to heal after surgery. According to several articles about the topic, the professional answer is it usually takes 2 to 6 months after surgery for limb to heal fully. Another factor would be how motivated you are to walk. How much time and effort you put into it? Walking on a prosthetic is work but having a positive attitude and being motivated and dedicated to your rehab process will certainly speed up the process.
Benefits of Walking
There are several benefits to walking, walking is known as weight-bearing exercise producing stronger bones and improved balance, reduce body fat, increased cardiovascular and pulmonary heart and lung fitness, helps manage high blood pressure, high cholesterol, joint and muscular pain or stiffness, diabetes, increased muscle strength and endurance according to better health.gov. walking is a great way to improve your overall health, walking is low impact and free, it requires no equipment. Try keeping log of your steps and daily progress, try wearing a fit or smartwatch and even ask someone to walk with you to make it more social. Make walking apart of your rehab routine, and a part of your daily routine after to improve on distance, which lead to a more active and rewarding life after amputation. Because amputees use more energy to walk the same distance as non-amputees, it is important to maintain a good body weight, you can talk to your doctor about what is a good body weight for you. It is not only good to maintain a good body weight for your overall health, but it also of important for amputees because a change in weight of just 5lbs can make a prosthetic uncomfortable to wear, a change in up to 10lbs can mean a new socket is needed according to the war amps.com article. The best way to get and maintain a healthy weight is to eat well and exercise regularly. So, as you are learning to walk, it is a good idea to start getting in the habit of eating balanced meals and making exercise and your diet a conscious daily way of life. I didn’t do that; I wish I would have paid the same attention to my diet and exercise habits as I gave to walking. Yes, there was more pain and discomfort from using a cane versus using a walker, but the pain was tolerable and putting those crutches in the corner well worth the discomfort. I probably used the cane for 6 weeks or so, and while in a conversation with a gentleman who has his feet burned in an accident, he said to me, “you will walk when you are ready to walk”. I put the cane down and started taking a few steps here and there, 1 step, 2 step, 3 steps more…everyday adding a step or 2 and before I knew it, I was walking, first around the house, then to the car without assistance, I would take my cane in the stores and us it every step or two until eventually I was able to walk a decent distance. I bought a foldup cane so that I could carry it with me just in case while I’m out and my leg gets tired, I could pull out the cane at any time and use it for balance.
Make Walking Fun
Try making walking fun, if you walk on a treadmill at the gym, take your headphones and listen to something you want to learn. Listen to music, motivational speakers etc. Some gyms have tv you can watch while
you are working out as well. If you walk outside find a nice place you like that makes you feel good and take your walks there. Go to different places or exploring when you walk or walk the dog to make walking more
exciting. If you walk on a treadmill at home, which is what I do daily, you can listen to music, watch your favorite tv show or YouTube channel, or just take the time to think and meditate. You can start out in small spurts, walk as face as you can for as long as you can. Find your first goal, it may be a distance, or time, meet that goal daily and keep it for 2 weeks then increase either your distance or time, paying attention to your gait (the way you walk and plant your feet) and your speed. Don’t be in too big of a hurry to soon, be safe, Rome wasn’t built in a day. Take your time, you want a smooth stride trying to emulate the way you walked before amputation. Be patient, be motivated, be determined before you know it, you will be walking. Talk to your doctor about your walking plans and keep it safe. There are a lot of ways to make walking fun and exciting, use your imagination and put one foot in front of the other, and walk!
Now shoes for walking as an amputee, that I’m afraid I am still trying to figure out myself. I know that I like flats, boat shoes, loafers, converse, but flats seem to put stress on my knee. I don’t have enough knowledge
about shoes and how they affect amputees at this point but be on the lookout for the article because I’m ready to start wearing suits and dress shoes again. Wait I’m getting off topic, but now that I think about it, I’m
sure shoes, the heel, the way they fit plays apart in being comfortable walking as an amputee. I know for a fact that heel height does. So, for now all I can tell you is wearing shoes that’s comfortable to you, and look
out for the shoes for amputee’s article. Maybe not that exact title but something close to it.
Talk to your doctor about your plans to start walking after amputation and keep it safe. There are a lot of ways to make walking fun and exciting, use your imagination and put one foot in front of the other, and walk!
English