Heavy rain this morning. Gone by 11 the forecast said. Let’s go to the woods for 11 I said. Still raining as we parked up, but stopped within a minute.
The car next to us was unloading.. small dog on a lead muffled in a padded coat with legs, a bit like a baby’s snowsuit. I suspect my dog may have been envious as she has just been clipped (photo is from last Sunday). The dog-baby’s owners appeared to be in full mountain gear with backpacks, walking poles.. not sure where they were heading, but it looked very serious and they couldn’t spare us a greeting..
Luckily we were heading in a different direction.. aiming for some cheerful chat in spite of the freezing wind. My friend was also well wrapped up - shirt, fleece, padded gilet and heavyweight padded coat. She’s always cold. I’m the opposite.. a short sleeved t-shirt, and a fleece jacket. I knew that in spite of the cold, as soon as I started to run I would easily be warm enough, and I was.
As we set off, I think.. don’t know why I’m doing this today. Madness. As soon as the 5 minute walk is over, and I start to jog, I can feel the prosthetic socket slip and hear the slight farty hiss of each step. Once I’ve started I can’t let myself stop.. I just can’t bear the way I know I will feel if I give up. The first ten minutes seems to take at least twenty.. after the three minute walking break, when Reece Parkinson says “are you ready for the next ten minutes?” My reply is something unprintable ending in “off” but I do it anyway.. the return is slightly easier, but I’m thoroughly fed up - the farty noise means friction -my stump is getting slightly sore. By the end of the run/jog, I know the leg will have to come off for adjustment.. not the easiest thing to achieve in a wet forest! I lean against a tree, take it off, and (I promise you I am not making this up) at that precise second, rain begins to fall again, followed swiftly by snow and hail! It lasts only for the minute it takes to make it extra difficult to dry off my stump and put my leg back on.. both weather and stump are fine for the few minutes walk back to the car.
When I get home I ring the prosthetic centre again - I rang for an appointment last Thursday, but so far no response. Short staffed and overworked like most of the NHS, sadly. Apparently only 295 prosthetists now working in the UK.. funded degrees available (Salford, Strathclyde) if you know anyone who might be interested.. not the most glamorous job though, I guess.
Bright sunshine all afternoon here.. hoping for slightly better weather, and a more secure socket fit, for the next run 🤞
Written by
PeggySusi
Graduate
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Leaning against a tree re-fitting your leg in wind, rail, hail & snow - you couldn't make it up! I'm trying to get an osteopath appointment as when I do my exercises I get a thud, thud, thud from my left hip, but I guess a farty leg has me beat ...
Thanks GT.. the new leg is brilliant when it stays on properly.. I’m hoping just a small adjustment to improve the vacuum seal will work.. in some ways a mechanical repair is easier than healing a real body part.. that’s if you can get a competent mechanic to do the job..
You are the only person on here who openly talks about farty runs. I have the odd moment myself but it comes from an entirely different area. 🤣 Well done on persevering. Hope that stump isn’t too sore and that you get the prostheses issues sorted soon.
That prosthetic really is causing issues for you, but, you are still out there..! Rain, hail wind and snow... I can believe it, we had days like that last week!
That photograph is super and the dog really does look a tad envious ! As ever a huge well done to you... how you run , how positive you are is an inspiration to me and so many on the forums.
Hope the farty issues are sorted soon for you, although that looks unlikely x
Thanks Floss.. not feeling positive this morning.. feeling tired, old, and fed up.. I left a message again at the limb centre yesterday, no call back or appointment as yet.. but I know I’m lucky to be able to walk at all thanks to the NHS, and there are so many out there with more pressing needs..🤷🏻♀️x
Well done on getting out there, I have to tell people to ignore the pfutting noise's as they Re from my leg, but I think they are starting to disbelieve my now. I think in reality that I can hear it much more than anyone else. The one legged adjustment is a skill in its own right.All power to you for percevering on C25k, maybe a parkrun later in the year?
Thanks Pete.. I think I may have thinner skin than you, in both senses.. I find the noises too embarrassing, and the friction makes my skin sore very quickly.. I know from long experience that any damage to my stump must be healed quickly, as it’s so easy for it to become a dangerous infection. I had cellulitis twice in my fifties.. the first time I had to have several weeks off work. Possibly partly because female, post-menopausal skin gets thinner with ageing.
I would love to do a park run, but it’s not going to happen unless I can get the adjustment I need to make the socket fit securely long term. I certainly wouldn’t remove and refit my leg in public!
I’m so glad you have been able to do so well with your running.. it does help to make me think I may get there one day 🤞
🍏 Behind your lovely humour is real frustration that you can’t just get on and do the run you want to do! Your head says go but you are stumped by the prosthesis! Yes others may be contending with more pressing needs but it doesn’t solve your problems or how you feel.
I had no idea of the shortage of Prosthetists in the UK. I hope this is flagged up to undergraduates! Hopefully your socket fit will be sorted sooner rather than later! Unbelievable weather conditions to be caught in!!
Beautiful sunshine here in the NE at the minute ( can change in a second 🤣) and a happily busy day for me. Thinking of you! Xxx
Prosthetics is not a career choice that springs readily to mind is it.. ? Most kids probably don’t even know what it means, or if they do, they might be more likely to think of facial prosthetics for use in films.. It’s not an easy career either, because it’s dealing with people, often at a very vulnerable point in their lives, and you need to be good at the sciences, as it’s a combination of biomechanics and engineering. My son teaches physics and I’ve asked him to suggest it to his students as a possibility. Apparently the shortage of prosthetists in the UK means we can’t fulfil the required standard of care according to the World Health Organisation..
Spring must be round the corner.. I’m just looking out of the window at our apple tree which is absolutely laden with blossom.. when I can catch the sun peeping through I’ll have to take a photo for my next post. Enjoy your busy day!..xxx
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