Over the past six months, friends have joked that as a below-the-right-knee amputee, my shoes and socks would last longer. They’ve also joked I might be able to share shoes and socks with someone who is a below-the-left-knee amputee. While I loved the jokes, it’s clear they hadn’t delved deeply into the logistics.
Despite my below-the-right-knee amputation, my prosthetic right foot still demands its own set of shoes and socks. This was clearly evident after I had a shower today.
Having removed my prosthetic leg as usual, I placed it outside the shower cuble along with the silicon liner and socks, in a bid to keep the socks dry. After the shower, I absentmindedly slipped on the liner without the socks. This small oversight revealed a larger problem – the lock-key (see the left off my prosthetic in the photograph), designed to secure the leg, became jammed shut. I couldn’t unlock it to remove my leg.
Turns out, this predicament is not uncommon, as I discovered through online research. Numerous suggestions abound, including removing the silicon insert by wetting the leg, allowing it to slip off.
Despite attempting this method, success eluded me.
Other online tips advised against tinkering with the locks and recommended consulting a trained prosthetist before doing any “mechnical work”. When you mess around with the leg, you can run into all kinds of problems, particularly with balance.
Acting on this advice, I sought out my prosthetist, Carl, who greeted me with a knowing smile, when I turned up at OAPL, the company which looks after me. Acknowledging the frequency of this issue, he deftly demonstrated a solution – tapping the lock with a hammer while simultaneously pulling up the silicon insert. The leg came off smoothly and efficiently, leaving me now equipped to handle such situations in the future myself. Carl wisely suggested enlisting the help of a friend if assistance is needed. So friends, get ready for that strange call or message when I tell you “my leg won’t come off”.
During the removal process, we made an unexpected discovery – my left sock had wedged itself into the lock, exacerbating the difficulty. In an attempt to keep it dry, I had placed the sock on my prosthetic, inadvertently causing an obstruction. That’s today’s lesson.
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