When I went to the Prosthetics Clinic this week I was offered a new foot, as I'd expressed an interest in getting back into hill-walking, and my current standard one is not up to the job.
It's a brand new design, and is supposed to be the nearest thing to a real foot you can get so far, in terms of natural feel. It's called the Epirus foot from the Endolite institute. You can google the two terms, or follow this link for more information: http://www.endolite.co.uk/products/feet/epirus/epirus.html). Check out the image at the bottom of the page: there are a number of clickable points on it that run animations showing the features, etc.
I'm very excited at the prospect. Walking with a standard prosthetic lower leg like mine requires 20% more energy than when walking with two good legs. This is because you don't get the push that you'd normally have from using your calf muscles and your toes, and this foot claims to address this issue. There is a spring blade in the heel of the foot that compresses when you step firmly forward onto it, and as the weight is transferred forward when you continue your stride, the energy is released into the heel assembly to give you a natural forward impetus. The design also allows the ankle to roll naturally with rough terrain, and makes walking up and down hills easier than with a relatively stiff foot such as I have at the moment.
The other thing is that instead of just a flat plate, there are two carbon blades in the main part of the foot, to mimic the natural difference in stiffness you get across your foot. Your big toe provides a lot of strength and stiffness, taking your weight, while the rest of the foot provides balance and distributes that weight. It is the relationship between these that determines how much your ankle rolls when you're walking or running on a level surface (google pronation and supination - Wikipedia is a waste of time). This, again, is designed to make walking more natural.
My fitting appointment for this is in a couple of weeks, so I'll let you know how I get on.
16 January, 2009
Bugger
Well the news is that I didn't make it through to the second round of interviews for the permanent job I went for in Livingston. Apparently not enough System Test experience in comparison to the other candidates. I'm told I interviewed well, and the employer had a hard time choosing between the candidates, and they had to decide somehow, so they went on relevant experience, which makes sense.
Never mind. There are more jobs being advertised, so I'll have to just keep trying.
Never mind. There are more jobs being advertised, so I'll have to just keep trying.
12 January, 2009
Busy Bee - three things
The first thing is, I've finally bitten the bullet and bought a new bike. The Apollo full suspension mountain bike I got from Halfords is just too heavy. So, a couple of the guys in the pub put me on to a really good bike shop in Edinburgh. They sell a select range of bikes, but the prices are very good, and were even better in the January Sales. We went down, and despite the huge queues and the crush of shoppers, they were more than happy to spend time advising me, and helping me to find the right bike. I'd been thinking of getting a hybrid, but the guy in the shop put me off, as they are really only any good for town, or maybe a very well maintained and cleared forest trail. As I wanted to cycle in the Pentland Hills, as well as on the road, he pointed me in the direction of a mountain bike with low-profile knobbly bits on the tyres, so they wouldn't offer too much rolling resistance. It's about two-thirds the weight of my Apollo bike, and handles much better. The front end of the Apollo was way too twitchy, and it was very hard to keep it going in a straight line, which is fine for hillside trails, but not so good if you're trying to keep tucked in when a lorry's going past you on the road.
The new bike is made by a company called Specialized, has a very light-weight frame, and has adjustable damping on the front fork suspension, so you can stiffen it up when riding on the road, and soften it for rough terrain. The rear has no suspension, like a normal bike. This keeps the weight down. It has 24 speeds, and a very well set up trigger gear shifting system. I've only been out on it once, but I really like it. It's so much easier to ride than the Apollo. So the Apollo's going in the local ad paper.
The second thing I've done this last week is to go swimming. After reading a load of posts on the UK Limb Loss Association's forum, I formed a plan as to how to get into the pool. The consensus appeared to be to pick a time when the pool's very quiet, then get changed, leaving the prosthesis on to walk out to the poolside with.
Well, with Denise's encouragement, I gave it a try. The pool was a bit busier than I'd hoped, but at least there were no kids or neds there that might run off with my leg if I left it by the poolside. It all worked out fine. I brought a chair up close to the pool steps, took my leg off, and slid down to the top of the steps. Of course, by the second step down, the water was starting to take my weight, so I could hop gently down and into the water.
Once in, I had a go at swimming. I can only do breast and backstroke, so I started with the breaststroke. You may guess what problem I had with this stroke, which relies on the frog, or scissor kick to help you move forward. Obviously, this was less than efficient with only one and a half legs, and I tended to drift off to the right, because my left leg was giving more of a push. After a bit of practise, I straightened out a bit, and I learned that I just needed to do a bit of a course-correction half way down the pool. I managed to do three or four lengths, but because of the lack of push from my stump, I did find it very tiring to make any progress, much as I have found with walking. Did you know that walking with a prosthetic leg requires 20% more effort than walking with two good legs. You don't get the push from your calf and toes, so the other leg has to make up the energy, or you have to slow down. You're still using more energy for any given pace, though. I imagine it's pretty much the same with swimming.
So I worked on getting in and out of the pool without using the steps, so I wouldn't have to draw the chair up next time - I'd be able to get in wherever the chair was, as long as it wasn't too far from the edge. To finish, I needed to make sure my stump was really dry before I put my leg back on. And that was it. Success!
And finally, the third thing I've done is had a job interview. Just the first of a two-stage process, but it went well, and I should hear whether I've got through to the second stage about the middle of this week. The job's in Livingston, which would be ideal, but even if I don't get it, it's given me the confidence that I can get through the selection process. There are more jobs about, which is good, so things are looking a little less gloomy on that front.
The new bike is made by a company called Specialized, has a very light-weight frame, and has adjustable damping on the front fork suspension, so you can stiffen it up when riding on the road, and soften it for rough terrain. The rear has no suspension, like a normal bike. This keeps the weight down. It has 24 speeds, and a very well set up trigger gear shifting system. I've only been out on it once, but I really like it. It's so much easier to ride than the Apollo. So the Apollo's going in the local ad paper.
The second thing I've done this last week is to go swimming. After reading a load of posts on the UK Limb Loss Association's forum, I formed a plan as to how to get into the pool. The consensus appeared to be to pick a time when the pool's very quiet, then get changed, leaving the prosthesis on to walk out to the poolside with.
Well, with Denise's encouragement, I gave it a try. The pool was a bit busier than I'd hoped, but at least there were no kids or neds there that might run off with my leg if I left it by the poolside. It all worked out fine. I brought a chair up close to the pool steps, took my leg off, and slid down to the top of the steps. Of course, by the second step down, the water was starting to take my weight, so I could hop gently down and into the water.
Once in, I had a go at swimming. I can only do breast and backstroke, so I started with the breaststroke. You may guess what problem I had with this stroke, which relies on the frog, or scissor kick to help you move forward. Obviously, this was less than efficient with only one and a half legs, and I tended to drift off to the right, because my left leg was giving more of a push. After a bit of practise, I straightened out a bit, and I learned that I just needed to do a bit of a course-correction half way down the pool. I managed to do three or four lengths, but because of the lack of push from my stump, I did find it very tiring to make any progress, much as I have found with walking. Did you know that walking with a prosthetic leg requires 20% more effort than walking with two good legs. You don't get the push from your calf and toes, so the other leg has to make up the energy, or you have to slow down. You're still using more energy for any given pace, though. I imagine it's pretty much the same with swimming.
So I worked on getting in and out of the pool without using the steps, so I wouldn't have to draw the chair up next time - I'd be able to get in wherever the chair was, as long as it wasn't too far from the edge. To finish, I needed to make sure my stump was really dry before I put my leg back on. And that was it. Success!
And finally, the third thing I've done is had a job interview. Just the first of a two-stage process, but it went well, and I should hear whether I've got through to the second stage about the middle of this week. The job's in Livingston, which would be ideal, but even if I don't get it, it's given me the confidence that I can get through the selection process. There are more jobs about, which is good, so things are looking a little less gloomy on that front.
Remodelled front garden
Here are some piccies of the remodelling we've had done to the front garden. 
As you can see, we've had a large planter built between our front path and the one next door. It's been called Hadrian's Wall by some of the villagers, apparently; and some are wondering if we've fallen out with the neighbours. But if you look carefully, you will see a nice new wrought iron gate by the front doors, so we can easily pop across. Before this was done, Denise was still lithe enough to be able to duck through the gaps in the old fence, but I'm not able to do that any more (I won't comment on the neighbours!) so it seemed like a nice idea. Don't care about anyone who might move in after we've moved on (hee-hee) - if we ever do. The postman likes it too. We've also had new paths laid, in keeping with the planter; extended the drive sideways to give us more parking space, and space to shuffle the cars around; and the border beds have been re-shaped.
Christmas
I didn't take any pictures over Christmas itself, which we spent, very pleasantly, at Sue and Pete's (Denise's Sister and Brother in Law). Yes, both Denise and I have a sister called Sue.
Fire Drill at the Bryson household
There was a bit of a mishap at Chris and Julia's when we visited a couple of days after Christmas: the chimney caught fire, and here is evidence of how seriously we were taking it. See how we have fled outdoors? See how we didn't stop for our coats? See how we got out, stayed out, and called the fire brigade out? No? See how we continued eating, talking and drinking? Yes. That's the one.
Fire Drill at the Bryson household
There was a bit of a mishap at Chris and Julia's when we visited a couple of days after Christmas: the chimney caught fire, and here is evidence of how seriously we were taking it. See how we have fled outdoors? See how we didn't stop for our coats? See how we got out, stayed out, and called the fire brigade out? No? See how we continued eating, talking and drinking? Yes. That's the one.
Visit Home
It was lovely to get everyone together for a meal on our pre-christmas visit to Beverley in the first week in December.
Thomas failed to sit still to have a picture taken (at least by me), but what's interesting in this picture is that is shows what happens when you become a grandad: Simon's had a brainectomy.
Debbie trying to hide behind Denise, and Denise not letting her.
Sue trying on the furry had I bought in Bev. Suits her, doesn't it?
West Colder
... and colder
... and colder
These pictures were taken from about a mile outside the village on a VERY frosty day at the end of November. It's only now (see posting date) starting to get a bit milder again, but at the expense of being wet and windy.
... and colder
These pictures were taken from about a mile outside the village on a VERY frosty day at the end of November. It's only now (see posting date) starting to get a bit milder again, but at the expense of being wet and windy.
24 November, 2008
Right that's enough airy-planes
and I'm spent! That's me caught up, except that I am actually starting to look for work, and finding ... that there isn't any just now. Gawd elpus, I might have to take just any old job, or even (say it softly) do some voluntary work. Yeah, that's going to happen. Hey ho, 'ere we go again.
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