@@TheSpeepI've done that. One of my friends is a LH AK, I'm a RH AK, and we both wear size 11. We botj have sets for on metal, snd singles we swapped for chair and crutch days. Same with slippers.
Another bonus reason: shoes offer more traction! The bottom of those foot shells would give amputees nowhere near the kind of traction they would get from something like a running shoe.
My ex wife got a laugh out of that as well. First tine she saw me after getting my prosthetic, was the first time sje heard me call them meat and metal. AK, right leg. Infection 2 years ago. Ran into her and her sons at the grocery store. Still on the walker then. Currently using a pair, or single forearm crutch. Also had a trans metatarsal of the left in 06, so my balance is off.
Also cleanliness, I feel like if someone stepped in something it’d be difficult to clean the prosthetic without wearing the prosthetic and you have to track it inside your home and if you want to wear the prosthetic while relaxing (like relaxing on a couch) anything you walked on outside you transfer to the couch.
It’s so obvious. I’m also shocked it was even questioned. Maybe, just maybe, it’s because sport legs are designed differently and most people don’t know anything about prosthesis outside of the crazy ones used in the Olympics.
you'd think it'd be obvious that English doesn't have an alphabet, that 1+1=2 is false, and -7 isn't a number, but alas... somehow it's not. - an alphabet is a writing system wherein the letters represent sounds... you know English doesn't work this way - 1 foot + 1 yard = 48 inches, so 1+1=48 is a valid conclusion - 7 elephants isn't a number, so why is -7 a number? in both cases the number part is 7, which is why its name is included in both.
@@sumdumbmick well, your example for 1+1=48 is invalid because they are different measurements. 1cm+1cm=2cm. Of course it will be different if you use completely different measurements
Thank you. Thank you I'm facing an amputation after 30 years of pain and. disability. I've got lots of super supportive people in my life. Not one of them will let me talk about the decision I may have to make. To watch you talk so openly about your amputation is so refreshing. Thank-you.😊
I just figured something out! I'm a grumpy, fat old broad and after an amputation I'll simply be a five toed grumpy, fat old broad. It's still scarey. But it's doable.
For some reason, that reminds me of a story of my best friends boyfriend (Who has a prostatic leg). One of his friends stole his leg during lunch and he started hopping-running to him through the lunch room. The teacher was not mad but impressed by him able to run that fast on one leg
So I was watching you before your amputation and would occasionally check in just to see how you were doing. The difference in your behavior, expression, and body language, is astronomical. You are so much more vibrant and happier now. When you look back on before it's easy to see you really trying to be up beat, it's much more natural now. I think, despite how difficult being a disabled person is, the amputation was the way to go, at least for you. I'm happy that you're doing better.
Immediately when you stated the question I was like “oh well if you only wear one shoe it’ll fuck your hips up real bad” 😂 one of my legs is longer than the other and I have to wear lifts on one side to balance it out so I’m not in extreme pain, there’s no way you could walk with that leg disparity consistently and not end up in bed for a week
I don't know how I ended up here but I can't get enough of your videos. You have an amazing personality and give off such great energy. Also, every time you call it your "meat foot" I crack up. Thank you for your content! I can definitely say I've learned a lot!
Thank you so much for making these videos. I am sure a lot of people are curious about these things, but don't want to be rude. Also I love your energy. It's a lot of fun.
Hi, Jo! That was hilarious I never thought of the insurance companies not wanting to pay for that piece of plastic. I'm a very recent right BKA and will not get my prosthesis until next month, but I will keep that in mind. My biggest issue I have with that plastic foot is that it looks like what it is: a piece of plastic! It looks like they cut the foot off a dept. store manikin and said: " here, there is your foot" I would rather they had made a protector for the carbon fiber prosthesis that looks like the rest of the prosthesis, yeah, robotic and artificial. Why pretend with that foot shell which looks so ridiculous. I think I'm going to invent something more in keeping with the rest of the prosthetic accoutrement (not sure about the spelling) Let me know what you think
Hey, I am R-BKA 4 years ago and had only half of left foot with crushed ankle joint so i wear a pair of devices now. I go to HANGER CLINIC and they are wonderful... you are NOT DISABLED okay? No fear you will have your life back
@@richardcorbett3037 if that thinking works for you, I'm glad, but disabled isn't a bad word, nor is it a defining feature. If everyone could breathe underwater, people who couldn't would be considered disabled. It's just saying that society isn't designed for you, and the more society keeps disabled people in mind and involve them in the creative process when designing, the less it will affect those people
I’m new to learning about prosthetics so sorry if this a stupid question but what does BKA stand for? If it uncomfortable or there is any trauma behind it you don’t have to answer but I want to be more knowledgeable from people who have/gone through the experiences
I Never comment... I am So glad to see your very open and honest videos! I Love that you are factual, informative, and help folks understand... Zero "poor me" attitude... we All have issues, own it. You're a beautiful young lady, inside n out! Keep it up! I love the "meat foot" comment!! LOL
I am in a wheelchair chair and I have gone out with just socks but I love fashion and use it as a self care thing. I know that I don’t walk so I have to wear it but I like to. Girl u do you.
My moms friend has no feet on either side and she just goes bare shell foot because she finds that way easier to walk than with shoes. She does have legs that she keeps around for more wear and tear activities (she calls them her sea legs because usually there the legs she wears to the beach)
just as another thought, wouldn't you have to essentially wash your foot everytime you want to go somewhere "clean?" or maybe that's just the asian in me saying everytime you go inside....
No, I am European and feel absolutely the same. All the dirt outside that one steps in 🙈, I might need an indoor prosthesis - or shoes to go outside 😝😂
For me it’s just a thought like, sure I can’t actually feel it but I’d imagine all that nastiness on my prosthetic foot which is not a pleasant feeling and I’m so glad I have shoes to wear while doing outdoor chores
The hip/back this is a real issue. This will cause abnormal muscle growth/degradation & cause lifelong pain after just a few months & worsens the longer you keep this up. My father had hip replacement & they got the replacement about 1/16" off which is very close. He decided to put a lift on that foot to compensate, about a 2" lift. Don't ask, his mind was going & you couldn't tell him anything, we ended up having to put him in a home. He's messed up his hip & back & blames the doctor. He literally got around better before the hip replacement with the bad hip.
Another serious question... Have you ever looked into getting one of those computerized prosthetics with motors and stuff, that could simulate how your "real" foot worked before the amputation? I've heard they even make ones now that can interface with your nervous system so you can control the prosthetic as if you were controlling a flesh-and-bone limb. I've also heard they're expensive...very expensive...but I've never heard any true, real comparisons as to what the numbers actually are. Nor have I heard where someone could actually go to find out information about getting one.
@@AtlasNL Michigan lol, Of course, 70k would only get you either a small house or a house in a questionable area, but it will get you a house (hell, I just typed MI into the search bar on Zillow and saw some houses listed for as low as 50k). Although, due to the massive influx of west coasters moving here, the housing prices have been going up. The prices are still very cheap in Indiana though, last I checked. P.S. I never said a house here costs only less than 70k, I said that 70k could get a house where I live.
Lol. Normal is so overrated anyway. I lost my right leg 2 years ago, AK, and figured, embrace it. Only reason I got my metal leg was, the truck is a stick, and I'm not done riding my bikes. Modified my foot brake to work with the prosthetic, got on the dirt bike that spring. Back on the street this summer. Even did an enhancement on a couple old pairs of jeans. Sjredded the right leg, mid calf. Cagers pass on my lwft, all looks normal. Pass on my right, guaranteed WTF monent.... Was a hit at Daytona Bike Week, lol.
About the balance issues. In high-school I ran in cross country. I noticed that a bunch of people running around these mud piles a half mile in. In the mud my shoe came off. I ran another mile or mile and a half with one shoe on and one off. Eventually I ditched the other shoe. The next day I found out I pulled a tendon in the foot with the shoe. I got fine after three weeks but after that I learned how important it is to have both feet at the same height.
Reason #3 many people will come up to you and inform you that you are missing a shoe. My dad has a prosthetic arm, if he doesn't wear a 2nd glove, people will come up to him and inform him he's missing one.
I think people see running blades and forget that those are at a different length than the normal foot attachment, to account for the height of the shoe on the other. Probably why this is such a common question for her to receive.
Hey, I have a question! Can you wear high heels with your prosthetic foot? Does the angle of your prosthetic ankle change depending on the slope of your shoe's heel? Love your videos, they're so informative!
ooo that’s a good question. I hope she sees this one. I imagine high heels might be hard to walk in since she doesn’t have any nerves in her foot to feel the balance
My whole entire upper body isn’t the same height, my shoulder is lower than the other, my hips are higher than the other- plus am more curvy on the other side. So yeah lol
Your amazing and I love your videos because your putting awareness out there and your very honest and I love that. Sending my love and prayers and keep up the good videos becuase your amazing! . Love you! ❤❤ xx
I really enjoy learning about this, thank you for making these videos! I have a few questions though, Can you wear stuff like roller blades and ice skates with your prosthetic foot? also, what do you do when you have some where fancy to go and you want to wear heels? is that possible, or do you have to wear flats?
She has a video about how she had to choose whether to get the "ok for hiking, etc" prosthetic vs the "ok for heels" prosthetic and she chose the former. She'd need to get a different one for heels, just like she needs a different one for running. Dunno about roller blades or ice skates.
can prosthetic foot shells be bought separately, or do they need to be like fitted and made bespoke each time and preferably by the same person? is it like a situation where you’d ideally have a set of a few prosthetic foot shells like socks/slippers? (kind of a naïve question but it’s hard to conceptualise if you don’t come into contact with prosthetics in this way)
I don’t know for sure since I am not an amputee myself. But my parents work with amputees often, and as far as I can see the carbon fibre foot is USUALLY the same size unless it’s for kids, go figure they need a smaller one. Which means the foot shell is onesize in normality terms. It’s the “cup” that fits the meat part of the body that is adjusted from amputee to amputee. This is observation and is in no way based in data or actual fact. Take it with a grain of salt
@@laurakastrup that’s okay - thanks for giving it a go! jo actually answered this question in a longer video recently where she painted the toes of her prosthetic foot. generally folks only get one at a time, but they might have an old one lying around from when they’ve accrued some damage, but they’re bespoke and expensive as well as time consuming to make, so people don’t have an excess of them and it’s definitely not a ‘set of slippers’ situation from what i could gather! 😋
Love this girl. I'm a one leg but no way as good as her but she gives good info. I have to use a walker but since I'm 85. Not too sure I could walk good with two legs. But you are my hero . Good info very prity great smile. Your not disabled.
How true! Currently I've broken both my feet! I went 11 months with one broken foot and couldn't wear a shoe do to swelling! Making things difficult in the rain! And balance wise !
In case anyone thinks walking in one shoe is fine, I have a tell for you. My mom would have back issues and leg issues. We finally found out that she had worn the cartilage completely away on left side of hips and needed a hip replacement. On the operating table, the surgeon looked at my mom and said "interesting. Your left leg is longer than your right by 5 cm. How haven't you noticed?" It was actually really obvious as my mom's hip was significantly up on her left side. No one thought it was an issue
I'm also RBKA, was just at my prosthetist like a week ago and he was building a carbon fiber leg with what looked like a boot sole (no shell) for a guy so he didn't have to wear steel toe boots on both feet. basically the leg was made to be used without a shoe and match the height of a boot on the 'meat foot'.
I am a disabled vet with a prosthetic leg I have a below the knee amputation I don't wear shoes in the house or on my porch and I only wear one sock loved seeing your videas toddy boy
I broke one knee when I was 13, so badly it shattered the growth plates (the areas that grow with you and solidifies into bone with age) above and below my knee, which made my one leg stop growing. As I was still young, I had about between 3 and 5 or 6 inches left to grow in each leg. I also tore the PCL which obstructs me knee from straightening all the way and "locking" which is hard to stand as "locking" of your knees helps with standing for long periods. My non-injured leg kept growing though. I had to monitor my leg growth monthly via x-rays and have a surgery to artificially shatter the other knee's growth plates a couple years later. My legs are about an inch and a half to 2 inches different lengths, which is just barely enough to tolerate without special soles for my shoes. I can confirm, having your legs be the same length (or at least close) is important! I can't stand in one place for too long or my legs, hips and back are sore and/or painful. Walking, running and moving isn't as bad though. I can do it for longer without being in pain. Standing in one place is by far the worst. Many people don't understand how impactful this type of effect is. Worst job I had was a cashier job where sitting was not permitted. Even a doctor's note didn't change it. There were days where I was in so much pain that once I sat down after a shift, it was painful to stand back up after sitting for a while because all the muscles relax and stiffen up.
I actually know someone who does have an issue where her legs aren’t the same size. She’s a trooper though! She does a lot of trampoline work but recently ended up getting REALLY hurt and something ripped. Thing is, she really doesn’t like wearing the corrective shoes. It’s her choice obviously and she’s finding her way to navigate this world at her own pace. I have a lot of respect for her, she’s great! It’s amazing though just how big a difference such a small size difference can make. It really does go way past just feeling off balanced, it can totally mess up your hips and your back.
As someone who has one leg 7mm shorter than the other… shoes are important and an insert for my shorter leg to make them even more important. I have back lower back and hip issues because my short leg was noticed too late. I’m supposed to wear shoes, even in my own house as much as possible and I can’t wear flip flops or Sandler because I can’t put my insert into them so even though I don’t have a prosthetic, I can sympathize
I know it is in no way the same struggle or adjustment, but I can definitely relate to the problems caused by leg length discrepancy due to an orthopedic hip condition and having spent a lot of time in an orthopedic walking boot (on crutches and walking). My hips and back would get so messed up from the height difference between the orthopedic boot and the sneaker, or when my my hip wasn't located correctly. It really makes a huge difference.
I do have all my limbs, but to me it makes total sense why amputees wear shoes on their prosthetic foot/feet, not just for the reason you mention but also for safety as I'm guessing it's more easy to slip if walking with a naked foot shell vs having a shoe on.
My left leg is 1 1/2 inches shorter than my right. It has led to tons of issues. Finally led to spinal surgery after I was crippled and on a walker by 44. Even a 1/4 inch can cause serious issues. So smart to level out. Sucks insurances don't cover replacements in a timely manner.
One of the adult leaders of the Scout troop I was in as a kid had a prosthetic foot and he always wore jeans + shoes on both feet, so the only time you could even tell one was fake was if you caught him without the prosthetic. He typically would leave it off while drinking his morning coffee by the campfire.
I broke my leg pretty bad back in my early 20's.. my right leg is now almost 3/4 of an inch shorter than my left. I wear a prosthetic insole in my right shoe to compensate for the difference. When I'm at home I have to wear slippers that can accommodate the same insole. I can totally vouch for how bad it is when one leg is longer than the other. 20 min. without the insole and my knees ,hips and back are feeling it...
I'm not an amputee or anything, but my left leg is a little over an inch shorter than my right. I can 100% the lower back and hip issues. I also have a curved spine! Woot 😊
You know, you should never be ashamed of this and think that you are not "normal". Just be who you are and don't let others judge, you're beautiful no matter what!
the sole of a shoe is a sacrificial surface, like brake pads or napkins. they specifically exist to absorb the damage that would otherwise be conveyed to something else. and by something else, no, I don't mean a meat foot, because things like socks also exist and do not exist to be sacrificial surfaces. so literally nobody should be confused by this. everyone with a foot or two uses shoes to protect not only their foot/feet, but also their socks, at a bare minimum.
I tend to go barefoot when I have a leg on and have recently added a "reef shoe" (or aqua shoe) to my prosthetic to help extend the life of the foot shell.
