Any other below knee amputees out there?

[Lamar]

Just got my new foot today. It's called the BiOM from iWalk
This is by far the best foot I have used to date. My previous foot was the Proprio and I really didn't think it could get any better until now. This one takes it up a notch by actually providing power to your forward motion. I have a weaken right leg due to removal of important muscles and such so I really depend on my prosthetic limb (left leg). Before Proprio I would have to side step up a hill or go at angles just to get up. With the Proprio I could walk straight up but it was still hard as I had to propel myself forward with my right leg. This BiOM actually does the pushing for me and I nearly jogged up a hill today! The only downside to it is the weight and battery life. It is a bit heavier than the Proprio which is a heavy foot also, but it's so much better in so many ways.

If you are a disabled veteran like myself with an below knee prosthesis and still using an non powered foot or a Proprio, I would suggest you talk to the folks at the amputee clinic next time you are there or call up your prosthetic person and ask about it. This goes for anyone else that doesn't have to pay for their prosthesis (it's expensive!).

Here's a picture of my actual foot with my cellphone with my son making it look huge.


Forgot. here's a link to the company website. http://www.iwalkpro.com/

I hope I don't sound like an infocommercial. I'm just so darn excited about this one and wanted to share.

 

[mdove47]

No experience here. Thank you for your service and welcome home. Some of us give much more than others. Again, thank you for your sacrifice.

 

[Lamar]

Thank you Mdove47
I actually lost the leg (and other things) saving a civilian one night when I didn't have duty onboard my ship. This was back in 1993. Know what's funny? I had a person talking to me in a grocery store and asking if it was an IED or some other explosive device and they were fawning over me and stuff and I told him that I actually lost it while saving a civilian while on active duty stateside and he just said "Oh" and walked off. If my son wasn't there I'd probably punch that guy in the face. Just because I didn't have it blown off by an enemy doesn't make me any less deserving of respect! I still served and would have stayed in if I could have. AARGGHHHH. Sorry. I got going in a rant again. Thank you again and thank you for serving too! To me, any veteran (or active duty personnel) has made (is making) a sacrifice, injury or no injury. (I started bootcamp 3 days before Operation Desert Storm started)

 

[lowjax]

Looks like it will be of great use to you. That's awesome. I hope it helps you get out and do more things.

I don't have any experience with that at all but both of my grandparents were stricken with the Polio virus in the 40's. They were both confined to wheelchairs as teenagers but decided to make a life together. They got married, had 2 kids, worked a farm, hauled cattle, repaired TVs and Radios and are still living on their own in their late 70's/early 80's in their wheelchairs. I know how much advances like this can help someone be more self-sufficient and independent. I'm glad you found something that works great for you.

Thanks again for your service!

 

[ouch]

Your great sacrifice is not unappreciated.

Thank you.

 

[Obiwan]

Thank you very much for your sacrifice and service. Oh, and congrats on the new BiOM.

 

[professorchaos]

Amazing.

Thank you all for your sacrifice and service.

 

[mol81]

I just want to say. Thank you for your sacrifice and I am also very happy about the fact that those modern prosthetics work as good as they do. I had a friend in high school who lost his leg by stepping on a landmine in former yougoslavia. He had so much trouble and pain from the prostetics they made back then that I can only be very pleased with the fact that more research went into this field. I hope you can enjoy your mobility to the fullest and many thanks for your service!

 

[Doc4]

Thank you Mdove47
I actually lost the leg (and other things) saving a civilian one night when I didn't have duty onboard my ship. This was back in 1993. Know what's funny? I had a person talking to me in a grocery store and asking if it was an IED or some other explosive device and they were fawning over me and stuff and I told him that I actually lost it while saving a civilian while on active duty stateside and he just said "Oh" and walked off. If my son wasn't there I'd probably punch that guy in the face. Just because I didn't have it blown off by an enemy doesn't make me any less deserving of respect! I still served and would have stayed in if I could have. AARGGHHHH. Sorry. I got going in a rant again. Thank you again and thank you for serving too! To me, any veteran (or active duty personnel) has made (is making) a sacrifice, injury or no injury. (I started bootcamp 3 days before Operation Desert Storm started)

Yeah, I can see where that'd get you a bit steamed.

You saved someone's life and got your foot chopped off in the process ... in my book that gets you respect. Well, don't let one jerk ruin your day.

 

[Mike H]

Congratulations, I hope it serves you well. And thank you for your service.

 

[Agravic]

Congratulations on the new prosthesis.

I just wanted to take a moment as well to thank you for your honorable and courageous service.

 

[the_edski]

I agree with the good Doc, don't let one jerk ruin your day. Thank you for your overwhelming courage, honor, service and sacrifice. I hope your new prosthetic allows you to live life to the fullest as you very well deserve!

 

[mretzloff]

Wow, lost a foot to save another's life. Thank you!

 

[MileMarker60]

Huge thanks for your service!
Back when I raced enduro & x-country we had a guy what had lost his leg below the knee.
Raced and rode like you wouldn't believe. On top of that he's in his 60's (but had lost his leg many years before that).
He had a great since of humor and had not problem mess with new guys that didn't know he was a amputee.

 

[Lamar]

Huge thanks for your service!
Back when I raced enduro & x-country we had a guy what had lost his leg below the knee.
Raced and rode like you wouldn't believe. On top of that he's in his 60's (but had lost his leg many years before that).
He had a great since of humor and had not problem mess with new guys that didn't know he was a amputee.

This reminds me of a story that the hospital chaplin told me during my recovery. He told me about a guy they called Crazy Leg Decker. Apparently the guy loved to race motorcycles but had a below knee leg and during one race.... lemme see if I can remember it all... after a jump or something his foot came loose and turned just so so he couldn't shift gears. Well, it was funnier when he told me the story and I can't remember it all.

So, does this mean I'm the only member with a fake leg? Maybe so. if ya'll know anyone like me with a standard prosthetic limb that wants an upgrade, mention the BiOM. I showed my wife this evening how well I could walk up a hill now (backyard is STEEP!) and she started crying. It's that good.

 

[Lamar]

fake legs are fun. One Halloween I decided to do something with some old legs that were sitting in the garage that I could not wear anymore. Right next to my house the the playground stuff and a gazebo where the underage teens go to smoke (or whatever) when their parents aren't at home. Beside that is a pond with thick vegetation all around. I took a old pair of blue jeans and stuff the legs in. I grabbed a shirt and two old shoes. I put socks on the feet so you couldn't not tell they were rubber. I bought a crap load of fake blood. I poured the blood a bit on the gazebo floor and made a trail of it to the bushes. I stuck the shirt in and using a stick (thorny blackberry bushes) I made it fill out to appear like a chest cavity. I stuck it far enough in so that the collar was completely hidden so I didn't have to worry about a head. Then using stick I positioned the top part of the pants to bottom of shirt. The branches underneath did a great job of making it look like it had a butt. I left one shoe on and the other I had outside the bush. I did a splattering of blood on it and on the shirt and stuff. It was found on Halloween but I was at work so I have no idea of the reaction.

Gotta figure out what to do this year. <evil grin>

 

[The Nid Hog]

Glad to see that you got some good new gear. I hope it makes things easier for you. Glad to have you on board.

 

[Lamar]

Thank you.

 

[ZackP]

Dude, this thing looks absolutely awesome It's crazy how good these things have gotten! Thank you so much for your service! It really does mean the world to me that so many are willing to protect our rights as human beings and Americans, and we all should do our best to make sure we live our life to the fullest and not take it all for granted.

 

[ouch]

fake legs are fun.........Gotta figure out what to do this year. <evil grin>

One thing's for sure- your spirit hasn't been dampened.

May I suggest a faked bow and arrow injury? That should send the kiddies running for the hills.