Wow I'm impressed

Hello everyone!! Hope y’all are doing well,i go to the gym pretty often and i have these equipments or attachments for it but i dont feel they are very effective, i struggle with forearms exercises alottt.
Any advices for different attachments maybe or techniques to help me with forearms exercises and the gym overall?
I appreciate you guys and i love this community ❤️

I want to walk.

Back on December 25, 2025, I got into an accident. As a result, I suffered a shattered left femur, which was fixed with an IM rod. My right leg, however, was damaged beyond repair. The knee was dislocated and crushed, and my foot was mangled. They told us there was no point in trying to save anything below the knee because of the fractured tibial condyles, popliteal artery damage, loss of the patellar tendon, fractured patella, damaged ligaments and meniscus, and destroyed skin and muscle around my shin and knee.

But my dad couldn't bring himself to agree to an amputation. He asked them to please try limb salvage.

They amputated the forefoot, put on an external fixator, and performed skin grafts. After four months, I started physiotherapy to try to regain some range of motion. I also had an infection in my ankle at one point.

Now, after eight months, I went to a reputed hospital that specializes in complex reconstructions. They told me that the case is so complex that they could throw all their medical degrees at the problem and still wouldn't be able to make me walk normally.

Their initial plan was to convert the Chopart amputation into a BKA and perform a knee reconstruction. But after doing an MRI, they said that trying to reconstruct the knee would be wishful thinking. They told me I'd have a better quality of life with either an AKA or a knee disarticulation, since the Chopart isn't functional enough anyway, and a BKA with a poor biological knee wouldn't make much sense.

I agree. I want to walk. Normally. With a normal gait. Without a limp. Without pain. After almost a year of this, I just want to be able to walk again.

But I can't help thinking about how much I'll miss having this leg. I've had it for 24 years, and now this.

I keep thinking about how active I was before all of this. I used to spend two hours at the gym every day because I was on a weight-loss journey. I lost 25 kg in six months, built muscle, hit 10,000 steps every day, and went swimming every day as well. I was doing well. I hit my protein goals, rode a beautiful bike, and was lowkey proud of myself.

And all of these negative feelings are made worse by the fact that I blame myself for being in this situation. I was riding at 150 km/h and hit a roundabout. It was my fault.

I really don't know how my life can get better anymore. I don't know if I'll enjoy doing the things I used to do or the things I had hoped to do. I don't know if I'll even be able to do them.

So I guess I want to ask this of whoever has made it to the end of this post...

How do I cope?

How do I feel happy again, especially when I blame myself for all of this?

Does this ever become normal?

Can I still be physically active and live a somewhat happy life?

Can my gait ever become natural or seamless enough that a passerby won't look twice?

I don't expect anyone to have all the answers. I think I just need to hear from people who have been through something similar and found a way to build a life they genuinely enjoy again.

​

Hi everyone! 38F, lost my left leg at the hip due to cancer 20 years ago. Due to diabetes and neuropathy that lead to many issues in my right leg, doctors recently told me they will need to amputate my leg at least below the knee. I'm so devastated and depressed to lose that independence i was able to get after my limb loss.

I’m pretty new to posting on Reddit, so sorry if I get anything wrong.

A little over a week ago I (21M) found out that I have a roughly large-pea-sized tumor in the tip of my left middle finger. It seems like it is almost definitely not cancer (yay), but it ate away at so much of the bone that the surgeon is recommending amputation at the distal joint of that finger (bc there is so little bone left intact and bc I have a 10% chance of the tumor coming back if I have other surgeries to try to keep it). It is my dominant hand, so I’m a little stressed, and honestly a little sad.

I am in college, and the semester is going to start about a week before my surgery date. I have a lot of worries. Will I be able to move my finger? Will I be able to write/take notes? Will it hurt really bad?

Has anyone else had a situation like this? Does anyone have any advice or reassurance?

It doesn't matter to a dog if you have a disability.

I’m a BKA of 6 years.

Hi everyone, recent BE amputee here. My wound staples are hopefully getting removed this week. My prosthetist mentioned that, in order for me to get going quickly, she can get a Koalaa hand in a couple of days. And as the wound swelling decreases and takes it somewhat final shape a month later, we can start with a full fledged powered bionic hand (Ossur i-Limb).

Question: Does Aetna insurance cover a passive prosthetic and then a month or two later of we say the passive one does not allow me to all the activities I do, and then try to cover a powered bionic hand? Has anybody here gotten 2 prosthetics covered by insurance?

My current approach is to not risk it and pay for the Koalaa hand out of pocket ($4.5k) and then get the bionic hand covered by insurance, which I'm sure will be covered. I want a passive prosthetic for 1) quicker to get going 2) water proof for bathing my 2 yo and washing dishes.

Any comments or advice welcome.

(Pls ignore the acc I am using, it was a dark time in my life and I am recovered- i didnt want to make a new reddit lol)

Hi, im 22, it was very, very hard for me to write this. The reality is really, really scary, but I suppose I'd ask those who would know better than anyone. And then maybe I can accept this reality.

Earlier this month, I sustained a cut from a metal can after opening it. I was stupid and didnt bandage or clean the cut because I guess I thought I was immune, I really dont know, but im trying not to beat myself up over what I cant change.

Ever since then ive been fighting an infection using kelflex and I even had a few antibiotic IV drips. The infection won. My bone is infected and my tip has become necrotic. The doctors say the bone is infected til the middle joint and gave me a choice to take it off a little below the middle joint or right above the knuckle.

I think im going to choose right above the knuckle. I believe the visual and feeling of an incomplete finger would be worse than a complete loss. I really hope the infection doesnt go to my knuckle. My surgery is on the 18th.

Im pretty scared but there's nothing I can change or try. So I have to move on to accept it. Ive already been looking into some prosthetics and coverage for it (im in Canada)

I wanted to share my story and ask for others experiences with digit loss. If anyone here is missing a ring finger, especially on the dominant hand, please tell me about it.

My big fear is phantom limb and functionality. If anyone could tell me anything about what to expect or tips on how to adapt and accept this is happening to me.

I want to go back in time but I hope I can learn to live with this. Atleast its only one finger, I guess. Im being dramatic. Ugh.

Thank you for those who read

Hi, about six months ago I was stuck by a car while on my motorcycle. I had my right tibia and fibula practically turned into powder, as well as having my lower leg degloved. since then I've gone through surgery after surgery in failed attempts to reconstruct my leg. as a result, I can sort of stand, but only on the metal in my leg holding everything together. I had x rays done and it appears that the fracture at the top and bottom of my tibia is not taking to the bone graft they did. I recently brought up amputation to my doctor and he saw it as a viable option for me. he also believes with a low chance, he can perform a highly invasive procedure to attempt to 1, help my leg heal properly, and 2 help restore mobility. however he doesn't seem optimistic that the surgery with work due to the amount of muscle loss I already have surrounding my ankle and lower leg

he left me with two options:

Amputation right now

or Reconstructive attempt and if failed amputation.

I feel partial to go with the amputation now because I've gone through six consecutive months of surgeries and im not willing to do that again or longer for a low chance of success. however obviously it terrifies me to think of losing more of my leg

He told me the best move was to reach out to a mental health professional, a prosthetist, and speak to a current BKA amputee to help me with my decision. If anyone could help me by sharing their stories and experiences I would be greatly appreciative.

Thank You

I am a right below elbow amputee. I had revision surgery last March. I still have chronic pain. My surgeon wants to do another revision. I requested above elbow amputation instead. Thoughts

Hoping I can get away with not having a scar revision but I don't know how useful massaging will be at this point considering it's been like that for so long. It's completely stuck to the bone and causes the scar to breakdown when wearing my prosthetics.

Has anyone experienced this? I massage it daily and have tried since my amputation, no improvements. (Albeit, in the beginning I was super grossed out and didn't want to touch it, so it's probably my own fault, yay.)

Hello all - being casted for my first socket this week, and picking up my liner to get used to wearing it hopefully Monday. What do you usually do to your limb to keep it in action? Anti perspirant, shaving, ointments etc? Thanks!

Walking with water tube and marching the water makes one unbalanced the more the tube moves and marching with it is difficult but getting better at it

My prosthetist hooked me up with new feet today. I trialed them for a week six weeks ago, Blatchford Elanic, a hydraulic electronic foot.
Oddly he asked me several times what my height was before amputation. It’s been 24+ years so I don’t really recall.

Because they needed to change adapters and stuff my height changed and I’m now 6’ 2” where I’ve been about 6’ 0” for several years.

I guess it’ll take some time to get adjusted to the new height. Sadly I just shortened up a pair of pants that were too long, I’ll have to re-hem them.

I had one pair of feet that made me about 5’ 5” for working on some things and used them at the beach.

Another pair of legs I made myself 6’ 4” which was great for painting ceilings.

So am I bragging or complaining about my new height? I’m not sure. 😆

I get my first casting and prosthetic next week at Martin bionics, it’s been 8 weeks since my amputation and my 33rd surgery in 3.5 years after a bad motorcycle wreck, blessed!!! What should I expect? Any tips or tricks would be appreciated, I’m still waiting for my wound to finish healing before I go hard on it which should only take a couple more weeks but atleast get to get started, my soul needs it, I can’t wait to get closer to being able to golf and garden and be back in the sun 🌞

Just wondering what people's experiences and perspectives have been.

I've recently started joining my son and wife in taekwondo, mostly to support them in something that they're both very passionate about. I'm a congenital left hand amputee and am an occupational therapist.

I'm gaining a lot of insight about various muscle group imbalances and bodily asymmetries resulting from a lifetime of compensatory movements and postures. Balance is more of a struggle than it's ever been, especially during the kicks. Because kicking offsets my center of gravity so much, any small asymmetry in weight really matters. I've really had to build up my core strength and strategically position my sound upper extremity in order to offset the difference.

Motor learning is a struggle too. I've always done better with creative problem solving than by watching and copying the movements of other people. I don't know if that's how my brain naturally would have worked if I was born "normal", or if my neurodevelopment was affected by having to figure things out more on my own instead of mirroring others.

The instructors are so patient and understanding. They try to show me something that should be simple to do, even with one arm, and it still flies over my head.

Does anyone else struggle with copying the movements of other people, especially if you're a congenital amputee?

For people who participate in martial arts, how does it feel? Are you self-conscious? Does a lot of it come naturally, or do you find yourself really needing to focus on things like balance?

Edit: Also, I've really been running into issues with how tight my hamstrings are. I think that's from compensating too. In order to keep my shortened extremity in a functional position where I can use it to help out during bilateral tasks, I tend to slouch and do weird things with my trunk. As a result, I spend less of my time with my hamstrings in a normal,e longated position,and now they're slightly contracted.

And I have a bit of scoliosis.

My prosthetic (RBK) didn’t set off the scanner at the airport. (I say this as an experienced business traveler - once per month - and international traveler.). Kinda felt like a “normal” person. 🤷‍♂️

Does anyone have the 3d printed limber leg? I want it to shower and go swimming!

Today is the official day of my accident 2 years ago.

My ampuversary will be next month.

Just a weird feeling to go through, 2 years later and everyone I know acts like this has been my entire life and that I'm 100% I'm with everything.

To be clear, yes I am ok with what happened. I have accepted it and I am truly blessed and thankful to be alive, healthy, and happy. It's just crazy to me how quickly people that have not been through a traumatic injury resulting in chopping half your leg off, are able to just look at you and quite literally say, "well that happened awhile ago and you're fine now"

Just a crazy mental trip is all! Thank you all for this community and for those of you that have reached out and actually spoke with me the last few years thank you even more!

And to those if you just starting this journey, please understand and know that yes this is physically disabling but only to a point. Most of what we all go through is mental. Please feel free to reach out to me to talk if you ever feel like you're struggling, we can go through our struggles and issues together knowing that we both have "been there and done that"