Thank you for coming with me on this little New Leg adventure!! 🥰 And a big thank you again to our sponsor, Helix Sleep! Click helixsleep.com/footlessjo for up to $200 off your Helix Sleep mattress plus two free pillows! 💜 #helixsleep

For the projecting screw, when you remove the leg: maybe pick up a cheap rubber ball, drill a hole in it, and keep it in your pocket? You take the leg off, you stuff the screw into the rubber ball, and tender surfaces are protected? Just a thought!

I'm not an amputee but this video surprisingly helped me feel less overwhelmed and upset about having to start wearing wigs and bandanas for my alopecia. It's been very well-controlled for 7 years now but it's recently got exponentially worse and it's no longer sustainable doing what I was before to manage flare ups. I was feeling very panicky about the future but seeing you get so excited about a big change had made me feel a little more reassured about this next stage in my journey. Thank you ♥️

I haven’t ever heard about how many types of prosthetic legs there are. Most people hear prosthetic leg and kinda think it’s a cookie-cutter design that then gets tweaked to fit each person. It’s so cool to see your journey and learn different things from your channel. Thanks for bringing us along for the ride. Can’t wait to see how different things might be with the new socket❤

I’m not an amputee however my husband is and your channel has really helped me to better understand and learn so much about what he is going through. In September he was in a work related accident, a skid steer ran over his foot. He spent 32 days in the hospital. Six surgeries later, he had his foot amputated below the knee on October 24. Jo, your positive and bright personality and attitude has been a saving grace. There is hope. He will return to a normal life, walking hand and hand with me and playing with our baby girl. Thank you.

I got the quote, "I myself am made entirely of flaws, stitched together with good intentions." Just to help remind me that I am doing the best that I can at the moment.

I use a pin-lock sleeve combo. I love it. This way if the sleeve gets stretched or gets a leak I have the pin to keep me in it. It’s the best of both worlds

I love how the dogs are just chilling on the bed as she’s doing the ad!

NEW LEG NEW LEG!!!

If this lock system works for you I think you could keep the suction one for high impact activities and wear this on your daily life. This way you wouldn't have to worry about being out of liners and also would still have the feeling of safety that the suction system gives you! Not sure how it would work with your insurance but you could have the best of both worlds. Ps: looking forward to seeing your new tattoos when they're healed!

Yes to close-up of tattoos when you’re ready. It’s good to hear that they’re already helping.

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="570">9:30</a> There are a couple of things you can do about the clicking. There are two options for the pin lock. There is a course tooth pin and a fine tooth pin. I prefer the fine tooth pin myself, and the lock and pin have to match, but changing the lock is not hard. The other thing is kind of surprising. Castration Bands. These are rubber bands designed to be put over the parts of a male sheep and it cuts off the blood to the parts and in a few days the parts fall off. These seem extremely inhumane to me, but I don't use them as they are meant to be used, so I reckon what I use won't be used on sheep, so there is that at least./ You put 1 or two of the bands on your pin, then you give it a hard push when you put it in. You are trying the make it so the lock is in tension and this stops it clicking. And the bands are super cheap. You can get a bag of 100 for $3 and that will be enough to last you several years. They last about a month or two so you'll be using about 10-20 per year. So a bag of 100 should last between 5 and 15 years. You can buy a bag here. And you can scare boyfriends with them too, maybe. I don't know because I don't have boyfriends, but I'd be scared if I found out my GF had a bag of castration bands. There is a tool to apply them but you don't need that because you won't be using them for what they are made for. I hope you won't be using them that way. www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=2e87c2d0-7b6a-11d5-a192-00b0d0204ae5&itemguid=3269de2b-7b6a-11d5-a192-00b0d0204ae5&sfb=1&grp=6000&grpc=6700&grpsc=6710&sp=f&ccd=IBSF0001&msclkid=3a7a3187f2911b9fbb5c522b5fa68b4c&FCAT%20Livestock%20Equip%20Supp%20(6000)%20HGPM%20Smart%20PLA%20(IBSF0001)&

I love how her dogs are just like " doot a doot a doot" while shes making the videos. They are so cute!

I have had the pin lock for two years now, my prosthetist always says this is more secure and safer for me so I stick with it. Thanks for all you do!!!

Glad to see your excited! I am a new double BK amputee and my first prosthetics were one pin socket and one vacuum socket (the vacuum was because of some fragile skin on the left from the accident.) Vacuum prosthetic with all sleeves/liners was about six pounds and the pin socket was about four. I also could not use my recumbent bike because of the impingement of the vacuum socket. I heartily agree with your comment about the longer time it takes to put on the vacuum leg. I complained enough that I was refitted with a pin on the left and I am super happy. Thanks for sharing your experience!

Definitely will be watching to see how the pin lock system works for you. I wonder if over time this will ease some of your nerve pain. Also looking forward to seeing the new tats. Trying to find the path to being okay looks different for everyone. So great that one of your new tats is helping you. Pop

Not long before your leg was amputated I switched from a vacuum leg to a pin lock system. I told you after your leg was amputated and you were looking at your options about my issues with a vacuum system and how much better a pin lock worked. Frankly the vacuum system sucks. It works great when it works, but the problem is, keeping it working is a huge issue. But preferences are highly varied and I had given you the information I thought would be useful and it's not up to me what system you use so I didn't press the issue. But I think you are going to like the pin lock system. I still get to say "I told you so." 😋😋 But as much as the vacuum system sucks, it doesn't suck nearly as much as knee straps, or hip straps. Wow did those suck, But it did allow me to save my friend's life in a most EPIC fission. At summer camp I was messing around near the cliff we used to practice rock claiming. The cliff was about 150 of dead vertical granite. You are not coming out of it alive if you fall. My friend fell (I didn't see it) but he managed to grab a tiny ledge. He was too far down for me to reach , there was no way he could have held on long enough for me to get help, and I only had one thing I could use to lower to him. So I took my leg off and lowered it to him and he held onto the foot while I held the strap. The strap was not strong enough to hold him, and it broke in the end, but it held long enough for me to lift him to safety. We had to find a prosthetist who could fix my strap. So while he told the story around camp I left to get my strap fixed. When I told the guy how the strap was broken, he said he would fix it for free. He said it was the most epic amputee story he had ever heard. I'm not even sure my friend noticed I was holding my leg on with my hand as we walked back to camp. One thing about the word EPIC, it is the same as ERIC but with a missing leg. I happen to be ERIC with a missing leg.

My wife is transiting from the pin-lock to the suction. Like you said every one and everybody is different. She has experienced nothing but pain with her 3 pin-lock systems. Good luck. We will be following.

I saw the new tattoo right away and kinda smiled. Ink therapy, baby! Just to add to the stack of "things to cover the screw" suggestions, you almost certainly know someone with access to a 3D printer, and it wouldn't be hard to make a little clip-on cozy for it.

A sock suggestion to make an outfit more cohesive, would 100% be a thigh-high or over-the-knee sock paired with your nubbin sock! Bonus, warm legs. 😊

Babe wake up, new leg just dropped 😂 Hope it works out great for you as you adjust Jo!!! Like you said, it’s great to have more options if nothing else! Hope you had a great Christmas and have a wonderful New Year 😊❤

I am SOOO jealous to be able to squat down. I am a double knee replacement and when you do that you loose that ability. My pup is not allowed on the furniture but she has figured out that I will let her drape on my legs and lower body when I am in my lounge part of the couch. Pups are great companions! Let the good days out number the bad.

Pin is the way to go (I have one for siz years) don't loose the pins when you change out liners. Also the pin noise means you need a thicker/another sock (it's also wears out the pins teeth)

Thank you for your honesty, about your life and strugles. You have, with others, helped me find the strength, to start my journey towards a better mental health. Your vids, have given me "the last push" to contacting my doctor, in order to get help from a psychiatrist as the first step... so THANK YOU

Jo what a relief to see you functioning in the way you are in this video. It gives me hope that I can come out of the low times that I have. There is such solidarity in the sentiment of your followers on social. I appreciate you sharing :) keep it up 💪

My wife has been using the pin lock system since I met her. She's a very active person and this system holds up very well under stress. The only issue she has ever had is if she bumps the release button on a machine at the gym. She has the clicking issue sometimes also but it's pretty easy to fix.

You are amazing Jo! Thanks for teaching me so many things about being an amputee and about prosthetics.

I’m so happy for you Jo! I hope things work out wonderfully! 😊

You are absolutely wonderful Jo thank you for sharing your journey with us. I have all the hope that your new leg is a lifechanging device for you, in only the best ways of course. Please continue to keep us updated no matter what happens with it. I personally would love to see your new tattoos (especially the "yet" I'm now tempted to get something similar to reflect my journey and whats yet to come). But only when you feel confident and comfortable enough to show them.

First off, I'm so happy you get to try this. I really hope it works out for you and can take the worry away regarding the higher maintainance of the suction sleeve. 💜 Edit: Just a complete random thought about the pin sticking out that could possible nick you when in chill mode. Could that be resolved by putting something on it that would be more soft? Like a soft rounded attachment/cover that is light weight + small enough to keep in a pocket and can just as easily be popped on and off 🤔 Just so one doesn't accidentally hurt themselves.

Have you ever considered a Bone anchored Prosthetic? biggest benefit is that your body weight is supported directly by the bone and not the soft tissues which solves most of the problems associated with normal prosthetics. Biggest drawback is a surgery is required to implant the anchor.

Yay!! I am so happy you posted a new video!! I am happy you are trying a new type of leg as well. I love your channel immensely and I thank you for sharing your journey with us!! Your dogs are so cute!!

New leg, let's go!!!! I admire your honesty and bravery in putting your story out here like this. Vulnerability can be so hard, especially when you're not okay. But in doing so, you've managed to create such a lovely community of people who listen, people who want to learn, people who feel heard, and people who feel braver because you're here. I feel braver, too. Thanks for being you.

You're channel is so insightful, I've learned some things that I didn't know prior to stumbling upon your channel, much respect to you for you're candor. in the past I've had to have brace stabilizers fitted which required molds of my lower extremities hence I have some modest familiarity with the molding proccess but of course there's a lot that I didn't & don't know associated with you're specific physical challenges, I hope 2023 is a good year for all of us, happy upcoming new year Jo ✨

So happy you are getting to try the pin system. I started with it and the tried the vacuum system. I am now back to the pin system after 10 years trying others. I love the simplicity of the pin myself and being able to just step and go.

Git a tattoo this year and it's been great for my mental health. For me it's a lovely way I can easily look at and feel more connected with my body instead of feeling distanced from it, as well as a reminder of some ideals I've worked on and continue to work on. Totally feel you on it being helpful. Wishing you best of luck with the mental health and with the new attachment system. Hurray for having more options

Jo your amazing, I really like your videos and it’s helping me, as I’m one surgery away from my left below knee amputation…..this is a decision I never thought I have to make….appreciate you and please continue with your videos, your an awesome speaker and love the info….

Congrats on the new leg and tattoos! Hope you had a good Christmas and that 2023 brings only good things for you!

Thank you so much for sharing this. My double amputations are only a couple of months away. And I may not be able to use prosthetics for a while initially. I hope to use them in a year or 3. So hearing all about the pros and cons you found. Is suuuuuper helpful so thank you. Can’t wait to see your tattoos. Also. I was inspired by you to go on one last journey walking and feeling the world before I have both feet removed. And I am so happy and I’m really enjoying doing so. I’ve also been watching through all your videos from when you started your journey to now. To help give me an idea of what my experience may be like, and it has been helping with my fears around surgeries. You are such an amazing person, and KZfaqr. I hope one day I can be, even just 10%, as inspiring KZfaqr as you are.

its so cool to get to know the different varieties ! hope this works out better for you :D

My dad is a double BKA and to be honest, we didn't know there were really any other types of BKA prosthetics (besides the running blades). I'm glad this one is doing well with you so far! He doesn't use his prosthetics that often (other health issues) but they allowed him to be able to move around a lot when he did use them. The only issue he regularly had with them was making sure they were aligned properly when he put them on, but it sounds like you have that under control from all your experience with the suction prosthetic. I hope this prosthetic continues to do well for you! You'll have to let us know how it goes! Happy new year!

I will be starting the pre-prosthesis program soon and listening to you talk about the different attachment mechanisms is very informative. The pin-lock system seems to be superior to the purely snug-fit stocking method, so I will look seriously into that option. Thank you for all the tips and I look forward to getting up out of my wheelchair and being able to walk around in a quasi-normal fashion and do a number of yard-work tasks that my amputation has prevented me from doing. I wish you every success in coming to grips with your mental roadblocks down the pike and I hope you banish most, if not all, of your demons. Carry on vlogging.

I've followed this story for a while. Thanks for being a candid spokesperson. You have brought up a lot of issues that I never considered that an amputee has to go through.

Congrats on your new socket! By your description this one seems much better than the other one. Taking it off and putting it on again looks so easy. You have to test it properly off course. I will admit though that I am very much in favour of simple technology and design with few parts and few things that can fail. Such things are often much more reliable than the high tech stuff.

Thanks for teaching me something new today! I hope it works out for you! Yay for tattoos!! Can't wait to see it!

Congratulations with your new leg. IJhaven that system for over 30 years and i am still very pleased with it. When you’re ready used to it you can do so much more. The liners will still wear off, mine work for about 4 months before i have to order a new one…

This looks quite interesting and exciting for you! I hope you find this new system gives you more versatility and comfort. A thought about the pin that sticks out when your leg is off, you could put a small soft object on it to protect your other leg. Maybe you could make little faces or critters to have a little fun. 😁 Anyway, I wish you the best with this!!

You are such a wonderful person and you bring delight to my heart each time I watch one of your videos. Thank you!

You sound so pleased with your new leg that it makes me excited for you. I wish you lots of great adventures!

I have been using pin&lock prosthetics for years with no issues. In fact I am a bilateral amputee so I have a right and left. Given time I’m sure you will love it!

Hi Jo I’m getting my new legs in couple weeks and I cannot wait to get rid of the annoying suspension sleeves 🎉xx

Thank you Jo! I get to try in my “first” leg on Friday! You are truly inspiring. A legend. Thank you for sharing your expertise!💪🏼

I'm so happy for you! I'm not an amputee but these videos are very informing.

Hey. I will be shifting from a suction socket to a pin lock after 12 years. Your points of anxiety were running through my head as well over the last few days. Your video coming up at this time of my journey also helped me relieve some anxiety I had wondering how the transition would go for me. Thanks.

Hi Jo, I totally agree with your comments. I too, use a suction system and have to replace the sleeves way too often. I find the top edge of my socket caused most of the holes in my sleeves. I tried the pin lock system but it caused so much suction on the end of my residual limb that it pulled a giant hematoma and had to stop using it. Best of luck, I hope it works out for you. Ken

Greetings fellow Toastmaster! My father was a below the knee amputee and wore a 80's state of the art prosthetic. It is wonderful to see the advances made. He struggled with his leg often and it is nice to see how prosthetics have advanced. I started watching your videos to see the differences between his leg and yours, but I keep watching because I am having my mobility issues that I am struggling with. Thanks!

Ok but the dog at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="65">1:05</a> is with his head on the squish allow is amazing. Keep making videos Jo!

I bet you are happy with the new leg. I just got mine about a month ago. The first one was a pin lock only. It was ok but cause it was my first leg it got to be heavy. Now I have suction with pin lock system and I love it. I hope you like yours. Thank you for sharing all the ways you deal with everything since your amputation.

Thank you for being so candid with your struggles with mental illness...it resonates with my story. I don't have any tattoos as reminders of things I should hold on to, but I would love to hear more about your tattoos.

Love the new leg. Can't wait to see the tattoos up close. One word CAN be empowering. Dan Rather, from what I've heard, closed out podcasts with one word, "Steady." As in, steady as she goes, as in what a captain of a ship would tell his crew if they entered rough or unsure waters. "Steady" tells them to hold the course, and they'll make it through.

Congrats on the new leg! Wish you luck with the pin and lock, i actually went the other way. Started with that and went to elevated vacuum with sleeves because my volume was changing way too frequently and the pistoning from just walking was beginning to take it's toll. Lastly, i needed better proprioception for driving. They've both got their pros and cons but at the end of the day the vacuum system lined up more with my needs, despite it's short comings as you stated with reliability. Hope you like the pin and lock system, if not I've tried about 4 different vacuum systems and so far the one I'm on right now is the best, the Willowood LimbLogic. Let me know if you're interested in finding out more.

So glad the new socket has been a positive experience! Excited to see your new ink when you’re ready to share it. Thanks for all your amazing, educational content!!

I just lost my foot a couple of days ago it’s good to see some options that are available my mother wound up in a wheelchair years ago it was so flustering the things I seen that would have made her life so much better but I never could find where to even find any of the stuff being made

Great to see you get something that seems to work well. I hope it works for all your activities.

Pin lock is my favorite 😍 i have used just a sleeve, elevated vacuum with sleeve, seal in suction. I am amputee after 13 years of failed surgeries and extreme CRPS. Legs are like cars is my new favorite way to compare and explain to people.

Looks like a cool option. Re: the bare pin, could you add a rubber or fluff cap of some kind to protect your skin leg when you take your leg off?

That is super cool! Thank you for sharing - its really interesting to learn about the limbs.

That list of benefits is so cool!

Yayyyy!!!! I’m so happy for your successes!!!

I had the pin lock and it was too painful, so I was just fitted with the suction type you just showed, much more comfortable

That's great Jo. Really happy for you. I pray it works out for you and limits pain in your leg. 😊

Thanks for the information. I don’t need a prosthetic leg but you really sold the product. I’m glad life is getting better for you and everyone with a prosthetic limb.

Ohhh so cool! I hope it helps you :) their process is really interesting

Happy New Year and happier days ahead!

new tattoos are therapy in and of themselves 😊 hope the new leg works out 🤙

Gosh ty so much for your insight!!! Helps so much!!

All I can say if someone invents / build’s that holy grail of prosthetic limb and attaching method that is universally liked , easy to use, won’t fall or come off unless you want it to and most importantly is comfortable and relatively pain free. That someone will become very rich.

I am so happy that the new leg is working for you so far

You could maybe get skin colored tights or socks to minimize the look. I’m super happy for you and I hope this options works out for you so you can at least get a break from the restriction of range of movement and your skin gets a chance to breathe! Maybe the reduced restriction can make physical therapy/strengthening exercises easier? I hope things improve at least in some aspects for you soon. Thank you for sharing Jo!

Hi Jo, seasons greetings to you. I know that you've had a very rough 2022, here's hoping that the new socket is a positive way to start the New Year. Wishing you great things for the year to come.

It’s great how fast your new socket was made! I hope your new leg works out well for you 😁

As far as that exposed steel post, you could get a slip on heavy duty rubbery cap to protect other things as well as the post. I'm surprised they don't have a stubby snap-lock cap. have a great day, and a Happy New Year

I picked up my pin-lock a couple of weeks ago as well, and much easier on and off from the sleeve-suction system. And you can easily go back to it if there is a problem mechanically with the pin.

Super excited for you! I hope this new leg system works out well.

I went through a period of being unable to walk because of a completely different type of medical problem, but it really gives me hope for myself to see other people moving forward. Thank you for sharing.

That's awesome! Merry Christmas and I hope this coming year is better than the last for you! Me too....this last year sucked!!

Finally, You have a pin lock. Good for you. Looks like a Coyote lock system. My wife quit the suction suspension after 4 months. She could not tolerate the combined liner and suction sleeve binding around her knee. At 1 year post amputation, she was in a 3 mil Iceross Pin liner and rarely ever needs a sock. Over 3 years in the same Coyote Basalt Fiber socket and Freedom Kinterra foot and ankle with just 2 liners needed each year. I couldn't understand how you could tolerate a cumbersome suction suspension with your active life.

I'm glad the new leg works well for you -- even if you wind up having to use it as a backup, and/or to eke out the sleeves that insurance will pay for. I'm curious about the "pin-lock" part -- just how exactly it works. I appreciate seeing the dogs, too, even though I'm sure dog hair is a Thing.

I started with the pin lock system about two years ago as my first prosthetic. It works well for me. I started with the outer sleeve as well, but as my confidence grew I started going without it. My mobility is way better and easier to deal with pants.

I went the other way, I used a pin system for years then switched to suction (one-way valve, no pump). With me I did not like the bottoming out feeling, and with any activity I would get sore at the end of my stumps. I do like using a pin system when mountain biking though (legs do not come off during one of my uninvadable wipe outs). Like you said, we are all different so I hope this works for you. Also if you go back to/use suction again, i get my sleeves online (amputeestore) without going threw insurance, it is not to bad cost wise.

Thank you again for sharing this with everyone and I hope that the new leg works out for you it looks like it will take care 👍✌🏻👌

As a left BKA, I started with the pin-lock system, but am now using a suction sleeve/leg. My main issue with pin-lock is my leg expands & shrinks throughout the day, requiring me to adjust the number of sleeves up to 10+ times daily. However, I must also mention that I am on dialysis. So I sometimes lose 5-7 pounds of water weight during a single dialysis session, three times every week. The looseness of the leg finally created a hot-spot where the leg bone was grinding into the skin on my stump. It never became an open sore, but I was still in a wheelchair for a large part of every day. I love my suction sleeve, since it always keeps my leg tight against the prosthetic. I pray that you have great success with your pin-lock system. Keep us up-to-date. I really enjoy your videos!

I have chronic migraines, love your personality, be sure to track your migraines. Really helped me to get an idea of the cause and the triggers of my headaches. I use migraine buddy to track my migraines.

At Hanger. We would do a socket, with skin tone pigment that closely matches your complexion. And a matching foam piece over the upright tube. On a socket like yours, on occasion, we would laminate in, under the clear an emblem of your choice. Like we had on soldier brought us a USMC emblem to add to the laminate. Front and center. Sadly, even the government will only cover so much.

You could make some kind of nubbin pin cover/cap that you can pop on to protect yourself!

Us folk with all of our limbs still in place have no idea of the issues you face..... This was a very interesting video. Thank you.... Your fortitude is an inspiration...

Pin lock has been the only recommendation from my prosthetist since I started my journey. Basically said if I’m not a cross country runner (which I’m definitely not), then it’s the best most safe option. I’m glad it’s working for you!

I'm so excited for you anything that makes life easier is always a bonus.

I noticed some of your tattoos in the video where you talked about situations where you would/wouldn't take your leg off and let me just say they look AMAZING! Having some serious tattoo envy as I'm a student and can't afford any of the ink I want yet... I'd love more tattoo content so I can continue to live vicariously through you :)

For those of us that dont wear a prosthetic this is so educational! Thank you so much for sharing!!