A few minutes in when Steven stated they rebuilt it anyway, excuse me I went ballistic. Medical God set - they do not respect your choice. I am bk and from minute one I stated I’m okay with amputation. They knew better!!! Thank God early in I got bad “their” choice went south they shipped me off to a specialist. He listened to me (@60 yrs) He went through the scenarios - I had not changed my decision. Amputation was the best is the best!! Breaks my heart, found OT again as I am deciding about knee walker. And was shocked about your new status. Good luck and love. I have a blister (distal end) so out for a few days: do not want to risk an infection. Used and old liner one-day. Blister city. Hate not being able to be two legged. I am 13 years in at 72 now. Have never had any major issues, appreciate my blessings. Sucks sucks you two are so appreciated. I am so active and so great full. Amazingly ordinary not extraordinary. 🍀🍀 l have an amazing prosthetic God.

I have a BK and that’s when I really appreciated my knees. God bless you two. You are honest, but a great inspiration.

I just started a program to become an Orthotist & Prosthetist and your thoughts/problems are really interesting to hear. I really enjoy how honest you both are about your experiences. I appreciate you two taking the time to make this video and will definitely be watching more in the future.

I'm sorry you're facing another amputation but I hope it solves your issues! Also, congratulations on having your son! I really appreciate your videos, they are so helpful, and I will be following as your journey continues.

This guy is keeping it real, that's awesome

I'm a RAKA. Done in May 2018. Starting the process to get 3rd socket. Plie3 knee and Truelife ankle/foot. 1st socket, I was at 125 lbs, but big thigh and strap type. 51 weeks later, I went from 125lbs to 161lbs and got a suction socket. But my limb is cone-shaped and larger in the middle. So the liner to seal the leg in didn't work and felt like a tourniquet and felt like it did when the circulation stopped causing the amputation and major pain in my "foot" to the point of pulling it off, as you said in an interview. I then went to a "parachute" that went over my limb and pulled through the valve in the socket and let the skin seal the leg. It would work about 80% of the time - until I sat down, and it would let the suction escape. Putting the leg back on was impossible. This is now 2 years and 4 months since my amputation (circulation issues) and it took 7 months to get the first prosthetic due to healing issues So now working on the 3rd socket, because of the fit problems but also, weight increase. I'm up to 191 lbs now. My limb is a "shorty" cut at 8" above the other knee. As your guest, I am in my chair most of the time. I live in a 2 story, so I have one chair upstairs too and will either hop un the stairs or crawl up. I haven't been casted for the socket but asking if we can for this one. At almost 3 years, other than weight gain, (and I've changed my diet - less Postmates!) Congrats on the baby. Your site was one of the first I found when I got home from the hospital. Although you were BK, it still helped me. I wish you well on the 25th.

As a bilateral transtibial (that's a double below the knee for those looking in from the outside) amputee I found this fascinating, thank you both.

My biggest fear here...so many socket issues due to limb atrophy and shrinkage.. 2 yrs great. Now 2 yrs of hell. Getting a new leg and a new Bionic foot..woohoo! After 2 pressure wounds and caring for a disabled teen( and dogs n cat) I'm ready for way less pain n problems. I pray daily I never need to go to AK but . Whatever. Never knew that fitting properly is a forever issue with amputees. You are great Christina for all us amps that need you to get us through all the shit we go thru. BTW...missed alot..didn't know about marriage and kid...congrats. Hang in girl.. you'll be 💯% before you know it. Love from NC❤️❤️ Be safe😷

good luck and may GOD bless!!

Love the interview. Miss you also. Active person, my bk slow3d me down, that was tuff adjusting to. No way offended by potty mouth, I don't have one. Would lie to see you grow beyond it.

Thank you for this interview. ... Note to self: ✍️ If I need a foot/leg amputation, I would rather an AK ✍️ I like to live simply and my knees are hypermobile and I have had issues with them all my life. Just AK me and sign me up for a ton of physical therapy for my remaining knee.

It also took me 3 years to get a great fitting socket. I had no idea in the beginning what to expect. I was in a lot of pain and didn’t know I didn’t have to be in pain. People! Always know that there should be no pain involved.

The volume fluctuations being an AK are annoying esp trying to get the right socket fit ( I use an infinite socket for 4years so I don’t have to add or remove socks and allows me to still use my thigh muscles so that my femurs held in place and isn’t tapping on the inside wall of the socket). I’ve found that as long as my socket is fitting properly you don’t really notice the extra weight of using an MPKnee. Socket fit is definitely so important as an AK as it helps you swing the prosthetic through with more confidence. I also use my wheelchair when I’m at home to let my leg rest and get around the house easily. I do tend to wear my leg approx 12-14 hours a day but I do allow one or two no leg days to let my leg recover. It took me a couple of years to get my walking speed back up to be able to walk alongside my friends but it’s workout. One of the worst parts is the cysts you get around the edge of the liner and the sweating, thankfully anti chaffing gel really helps but it doesn’t prevent them from popping up. As you said though prosthetic knees especially mechanical are very unpredictable - slopes and inclines are hard work. If you don’t want to use the lube spray with some liners, ossur’s have recently brought out a new type with an adjustable seal as long as you don’t wash the seal you don’t need to use the spray to put the leg on. He cracked me up with the fact our lil legs floats up and can make sitting up tricky the first couple of months, I’m the same whenever I take my prosthetic off at the end of the day 😂🤣 taking the leg off at the end of the day is beyond the best feeling ever 😂🤣 wishing you both the very best wishes with your recoveries, I’m sure you both will do amazing as you both are so determined - just make sure to not over do it too much and to rest as much as you can. Also enjoy eating more. You both will be back to kicking ass in no time keep being you and take care 😉😂 PS: powerbank’s with the same adapters are a lifesaver when my knee dies as I always forget to charge it up, my leg normally has enough charge for 3-4 days. 😉

Great interview. This would have been cool live with Q and A from viewers.

It's not easy having your knee removed above the my leg took a while to heel now I can walk. I'm very happy with my new leg.

Hey I'm a AK and obviously not everyone is the same but I've learned that the more you use it you get more and more use to it, when I first got my amputation I just was always on my wheelchair but I realized that made me not want to use my leg and now I'm always using my leg I put up the wheelchair and ill rather hop around the house then got back to the wheelchair. I became way more active i lost 100 lbs for 344lbs to 240lbs and sill going strong. I hope the best for you two.

Hi. Do you recommend vacuum sockets? Did it cause atrophy?

You live in a savage land. I was admitted to the hospital on June 1, 2015, I go my BK amputation on July 7, 2015 and I was released from the hospital August 14, 2015. My first appointment in her office with my prosthetist was September 18, 2015 my first definitive prosthesis was October 14th, 2015. My second definitive prosthesis was September 22, 2017.

Thanks for sharing this Christina! Great info! Nothing better than getting it from the horse's mouth. Is it OK if I share this with my amputee support group?

Might want to contact Amy Purdy before surgery

Hey girl your such a strong brave women keep it up and things will work out for you 💪best of luck from mark an amputee living in Wexford Ireland 😀

I would love to chat with Steve on who he used for providers out in AZ. Possible amputation here.

I had my fitting today for my bka and the bottom of my limb hurt so bad I couldn’t put any weight on it. I’m nervous about the new one they’re making for me

I can’t speak for BK but I know from what all I have heard and witnessed I’d choose an AK over BK every time personally. I don’t have any trouble whatsoever and never have out of my AK. I’ve had the same socket for almost a year now and it’s just my 3rd one, I use no socks at all and never really have any trouble out of it. An AK just seems overall to be a lot more of a stable condition to live with than a BK

AK amputees CAN use our wheelchair as an iWalk. It's called a sturdy pillow.

I didn’t finish watching your conversation, please trust me, 50 legs has changed many kids’ life. Please watch the video of POA Orlando prosthetic videos, tailor made foot will change your life!!

It's hard to believe that someone would chose to have a leg removed. We're I live if you have a prosthetic you won't be offered wheelchair services. I'm kinda gelous because I can't have any prosthetics.

You shoul have gotten the thru the knee, because you can weight bare on the leg, you could clawled. I am an aka trans transfibual femur. I have a couple of inventions that would help you both alot that are easy to build. A skin fit socket is by far the best. I sure hope you both got the TMR procedure.

I have a double AK amputee friend who always sarcastically tells me how awesome it must be to me, LBKA I'm like whatever dude, shut up

To the man, the Doctor did the leg rebuild cause he could get more money from the insurance then amputating the leg.