Just a quick update.I took delivery of my prosthetic leg in the middle of January and was walking unaided a day after getting it. Could only use it for short periods to start with as it's like breaking in a new pair of boots and my stump needs to toughen up. ( A bit like all you whingers out there.
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As I got better with the leg I decided to get back into the workshop. Yes, it was like a Japanese sub-way train when I opened the door and all my prized possessions fell out to meet me.
Yes, my wife did piss herself laughing at me.
No, she didn't get any photographs.
I managed to clear a small space to work in but found my prosthetic foot kept getting caught up under the work benches, so enquired about a good, old fashioned peg leg, only to be told that they don't make them any more. Apparently they are not P.C. as Joe Normal expects to see something that looks like a foot at the end of a leg.
Well, sorry to offend sensibilities, but as the end user, I will decide what the end of my leg looks like, NOT Joe Normal. So it was into the workshop to do some measurements, order up the materials and make my own.
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Standard NHS prosthetic leg as provided. (Sandal is mine)
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The fixed ankle which feels like wearing one ski boot all day, every day and you have to goose step every where. Not a good look at any time. The other problem is that the foot acts like a hook and gets caught under the work bench causing a few near falls.
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The shaft of the leg is held in place with one M6 cap head bolt, which means I can change between leg and peg faster than a Formula 1 pit crew can change the tires on a F1 car (Well ok, maybe not as fast as the Red Bull crew.
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The peg was made from some 30mm OD aluminium tube cut to length and 25mm dia' ali rod turned to fit the ID of the tube at one end and turned to fit the rubber anti-slip foot from an old elbow crutch. The rod and tube were offered up together and four 5.5mm holes drilled through both parts and tapped to take M6 dome head bolts.
Voila, one functional peg leg that won't get caught on things. All I need now is the eye patch and those of you who offered to buy me a parrot, I know who you are.
I still tire easily and have been told to expect about a year to recuperate but at least I can start getting back into the work shop to get it cleared enough to get back to building the Student.
Thanks to everyone for the messages of support and I feel I can now put this behind me.
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) I was thrown out to stop me clogging up what was now a Covid ward, thankfully still only half Bader! 