Miki Sato
Niigata University of Medical Welfare,
Department of Prosthetics and Orthotics for Self-Support

I lost my right leg above the knee in a car accident when I was 17 and now live with a prosthetic leg. It's quite embarrassing to say, but at the time, it was the end of Kogal* boom, and as expected, I was a high school student in a miniskirt and baggy socks. Therefore, losing my leg overnight was a tremendous feeling of loss, and spent many uneasy and worrisome days.

After about four months of such days, my first prosthetic leg was constructed. Without the prosthetic leg, I had to use either regular crutches or Lofstrand crutches, but without a cane, I had to hop on one leg or use a wheelchair. However, hoping on one leg was too dangerous, and I was too young to accept the fact that I would have to use a wheelchair. I wanted to walk as well and as quickly as possible without a cane, just like my friends, so I had my father drive me to the hospital for rehabilitation, but I got my driver’s license and started going to rehabilitation twice a week on my own. As I continued to practice, I gained the ability to walk with a prosthetic leg without a cane, and with the freedom of being able to use both of my hands freely, I began to actively go outside. I was extremely happy, and my expanded range of activities allowed me to return to my social life.

Figure 1

Sweat protection with breastfeeding pad. A pad is put on the amputated end, and a silicone liner is attached to it.

It's been 20 years since I had my leg amputated, and I consider my prosthetic leg to be an essential part of my life and a real big help. However, living with my prosthetic leg requires a little ingenuity on my part. An insert called a silicone liner is usually attached between the end of the prosthetic leg and the amputated part of actual leg which acts as a connection, and the silicone liner is made of a material similar to a wet suit, so one can sweat a lot especially in the summer. If one wears a prosthetic leg while sweating, the end of it may slip, and in severe cases, the leg may come off and cause a fall. Heat rash and abrasions also develop on the ablated end, and if the damage worsens, the prosthesis cannot be worn, so breastfeeding pads are inserted to deal with this particular problem (Figure 1). I have noticed that the breastfeeding pads left over after my breastfeeding, fit the shape of the ablated end, and when I place it on, the slippage caused by sweat was improved and I was able to spend the summer in comfort.

I am also often asked, "When do you take off your prosthetic leg?" The answer is when I sleep and when I enter the water. Times that I enter the water are daily baths, occasional entering hot springs, and the ocean, etc. I don’t think it would have been possible for me at the beginning of the amputation, but now I can take off my prosthetic leg and go into the hot springs or the ocean without hesitation. I have a 13-year-old son, and I feel that my desire to give my child the same experience as other children was a major turning point. To prevent sand from getting on the removed prosthetic leg, especially on the beach, it should be stored strictly in a tent and covered with a towel to protect it from heat (Figure 2). I can also enjoy playing in the ocean by building my tent as close to the beach as possible so that I can come back from the beach by myself. I can't write it all down here, but to be honest, living with a prosthetic leg is troublesome and inconvenient in many ways. However, rather than worrying about spending the next 50 years of my life with a prosthetic leg, my current goal is to enjoy life with a little ingenuity every day.

Kogal*: teenage schoolgirl with a fashion style characterized by miniskirts, baggy socks, and brown (orange) dyed hair (1990s Japanese subculture)

Figure 2

Storage of the prosthetic leg at the ocean. The covers used for safekeeping the leg are clothing storage bags purchased at a hundred-yen store. Some extra bags are hold and disposable.