New tip for ya: My wife splits the seam of my jeans and puts in a zipper so i can remove my leg in public and not have to drop my trowsers. Helps tremendously to be able to give my stump a breather.
I was surprised when you said that the back of your leg was the hairiest part. My legs are most hairiest just above my ankle all around my leg with little to no hair at the back of my calf. People are all different in every kind of ways possible and still it's the smallest things that make you realise how true that really is.
😅my legs are hairy around the knees lol!! I have foot drop or drop foot and had a tendon transfer where they rearranged the L to R tendon to move up and down and hair barely grows on that leg
I have a strip of dark grass along the outsides of the front of my calf, a moderate amount on the front lining my shin bone, hardly any on the inside, a little bit just above my ankle in the back, and invisible peach fuzz covering the back. 1/3 of my leg is a field and 1/3 is barren. From my knees up is all peach fuzz. Until you get to my armpits. I thought it was the same for everyone. I heard someone say they thought you were only supposed to shave the back of your legs and I have been so confused ever since. I just learned that hair patterns are not all the same
Yeah, the front of my calf is also the hairiest part of the leg for me, as well as the bottom back part of my calf, right below the muscle, everything else barely grows any hairs, even after years of not shaving I can't get anything to grow anywhere else
Unfortunately, she had two. The first one was fine surgically, but she had a serious fall a few weeks afterward (and sued a restaurant for having a greasy floor and no signs… the settlement was better than nothing, but not a fully favorable outcome). So there eventually had to be a second amputation due to that fall. She has a separate video talking about that now that any NDAs surrounding the claim have expired. The American legal system is such a joke. Definitely recommend the video, though.
I never write youtube comments, but this video made me very emotional. When I was 14 I was in an accident and the doctors told me they would have to amputate my leg in the exact same spot as yours. I was a ballet dancer and that was devastating. My mom called every single doctor she could find and finally one of them came to the hospital and saved my leg. I sometimes forget how lucky I am. You're such a beautiful person. I really appreciate how open you are about your story.
That was a really good story hope you are feeling better then ever ❤️you are such an inspiration to others that have had amputation and that is awesome that he could save your leg and hope you're having a great life you are such an amazing wonderful kind awesome person from what i think if i ever met you it would be like ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Not fat, that's just how Norwegian Forest Cats (or Siberian, not sure which Cake is) are built and how they look different than most other cat breeds - kinda like a bulldog vs a grayhound.
Being disabled is hard….I’m blind and don’t know why people don’t want to support me(just love me unconditionally) So in my opinion we need this channel to feel like there are other people out there who can understand what I am (we) are going through…..so thankful for your channel! I lost everything when I went blind….my wife died and now I am all alone and I struggle just to live a decent life….this channel gives me hope so thanks again for this share.
How did you type this comment then? OH- maybe you have a special device?? Edit 3 months later: I just wanna make sure you guys know that the special device thing wasn’t sarcastic or me mocking anyone, I had never looked into extended ability phones so I genuinely thought they were using a special device, sorry!
@@ElizabethElfgrove smartphones have accessibility options for those with vision impairments or are blind. You are able to move your finger across the screen of the phone, but it will audibly tell the person what is on the screen. And of course I’m sure that after some time, even positions on the buttons will be memorized without the audible part. I suggest watching Molly Burke on TH-cam demonstrate this. In a Minute, i may look for a video and link it in a second comment.
I can kind of relate to this, I became diabetic at a young age and one of the risks of that is poor healing and increased infection risk, especially on the lower extremities. Never really had any issues before but I recently nicked above my ankle shaving, the most superficial wound and it’s taken me 6 weeks to get to the scarring stage. Haven’t shaved since, doesn’t seem worth it.
@@insignificantopinions3210 THIS. I have never shaved in my life, I’ve only ever used depilatory creams. They work amazingly well, never gave me ingrowns, and it lasts far longer than shaving (about 2-3 weeks before I shave again). My legs are much smoother too.
@@mindianaj0nes I use Veet! It's the best brand out there. There's another Japanese brand I use but I can't remember it atm. The process is the same no matter the brand - apply it on generously (make sure all the hair is coated), wait 3-6 minutes (depending on what the brand recommends - read the instructions!), scrape it off with the plastic spatula that comes with the product, and then rinse it off with warm water. However, depilatory creams only work when the leg hair is fairly long, so it will require you to grow out the leg hair you do have before you use it. but I promise it's worth it! You won't need to shave for another 2-3 weeks.
TL;DR: That rubber condom that holds prosthesis to her leg is very good environment for bacteria, so having any micro wounds after shaving can go very bad.
@@MsTinkerbelle87 i mean i get that the point is to watch the whole video and learn, but they’re just summing it up in case anyone can’t actually finish the video 😂
Back of my mind: why is this in my recommend. Part of the brain that likes to learn: I don't care that I don't need to know this, it's still informational.
I’m not an amputee so this is going to sound odd. I’ve had very little body hair my entire life so I always felt embarrassed bc I shaved my legs, etc. once or twice a year. When I had both knees replaced the doctor told me not to shave my legs before the procedure. At first I was puzzled but too embarrassed to ask why. Now I know why. Ty for being so amazingly honest. ❤️ p.s. that was 5 yrs ago. 🤣
Im not very hairy either. I go weeks or months without shaving my legs. I do however has a bit of fine hair on the top of my feet. I wear socks at all times. If i don't shave that hair it starts to hurt.
You were too embarrassed to ask your doctor a medical question when you had your knees replaced? 🙄 What's wrong with you? Were you dropped on your head or are you just THAT shallow? 🤦♀️🤮
@@YouDontKnowAsMuchAsYouThinkUDo Hey, maybe this person had their reasons to feel uncomfortable asking questions. Maybe the doctoe was a jerk, or maybe they were just announced that they needed to get their knees replaced and were not thinking straight. We don't know, so no need to be rude...
holy crap! i read the intro to that and then bursted out in laughter just imagining you sitting there confused with that conundrum! Huge thanks for making my evening a bit better :D
Exactly the same thing. I watched it because of curiosity but first time I've seen an amputee video. I always talk to people who have had this happened.
I love your videos. My mother became an amputee in 2008 and she passed in 2016. It was due to diabetic complications and I'm also diabetic. Mom was 62 when she passed and I'm now 47 and the fact that I may, at some point, become an amputee, I find your videos very informative. My mother didn't shave often, but when it began to really bother her, she would. She did have a prosthetic, but she rarely wore it as it was very painful. When she was being fitted for the prosthetic, it was discovered that her leg, amputated like yours at just below the knee, was done wrong. There are 2 bones in that area of the leg and one gets cut a little shorter than the other. Her bones were severed wrong. The wrong bone was left too long while the other was cut shorter and so wearing her leg was extremely painful.
My dad lost his arm, just below the elbow, I remember his arm that the prosthetics would attach to, was always hairless. He lost it when I was very young so I always remember him with his prosthetic. Thank you for your videos and taking some of the taboo away from amputees. ❤️
I just found you yesterday. I am a grandma, and I think you are so brave. I enjoy learning about medical procedures. I had no idea about the shaving issues. Thank you for helping make things easier for others. You are precious and so is Brian.
As a retired doctor here are a few options I have seen for hair removal. 1) waxing 2) suggaring 3)laser hair removal 4) depilatory creams . I like the suggaring. If you do it regularly, your hair follicles adapt and the hairs get easier to pull out. You don't really have to shave it anyway. Decide what you like not what someone else wants. I don't know if shaving your leg will make it feel hotter in the prosthesis. I usually cut my hair short, 1/2 inch. Once I decided to shave my head, thinking it would feel cooler. Surprise, it actually made my head feel hot. I think the short hair wicked some of the sweat up, but without it, it just sat on my skin and felt hot.
Makes sense. I'm having to use a pain relief patch at the moment and the areas the leaflet said are ok to place it are all away from areas people often shave.
It's stupid to remove hair in general just for asthetics. The cost, time, and pain, and health hazards? It's like smoking tobacco but for the skin. #raisethehairremovaltax #freepadsandtamponsinstead.
02:11 Cake is showing that none of her body is shaved :D Your videos are so fascinating! I would have never thought about not being able to shave my leg. But the explanation makes complete sense!
I had no clue, now I´m educated about the dangers of shaving amputated limbs . Thanks Jo, for being cool and telling us about the medical technicalities of amputations !
Huh, I never realised that this was a thing, but it makes a lot of sense when I think about it. Also the purrs that the mic picked up killed me with the cuteness!! 😍
I'm in love with Cakes. What was this video about again? I saw only a pile of beautiful orange fur. Ironic because it's supposed to be about shaving...
Really appretiate that you're willing to share your story. It really helps people understand what you're going through and thus also what other people are going through. Some people might not feel comfortable talking about it even when asked
Chatty Yaz i think she’s blonde, so the hairs are blonde and not really visible from far away (sometimes they shine in the sun like glitter, its weird)
Wow I learned something today. Once you explained why it makes a lot of sense. Despite not being on top of shaving my own legs all the time feel like it would be weird to have the choice removed. Thank you so much for sharing this and I wish you the best of luck and the best of happiness in your life.
I was drinking from a water bottle and I nearly spit it out laughing at the exact moment you talking about hairy leg and about to show it, and a very hairy cat totally stole the spotlight. I'm sure a metaphor is in there somewhere ... in all seriousness, thanks for sharing your story and its such an inspiration with all your positive energy. I believe attitude is everything. I love to see your updates.
Out of interest, if amputees wanted to, can they be allowed to have laser hair removal (maybe with limited prosthetic wear in the following few days)? Is that considered a safe option with a prosthetic?
Okay I've been an amputee for 12 years and most of that time I've been in a wheelchair due to chronic wound issues. But I'm getting ready to start PT and getting casted for a prosthetic and this is super helpful! I didn't even consider this but the that will probably save me from wounds in the future tysm for pointing it out ❤
CAKESSSSS I LOVE YOUUUUUU!!! 🍊🐈🧡 On a real note though it’s rare for a female cat to be all orange. It’s because the color expressing gene for orange is on the X chromosome. Since Males only have one X they are much more likely to be orange. Where as a female needs two X’s with the orange expression. So now you know a little fact about cute orange kitties! :D
Also another fun fact about cats; only female cats can have the calico coloring. Male cats that are born with the calico coloring (which never really happens) do not live.
If you don’t mind me asking, is knee replacement not an option? I wonder because my friend had cancer and had to amputate her leg and get a knee replacement in the other due to the cancer. Just curious is all :)
justaperson Well, her knee could be replaced, if there weren’t another issue. Her the bone right below her knee is incredibly screwed up as well. The best option for her is amputation right above the knee.
Bella P oh I’m so sorry to hear that I hope your friend well. She must be very scared sense an above the knee amputation is really more intense than below the knee. It’s a longer recovery time. But I hope her the best
I had no idea about this but it is fascinating to learn, and in my experience it is the small things that have the biggest effect. I had cancer and my body getting weak from the chemo was far from the biggest thing to bother me, rather it was my hair falling out. I Broke down several times watching my hair pull away in a gust of wind, from me brushing ect. The big things I just sort of shrugged off and said well that sucks.
@@mvv700 I am. Everyone was shocked how well I took it as instead of reacting with horror or anything my first response was "shit I'm going to lose my hair." I also used it for dark humor. the worst part is it was a thousand small frustrations rather than a few big ones.
One of my favorite jobs was as a prosthetic tech (the unseen gnome in the back who actually makes the limbs). Pay was crap, conditions less than healthy (lots of very harmful chemicals), but it was the most rewarding job I've ever had. I say that because there were posters all over the lab and patient area (why they were in the lab I have no idea, no patients back there) and half of the posters were PSA's saying "Keep the Stump Clean!". The risk of infection is serious. As you know there is a lot to learn as a new amputee and missing a few tips is easy to do. Shaving is also a 'normalizing' behavior and something that might be done just to try to reclaim a bit of agency and familiarity. Choosing not to shave is wise Jo, thank you for making this video. It might just save the life of a new amputee who didn't get the memo on shaving.
As a partial foot amputee I found this very interesting and informative. I did not know about the calf muscle being wrapped around the bone like that. I have several places that have skin over bone with no padding whatsoever, the bottom of a half toe for example, and it is excruciating. I had always assumed that leg amputees all had to deal with that same issue. I’m curious how that feels when you put your weight on it. Is it similar to other parts of your body that have muscle to cushion the bones, like the buttocks?
That sounds to me like your doctor malpractices. Straight bone with only a thin layer of skin covering it is NOT how any part of the human body that bears weight is designed to be. I bet you could get a surgery to fix that. They’d probably have to remove that toe (since it’s too late to put any fresh muscle over it) but that sounds more comfortable in some ways.
I figure hands and feet are probably problematic in that aspect for amputations, they generally don't have a lot of meat to begin with so there isn't much to wrap around anything other than the skin itself.
@@SolidChristianTeachings Well, the lawnmower didn’t leave much for him to work with, and he actually did really well with what he had. Not malpractice at all.
@@ZomBunny this. There's only so much flesh to work with, and he said the issue started with a lawnmower so the surgeon was probably working with limited options. In the hands it's probably not that big of an issue as you can just avoid impacting/using the affected area. The foot however, you have to use a lot even when you try to avoid using it. So it's a recipe for a long drawn out and painful healing process until the body fully heals/scars and adapts to the amputation. That's not even considering nerve damage which really can't be helped under some circumstances.
One thing about it, your voice box wasn't effected because are full of information a very fast pace. I'm glad that you are satisfied with your amputation and your prosthesis. You seem to be such a happy lady. Keep up that good spirit. It comes in handy all the time. Best of luck Jo, if that's your name.
I love how frank you are. My father had a below the knee amputation and I've never felt uncomfortable talking about this. (I had joint surgery 3 times on the same joint and was ready for an amputation. Lots of pain during recovery - going on 2 years now and still have pain some time. I've become a compulsive walker to keep the circulation going.)
After spending weeks holding ice to my head at work and not sleeping, I finally caved and saw a Dr about my neck pain. With chronic illness, it seems like as soon as I tell a Dr somethings wrong it turns out to be nothing, so I've learned to just wait it out. Welp, turns out I have spinal degeneration along with a neck sprain. Sometimes it seems like right when you get used to the "program" the rules change. Love this community of people who get it.
Hi! I’m a relatively new below the knee amputee on the left side, but I was never warned of this. Obviously, I get why it’s a bad idea, (because complications) but still I find it weird that I wasn’t given that bit of info. Granted, I rarely shave anyway, because I have very fair, fine hair on my legs. But still a good point of advice. It’s one of those things about being an amputee that you don’t really think about until it’s in your face. But, such is life!
I am a right leg below the knee amputee as well. I feel your pain. I just prescribed to your channel. Thanks for putting yourself out there and making these videos.
Im a double below the knee amputee. I'm an old biker so I never thought about shaving my legs. You are correct the liner does wear the hair off of the area. My legs have been amputated for over ten years now. I still build and ride motorcycles. you are so correct about being careful with your stubs it is easy to get them infected and its a real bear to get them to heal. I wish you the best. Keep the positive attitude
I love people 100x more when they say "I couldn't care less' it drives me bonkers when people say "I could care less" if you could care less that totally negates what you are saying (I grew up with a mom that studied English, and always corrected our speaking)
HAHAHAHAHA! My mother harped on "I could care less" her entire life. Also when people mispronounced "lingerie" (she was a French major) and also when people would say you can get [whatever] "for free" -- instead of just plain "free". She was right of course, but it got really old!
@@epona9166 reminds me of how my dad sometimes harps on how the express checkout lines are labeled "10 items or less" instead of "10 items or fewer". 'less' might be grammatically wrong, but it saves 1 letter in writing and 1 syllable in speech, so in a way it actually fits better with the idea of an express lane, not that my dad would ever accept that logic.
Very interesting. I had no idea. I quit shaving my legs seven years ago, after an extreme health crisis. I was so glad to be alive that things like shaved legs were just not so important any more. The health crisis I went through also changed hair growth patterns all over...from head to toe. My legs just stopped growing very much hair at all. Other hair things happened but we won't go into that. Like you said, less time to get ready for the day! That's a plus.
I haven't known anyone who has had an amputation and I wanted to become more familiar with experiences that I have never had. Also, it helps me become more comfortable with the issue, so that when I come across amputees while I am out in the world, I hope that seeing it as a normal thing, will make it easier for me not to stare and become less awkward. If I had an amputation, I don't think that I would want to be defined by it and want to be able to show that respect for people who are different from me. I have had terrible things happen to me. I also have some disabilities and my mind is Neuro divergent. I don't want to be seen as a tragedy and I don't want to treat other people that way. I look forward to watching more videos from your channel so that I can educate myself 💚
I was also told by my doctor not to shave my legs!! my skin’s too thin, my ingrown infections were pretty bad, lupus is fun etc etc. i honestly did NOT look back because it saved so much time, but i was worried that I’d lose the more traditional feminine aesthetic, like you said. Turns out my leg hair is pretty thin and light and virtually unnoticeable from a normal distance. I’m seeing that being feminine is totally possible even with leg hair. It’s been a far easier road than i thought 🥰 I’m curious about others’ experiences!
I'm a non-amputee that don't shave my legs. I am however a former synchro swimmer and it turns out that you need some leg hair to be able to feel where the surface of the water touches your legs. So after a while I stopped bother to shave my legs in special ways to still feel the water and then just stopped shaving them at all and never started again after I stopped swimming. I have light and thin hairs and they are not seen if you don't look closely. I save a tremendous amount of time and still feel feminine even though that's not so important to me.. :)
I have dark, spiky hair .they say it doesn’t get spiky if you shave but my never shaved teenage leg had very soft hair. Mine is visible from only a few feet away. I’ll super jealous of blond haired people lol
I mean if you think about it women all naturally have leg hair, so it can't possibly be unfeminine if that's what women actually look like without modification! My mom never shaved her legs until she moved to Canada because it just wasn't a thing women did where she grew up. It's amazing how deeply we learn the cultural things around us though. Because even though I think this, I'm used to seeing women with little or no leg hair so now that's what feels normal to me too.
I didn't know a thing about the issues which amputees have to face. Thank you for talking so openly. This lifts taboos from topics, that are quite normal and shouldn't be a taboo at all. 👍
But you can literally feel the hair on your legs, I can't see my leg hairs, my sight is bad enough, I just feel for where they are and run the razor over where I feel them. Easy peasy.
I just love how your leg is way less hairy than mine and I have absolutely no reason to not be shaving other than. I feel like it is pointless because my hair grows back so fast. Also, the front of my legs (both calf and thigh) are WAY hairier than the back and I thought that was how it was for everyone. Interesting.
I don’t shave my legs either. If I had the option of having it magically gone forever, or leave it, I would pick gone. But shaving? Nope, too much of a hassle XD And I’m not blond, so it’s pretty visible. But I still wear shorts and skirts. It’s just something ‘everyone does’, which does sort of give me a good feeling that I’m going against the mainstream(? Not native English speaker, does this make sense ^.^” ), because why do what everyone does? I’m me.
Well personally i dont care if female's shave or not. No matter what areas. But it is nice with atleast shorter hair at the erotic zone i admit. Less chance of hair in the mouth is nice lol :) Yup its not legs i know. I shall move myself to my corner of shame
Same, I’d never even thought that some people would have different hair densities. Always figured either you were or weren’t. Don’t wanna 100% yeet all my fur but I would love to just maintain a slight beard stubble without having to shave.
I don’t know why my TH-cam recommended your videos but... I’m watching them all and your strength and positivity are just amazing! You are a great inspiration! Thanks for sharing your journey! ... and your Cakes cat 💙
I have a connective tissue disorder so I ended up needing my entire spine/skull fused and my lower leg. I swear still everyday I realize I can’t do something anymore that I would just never have even thought of. I wish I could remember the last time I twisted to look out the window or looked at my plate as I ate. Last night was a sobering one... Taco Night... 😂
Oh man, I love that you found the humor in it. And I'm picturing you still holding a taco up, having to hold it sideways and everything falling out, but you do it anyway 😂
Woah you’ve been on TH-cam for a couple years. Glad the algorithm brought you to my way! I’m not an amputee but I’ve learned so much from your channel. Appreciate ya lady!
My dad also had an amputation. But he uses Nair to remove the hairs.( maybe that's an option) You have to be careful , it can cause irritations. Love you're video btw😊
Hi Jo! I am glad I found your channel through recommendations! C: My family largely consists of orthopedics (me excluded, I was only part of customer service xD) but talking about life experiences with patients was always something I enjoyed a LOT! I got somewhat derpy happy when I saw how pretty your leg was made and that I still recognized so many parts of it, including your Össur Iceross base liner! >U < The thing that surprised me most was how long your liners were and that you were using a double sheath too, especially with an under-knee surgery done. This is my first video, but I can tell you are an active, lively and strong woman. Also I totally get your irritation with the broken symmetry and the not shaving = odd femininity. I would probably try waxing my legs or use laser treatment to reduce hair growth permanently on my leg. It's absolutely valid though to just let it grow. Some hair shouldn't define if a woman is feminine or not. (post-mastectomy patients heard the same thing from me) You look fantastic and so does your cute cat! What a fluff ball! ;D Hope you have a wonderful day! Thanks for the insight in your life!
Unfortunately both of those alternatives wouldn’t work either. Waxing also causes micro abrasions and significant risk of ingrown hairs when the hair is regrowing-so again, same risk of bacteria building up and getting infected. And laser hair removal isn’t much better. 1) “hair removal” it is a misnomer. It doesn’t “remove” hair at all. It just makes thinner, lighter hair grow back 2) it can damage the skin and make the skin thin-not idea for something with lots of friction and sweaty like her stump inside the prosthetics. Also, when it is done-it can damage the skin and she’d be unable to wear her prosthetic for a while when it is healing. It isn’t worth the risk of getting her limb infected-and having it need to get amputated even further.
I’m glad I got distracted watching your stories because now I’m subscribed. You are just so cool and funny. I’m not disabled, but I do have huge dip in my neck where the doctors didn’t take care of my tracheotomy site. And my grandma would always ask if I wanted to have her make me something to cover it up. I would always tell her no. I don’t want to cover up something that is apart of me now. It’s who I am. Of course our situations DO NOT compare.
I would have never thought about not shaving if I was wearing a prosthetic, but makes total sense. It would be weird for me not to shave, I think, but it would be nice for less to shave. Lol.
Hi Jo! I just Had to drop a line to Thank You for being the phenomenally courageous, informative, and attractive, Woman You are. I'm a combat Vietnam Vet and I have two Buds that lost a lower limb in 'Nam. We get together periodically at the VA hospital. Yet, I'd never had realized some of the problems they may be experiencing if I had not been made aware them by Your highly informative videos. Again, You have my heartfelt Thank You for helping me, and others, better understand this sensitive subject. God bless You and Yours.
I have been thinking about amputation of my foot for pain reasons, and my daughter turned me on to your channel. Hadn't thought about shaving, not an issue I don't do it much anyway. What it did make me think about was the skin irritation. I get a rash from my boot and in just about all of the casts I have been in. Do they have more breathable options? Also, how far up does your sleve go, and why? Thanks for sharing 👍
Do you know the reason for your foot pain? Depending on the reason, treating foot pain focusing on neural pathways instead of trying to fix a structural disorder might help you
I just stumbled upon your channel and this particular video, and I feel like you have some sort of charisma. I also just became a subscriber because i wanna see more of you. You seem a honest and cheerful to heart person. Your passion for life is amazing and that's something I wholeheartedly hope that more people had. Keep on being awesome :)
Thank you so much! I was in a severe motorcycle crash in 2007. Due to poor decisions made on my behalf whilst in a coma, they chose Not to amputate and subsequently had to endure several "Reconstructive" surgeries. To say the least, they bungled it. Every orthopaedic specialist I've seen since has been shocked that my left leg was not amputated. During the series of botched bone grafts they took a chunk of my calf muscle and stuffed in what was left of my foot. There have been a multitude of negative knock on affects as a result of the botched surgeries such as sciatica and multiple ruptured and herniated disks (my entire lumbar is FUBAR) requireing two back surgeries and annual epidural steroid injections. The orthopaedic surgeon responsible lost his license to practice, so at least he won't be damning anyone else to living in chronic pain. I have been told there is no hill I won't die on. In short, I'm stubborn. They told me I'd be in a wheelchair. I showed up to my next appointment on crutches. I was then told I'd never walk again without crutches. I showed up to my next appointment with only a cane. They said I'd have to lead a sedentary life. I became a ranch manager, community organizer, and festival coordinator. Being disabled and learning to cope with limitations, and push past them, I greatly appreciate you sharing your journey. I have only recently discovered your channel and am extremely glad that I have. I got a bit off track. My partner, whom also has limited mobility, stopped shaving their legs a good while ago. At first they were concerned how I felt about it. When I realized this was the case I simply said "I have hairy legs. I'd be a massive hypocrite if I got upset at you for not shaving off all your body hair" Again. Thank you so much. Being forced to be sedentary during the pandemic has been extremely rough. My spoon count is greatly diminished as a result and I've been struggling to get active again. Words fail to adequately express how much your channel means to me.
Not shaving - something that would never have crossed my mind. And muscle wrapped around the bone for padding - never thought of that either. And the end of the leg is quite squishy. So much I don't know about being an amputee - but I am learning thanks to FJ the educator.
This video made me slightly emotional. In 2015/2016, I had a routine surgery on my left leg for a bone condition that I have. With the way that my body is, this quickly resulted in Compartment Syndrome (can quickly become life threatening, so most cases, they just amputate the limb that is affected). I am so lucky to have the doctors that I do, because they were able to save my leg. I wasn’t fully aware of the situation, but I have moments where I wonder what life would look like, without that leg. I never realized about the shaving thing. You’re totally right, it’s the little things that make things like that seem the most real.
I never really thought about that. But I absolutely hate shaving, so less area would be awesome. But I could see how having to stop doing something that you do like, or makes you feel good in any way is a big blow. Thank you for sharing a peek into your life. As a society I wish being open and honest was less taboo.
I was initially going to suggest waiting for a full day to putting your leg back on after shaving but I didn't think about the ingrown hairs. I work at a facility that works with amputees from time to time so this was super helpful and made me think of a lot of self care they need to consider. Glad I stumbled on your channel today ♡ Sub+
I thought of moving away entirely from suction as an attachment aid, in favor of a bespoke, 3D-printed micromesh. A 3D scanner would capture the precise measurements of the leg attachment surface, an algorithm would modify the vertices of that mesh to accommodate the slight compression necessary to maintain sufficient attachment pressure (not suction, just compression against the attachment surface), and the mesh would itself be 3D, such that multiple layers were separated by vertical trusses attaching between them, effectively holding them a millimeter or two apart. Enough of them together could offer a bit of additional structural support like your current compression fabric does. This would allow ambient air to at least be exposed to the skin that is part of the attachment surface. A more sophisticated solution would be to cover the mesh with a micro-thin polyester and fit a tiny, hearing-aid-battery-powered micropump to force air through the bottom of the mesh to circulate inside and then exhaust the heated air through vents just below the top seam of the mesh. Also, if it would not be impertinent, what is the difference in your weight pre- and post-amputation, such that this difference is attributed to the imbalance between your intact leg and your prosthetic-mounted leg?
Wow footless Jo,,3 days ago I have had the very same amputation (right leg bellow the knee) l will be honest my head was up my arse with worry. After seeing how you have been copping with your situation,I have come to the conclusion I am in a state to deal with this one my self now , if a beautiful young woman as your self can cope with the varring changes you have made.i am now sat in hospital wanting to start the rehab.have had to put something in writing to thank you for the easy way you describe the things you are having to deal with. Thank footless AL....
I never knew this, it makes since though after you explained why. I think it's amazing that you are doing these videos and helping educate everyone. Also to raise awareness about some of the issues amputies have to face both before and after amputation. I hope you continue to do these videos.
I’m a new subscriber. Thank you for being so open and honest about the additional challenges of being an amputee. I have a dear friend who is facing a leg amputation due to cancer. I will be passing along this video.
That is very interesting and something I never thought about. Thank you for sharing! Also: CAT. I could hear her purring when she was very close to the camera, nice.
I have all my limbs and haven’t shaved in 3 years. It’s a wonderful freeing feeling. And to know my husband is more attracted to me now because of my new found confidence in who I am as a natural woman makes me feel so good.
i have all my limbs and I don't shave either. I don't do it because I love how my skin feels WITH THE HAIR, allergies and sensory issues related to me being autistic and the time compsumtion.
I had full foot and leg reconstruction dec of 2018 where they removed all my bones and replaced them with metal. ( i have rheumatoid disease) I didnt shave for awhile as u can imagine and once i was a bit better, i decided i didnt want to shave anymore at all. And i still dont. 💙 i realized that i only was shaving bc of how others would react bc not shaving didnt bother me at all. I only worried about it when i left the house to the doc or went swimming etc. So i made the choice to stop to see if its really something i wanted myself. And i was fine. 😊 and i havent since. Its a personal choice but it never really occured to me that it WAS a choice. Ya know? I think its great to really choose on your own. It was a really welcome side effect of the surgery 😊 love your videos so much.
I've been enjoying your videos, popping around here and there to watch random bits. I have to say your bedroom feels like it's the calmest most peaceful quiet fluffiest coolest place to be. I didn't think that a gray-painted bedroom would feel that full of light and that soothing.
I find you very inspiring. I have 3 different autoimmune disorders which affect my joints, soft tissues, and nerves. It's a completely different thing, but I know that feeling of being told that suddenly certain things are not allowed for you anymore. Or certain things are your life now, whether you want it or not. It sucks and it's not fair and it's hard to just be like okso let's go with this all the time. You have a really healthy outlook on your amputation and it is awesome that you will share your story. As a side note...isn't it annoying that you're supposed to be "inspiring " all the time? That's one of the things that I just flipping hate sometimes about being sick. Every time I do something I also gotta "inspire" somebody too. It's exhausting.
![Finally Telling the REAL Story: The Lawsuit Over My Amputation [CC]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/xNTBF2JTx7U/mqdefault.jpg)
![Finally Telling the REAL Story: The Lawsuit Over My Amputation [CC]](/img/tr.png)
![Walking into a hospital & leaving as an amputee: my amputation story [CC]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/x9EEbrs4oWc/mqdefault.jpg)
Cakes was trying to show you that she doesn't shave her legs either (she's so supportive)
Omg that is so perfect! I love that thought
@@samhalfpenny5096 (blushes)Thank you 😊
Apples
@@UKnowMeIMURDaddy I like trains?
Wholesome af :D
New tip for ya: My wife splits the seam of my jeans and puts in a zipper so i can remove my leg in public and not have to drop my trowsers. Helps tremendously to be able to give my stump a breather.
Interesting
wow so helpfull
That’s such a creative solution! Smart lady.
She is definitely a keeper!
That makes so much sense!
I was surprised when you said that the back of your leg was the hairiest part. My legs are most hairiest just above my ankle all around my leg with little to no hair at the back of my calf. People are all different in every kind of ways possible and still it's the smallest things that make you realise how true that really is.
😅my legs are hairy around the knees lol!! I have foot drop or drop foot and had a tendon transfer where they rearranged the L to R tendon to move up and down and hair barely grows on that leg
I have a strip of dark grass along the outsides of the front of my calf, a moderate amount on the front lining my shin bone, hardly any on the inside, a little bit just above my ankle in the back, and invisible peach fuzz covering the back. 1/3 of my leg is a field and 1/3 is barren. From my knees up is all peach fuzz. Until you get to my armpits.
I thought it was the same for everyone. I heard someone say they thought you were only supposed to shave the back of your legs and I have been so confused ever since. I just learned that hair patterns are not all the same
My knees the front are hariest. I don't heal well so I use tweezers instead of shaving
That surprised me too! Same thing for me, hairy legs, but very little at the back of my calf
Yeah, the front of my calf is also the hairiest part of the leg for me, as well as the bottom back part of my calf, right below the muscle, everything else barely grows any hairs, even after years of not shaving I can't get anything to grow anywhere else
As a retired surgical technologist, I've seen lots of amputations, and yours was done very well, with an excellent outcome.
Unfortunately, she had two. The first one was fine surgically, but she had a serious fall a few weeks afterward (and sued a restaurant for having a greasy floor and no signs… the settlement was better than nothing, but not a fully favorable outcome). So there eventually had to be a second amputation due to that fall.
She has a separate video talking about that now that any NDAs surrounding the claim have expired. The American legal system is such a joke. Definitely recommend the video, though.
I never write youtube comments, but this video made me very emotional. When I was 14 I was in an accident and the doctors told me they would have to amputate my leg in the exact same spot as yours. I was a ballet dancer and that was devastating. My mom called every single doctor she could find and finally one of them came to the hospital and saved my leg. I sometimes forget how lucky I am. You're such a beautiful person. I really appreciate how open you are about your story.
Wow! What a great story! I'm glad that he could save your leg
That was a really good story hope you are feeling better then ever ❤️you are such an inspiration to others that have had amputation and that is awesome that he could save your leg and hope you're having a great life you are such an amazing wonderful kind awesome person from what i think if i ever met you it would be like ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Good man props
I am so happy you got to keep your leg!
I don't think she even realizes how awesome she is
the mic picked up some of the purrs. I'm dead. she's so cute.
ISN'T SHE THE BEST FLUFF EVER!? 🐈
Footless Jo she iiiis ! My heart is so full right now !
I heard it! So relaxing.
Not fat, that's just how Norwegian Forest Cats (or Siberian, not sure which Cake is) are built and how they look different than most other cat breeds - kinda like a bulldog vs a grayhound.
And her name is cakes 😭😭😭
Being disabled is hard….I’m blind and don’t know why people don’t want to support me(just love me unconditionally)
So in my opinion we need this channel to feel like there are other people out there who can understand what I am (we) are going through…..so thankful for your channel! I lost everything when I went blind….my wife died and now I am all alone and I struggle just to live a decent life….this channel gives me hope so thanks again for this share.
You should check out Molly Burke!
How did you type this comment then? OH- maybe you have a special device?? Edit 3 months later: I just wanna make sure you guys know that the special device thing wasn’t sarcastic or me mocking anyone, I had never looked into extended ability phones so I genuinely thought they were using a special device, sorry!
@@ElizabethElfgrove i use the voice recorder thank for judging me
@@c.garcia3737 wait I’m confused how did you put the dots and how did you see my reply then? Btw, I technically didn’t judge, I caught myself.
@@ElizabethElfgrove smartphones have accessibility options for those with vision impairments or are blind. You are able to move your finger across the screen of the phone, but it will audibly tell the person what is on the screen. And of course I’m sure that after some time, even positions on the buttons will be memorized without the audible part. I suggest watching Molly Burke on TH-cam demonstrate this. In a Minute, i may look for a video and link it in a second comment.
I can kind of relate to this, I became diabetic at a young age and one of the risks of that is poor healing and increased infection risk, especially on the lower extremities. Never really had any issues before but I recently nicked above my ankle shaving, the most superficial wound and it’s taken me 6 weeks to get to the scarring stage. Haven’t shaved since, doesn’t seem worth it.
have you considered depilatory creams?
There’s always waxing… professionally. The sanitary requirements are mandated by the state you live in and treatment for follow up.
@@insignificantopinions3210 THIS. I have never shaved in my life, I’ve only ever used depilatory creams. They work amazingly well, never gave me ingrowns, and it lasts far longer than shaving (about 2-3 weeks before I shave again). My legs are much smoother too.
@@kpopgirl1992 Huh. This makes me want to try it. Is there a particular brand or process you recommend?
@@mindianaj0nes I use Veet! It's the best brand out there. There's another Japanese brand I use but I can't remember it atm. The process is the same no matter the brand - apply it on generously (make sure all the hair is coated), wait 3-6 minutes (depending on what the brand recommends - read the instructions!), scrape it off with the plastic spatula that comes with the product, and then rinse it off with warm water. However, depilatory creams only work when the leg hair is fairly long, so it will require you to grow out the leg hair you do have before you use it. but I promise it's worth it! You won't need to shave for another 2-3 weeks.
TL;DR:
That rubber condom that holds prosthesis to her leg is very good environment for bacteria, so having any micro wounds after shaving can go very bad.
that’s another way condoms give protection I guess
Thank you
@@whatocallmyself5614 not in that case she had a small cut/abrasion. It wouldn't protect her. 👾
That’s what she said though why did you write this comment? We aren’t stupid 😑
@@MsTinkerbelle87 i mean i get that the point is to watch the whole video and learn, but they’re just summing it up in case anyone can’t actually finish the video 😂
Back of my mind: why is this in my recommend.
Part of the brain that likes to learn: I don't care that I don't need to know this, it's still informational.
curiosity
Sammmmmeeeee
Me
Informative?
*the future looks bleak*
I’m not an amputee so this is going to sound odd. I’ve had very little body hair my entire life so I always felt embarrassed bc I shaved my legs, etc. once or twice a year. When I had both knees replaced the doctor told me not to shave my legs before the procedure. At first I was puzzled but too embarrassed to ask why. Now I know why. Ty for being so amazingly honest. ❤️ p.s. that was 5 yrs ago. 🤣
Im not very hairy either. I go weeks or months without shaving my legs. I do however has a bit of fine hair on the top of my feet. I wear socks at all times. If i don't shave that hair it starts to hurt.
I'm jealous, I'm super hairy 😂
You were too embarrassed to ask your doctor a medical question when you had your knees replaced? 🙄 What's wrong with you? Were you dropped on your head or are you just THAT shallow? 🤦♀️🤮
@@YouDontKnowAsMuchAsYouThinkUDo Hey, maybe this person had their reasons to feel uncomfortable asking questions. Maybe the doctoe was a jerk, or maybe they were just announced that they needed to get their knees replaced and were not thinking straight. We don't know, so no need to be rude...
@@YouDontKnowAsMuchAsYouThinkUDo don’t be rude, maybe they had a reason like they were uncomfortable to ask
You’re doing an amazing job at explaining, demystifying and just generally showing us the reality of your life as a person sans limb. Total respect.
Title: why i can never shave my leg again
Me: is it because it isnt there??
This made me laugh so hard. :)
holy crap! i read the intro to that and then bursted out in laughter just imagining you sitting there confused with that conundrum!
Huge thanks for making my evening a bit better :D
I'm dead lol
This is the funniest comment I’ve seen today
not funny
nobody:
youtube algorithm: amputees can‘t shave their legs!
That's literally how I ended up here and I have no idea why I watched the whole thing. But at least I learned something new today lol
Exactly the same thing. I watched it because of curiosity but first time I've seen an amputee video. I always talk to people who have had this happened.
I was watching a lot of cat rescue videos... Maybe that's the link?
It's because they don't have a leg to shave
I've been watching a lot of Sims 4 building and VanossGaming Uno videos. How is that a link? xD
I love your videos. My mother became an amputee in 2008 and she passed in 2016. It was due to diabetic complications and I'm also diabetic. Mom was 62 when she passed and I'm now 47 and the fact that I may, at some point, become an amputee, I find your videos very informative. My mother didn't shave often, but when it began to really bother her, she would. She did have a prosthetic, but she rarely wore it as it was very painful. When she was being fitted for the prosthetic, it was discovered that her leg, amputated like yours at just below the knee, was done wrong. There are 2 bones in that area of the leg and one gets cut a little shorter than the other. Her bones were severed wrong. The wrong bone was left too long while the other was cut shorter and so wearing her leg was extremely painful.
My dad lost his arm, just below the elbow, I remember his arm that the prosthetics would attach to, was always hairless. He lost it when I was very young so I always remember him with his prosthetic.
Thank you for your videos and taking some of the taboo away from amputees. ❤️
I just found you yesterday. I am a grandma, and I think you are so brave. I enjoy learning about medical procedures. I had no idea about the shaving issues. Thank you for helping make things easier for others. You are precious and so is Brian.
Cakes has a fine running motor. 10/10 cat.
Indeed. Purring helps with everything, even Videos. ^^
❤️❤️🐈
As a retired doctor here are a few options I have seen for hair removal. 1) waxing 2) suggaring 3)laser hair removal 4) depilatory creams . I like the suggaring. If you do it regularly, your hair follicles adapt and the hairs get easier to pull out. You don't really have to shave it anyway. Decide what you like not what someone else wants.
I don't know if shaving your leg will make it feel hotter in the prosthesis. I usually cut my hair short, 1/2 inch. Once I decided to shave my head, thinking it would feel cooler. Surprise, it actually made my head feel hot. I think the short hair wicked some of the sweat up, but without it, it just sat on my skin and felt hot.
I love how open and positive you are about your story
It’s makes so much sense why you shouldn’t shave but I never would’ve thought about that before
Shaving skin also leaves micro cuts that you can’t see. They warned me not to shave a spot before applying a Fentanyl patch for that reason.
No one told me that, that’s not good I had no idea. Thank you
Damn bro, you getting lit lit✊✊
Makes sense. I'm having to use a pain relief patch at the moment and the areas the leaflet said are ok to place it are all away from areas people often shave.
That sounds like a reason to shave the side of the fentanyl patch
It's stupid to remove hair in general just for asthetics. The cost, time, and pain, and health hazards? It's like smoking tobacco but for the skin. #raisethehairremovaltax #freepadsandtamponsinstead.
I really appreciate your videos. I am a newer amputee and still learning the ins and outs of prosthetics.
I love watching you. Your sense of humor and courage is absolutely refreshing. Thank you for all of your videos.
Petition for Cakes to appear in every video. thanks. 😉😻
I have approved your petition and Cakes is considering your request. 😉🐈
@@FootlessJo >>> You saved me the trouble of saying, _"SECOND!"_ 😊
Cat tax!
@@brrjohnson8131 >>> _"Cat tax"?_
02:11 Cake is showing that none of her body is shaved :D
Your videos are so fascinating! I would have never thought about not being able to shave my leg. But the explanation makes complete sense!
I had no clue, now I´m educated about the dangers of shaving amputated limbs .
Thanks Jo, for being cool and telling us about the medical technicalities of amputations !
This lady is golden!! So open,informative,and has a great spirit about her.
Huh, I never realised that this was a thing, but it makes a lot of sense when I think about it.
Also the purrs that the mic picked up killed me with the cuteness!! 😍
That flaaaaaaaaag. Hi.
I'm in love with Cakes. What was this video about again? I saw only a pile of beautiful orange fur. Ironic because it's supposed to be about shaving...
Really appretiate that you're willing to share your story. It really helps people understand what you're going through and thus also what other people are going through. Some people might not feel comfortable talking about it even when asked
I love how passionate you are in doing what you’re doing. Your sense of humor and the way you talk is also very entertaining. All the best wishes:)
I didn't see any hair.... I'm clearly a gorilla 😂
Chatty Yaz i think she’s blonde, so the hairs are blonde and not really visible from far away (sometimes they shine in the sun like glitter, its weird)
If my legs looked as good as that I'd go around hairy a lot more often lol. Sadly my hairs are black, thick and stick straight out lol
I'm not okay bro i’m blonde and my hairs are DARK and THICK like wth
Me too. My hair is so black 😭
"I can't shave my legs anymore" -> Has legs with nearly invisible hair....
Wow I learned something today. Once you explained why it makes a lot of sense. Despite not being on top of shaving my own legs all the time feel like it would be weird to have the choice removed. Thank you so much for sharing this and I wish you the best of luck and the best of happiness in your life.
You shine so much light into places of which the rest of us are clueless.
I was drinking from a water bottle and I nearly spit it out laughing at the exact moment you talking about hairy leg and about to show it, and a very hairy cat totally stole the spotlight. I'm sure a metaphor is in there somewhere ... in all seriousness, thanks for sharing your story and its such an inspiration with all your positive energy. I believe attitude is everything. I love to see your updates.
Out of interest, if amputees wanted to, can they be allowed to have laser hair removal (maybe with limited prosthetic wear in the following few days)? Is that considered a safe option with a prosthetic?
Or what about electric shavers which can't cut the skin?
Or the more expensive option compared to lazer hair removal: Electrolysis?
@@violetheise4717 this can still cause ingrown hairs in the long run
@@violetheise4717 Saying this as someone who has very delicate skin due to a medical condition, electric razors can still cut your skin
As a LBK i will say it works. Night and day difference in the health of my residual
The way you address us in the beginning of your videos feels so genuine and real and it makes me feel good about myself, thank you
I LOVE how open you are. I have learned soooo much watching you
Okay I've been an amputee for 12 years and most of that time I've been in a wheelchair due to chronic wound issues. But I'm getting ready to start PT and getting casted for a prosthetic and this is super helpful! I didn't even consider this but the that will probably save me from wounds in the future tysm for pointing it out ❤
It's been a year.
Here's hoping you're PT went well.
When you touch the relocated calf muscle, does it still feel like you're touching the back of your leg?
I have a friend who is an amputee and he says that's exactly how it feels!
I have a friend who is an amputee and he says that's exactly how it feels!
@@opalescentrosesb.w.3774 😳 What a mindf*ck! Cool, though! 😊👍🏻
I don’t feel that, but everyone’s different. I will feel my foot is wet sometimes when I shower
I had to feel the back of my leg to remember what it felt like compared to the front
I just saw you in a commercial! Glad your blowing up. People learn a lot from this and thats rad
CAKESSSSS I LOVE YOUUUUUU!!! 🍊🐈🧡
On a real note though it’s rare for a female cat to be all orange. It’s because the color expressing gene for orange is on the X chromosome. Since Males only have one X they are much more likely to be orange. Where as a female needs two X’s with the orange expression.
So now you know a little fact about cute orange kitties! :D
Also another fun fact about cats; only female cats can have the calico coloring. Male cats that are born with the calico coloring (which never really happens) do not live.
Your personality, confidence giving me hope for tomorrow 💓💓💓💓💓
Aw goodness...what an incredibly kind thing to read! Thank you so much! 💜
I love you so much, my friend is going to get her leg amputated because her knee is screwed up beyond repair and I plan on showing her your channel
If you don’t mind me asking, is knee replacement not an option? I wonder because my friend had cancer and had to amputate her leg and get a knee replacement in the other due to the cancer. Just curious is all :)
justaperson Well, her knee could be replaced, if there weren’t another issue. Her the bone right below her knee is incredibly screwed up as well. The best option for her is amputation right above the knee.
Bella P oh I’m so sorry to hear that I hope your friend well. She must be very scared sense an above the knee amputation is really more intense than below the knee. It’s a longer recovery time. But I hope her the best
justaperson she’s really optimistic and I’m actually going to be moving in with her to help her recover
Bella P that’s great
I had no idea about this but it is fascinating to learn, and in my experience it is the small things that have the biggest effect. I had cancer and my body getting weak from the chemo was far from the biggest thing to bother me, rather it was my hair falling out. I Broke down several times watching my hair pull away in a gust of wind, from me brushing ect. The big things I just sort of shrugged off and said well that sucks.
Hey man, just want to say I hope you're okay now!
Just wanted to let you know after reading your comment.
Wish you the best
@@mvv700 I am. Everyone was shocked how well I took it as instead of reacting with horror or anything my first response was "shit I'm going to lose my hair." I also used it for dark humor. the worst part is it was a thousand small frustrations rather than a few big ones.
One of my favorite jobs was as a prosthetic tech (the unseen gnome in the back who actually makes the limbs). Pay was crap, conditions less than healthy (lots of very harmful chemicals), but it was the most rewarding job I've ever had. I say that because there were posters all over the lab and patient area (why they were in the lab I have no idea, no patients back there) and half of the posters were PSA's saying "Keep the Stump Clean!". The risk of infection is serious. As you know there is a lot to learn as a new amputee and missing a few tips is easy to do. Shaving is also a 'normalizing' behavior and something that might be done just to try to reclaim a bit of agency and familiarity. Choosing not to shave is wise Jo, thank you for making this video. It might just save the life of a new amputee who didn't get the memo on shaving.
As a partial foot amputee I found this very interesting and informative. I did not know about the calf muscle being wrapped around the bone like that. I have several places that have skin over bone with no padding whatsoever, the bottom of a half toe for example, and it is excruciating. I had always assumed that leg amputees all had to deal with that same issue. I’m curious how that feels when you put your weight on it. Is it similar to other parts of your body that have muscle to cushion the bones, like the buttocks?
That sounds to me like your doctor malpractices. Straight bone with only a thin layer of skin covering it is NOT how any part of the human body that bears weight is designed to be.
I bet you could get a surgery to fix that. They’d probably have to remove that toe (since it’s too late to put any fresh muscle over it) but that sounds more comfortable in some ways.
I figure hands and feet are probably problematic in that aspect for amputations, they generally don't have a lot of meat to begin with so there isn't much to wrap around anything other than the skin itself.
@@SolidChristianTeachings Well, the lawnmower didn’t leave much for him to work with, and he actually did really well with what he had. Not malpractice at all.
@@benjaminoverholt8056 Now I have more questions lol.
@@ZomBunny this. There's only so much flesh to work with, and he said the issue started with a lawnmower so the surgeon was probably working with limited options.
In the hands it's probably not that big of an issue as you can just avoid impacting/using the affected area. The foot however, you have to use a lot even when you try to avoid using it. So it's a recipe for a long drawn out and painful healing process until the body fully heals/scars and adapts to the amputation. That's not even considering nerve damage which really can't be helped under some circumstances.
One thing about it, your voice box wasn't effected because are full of information a very fast pace. I'm glad that you are satisfied with your amputation and your prosthesis. You seem to be such a happy lady. Keep up that good spirit. It comes in handy all the time. Best of luck Jo, if that's your name.
YOUR attitude and positivity is magical
I love how frank you are. My father had a below the knee amputation and I've never felt uncomfortable talking about this. (I had joint surgery 3 times on the same joint and was ready for an amputation. Lots of pain during recovery - going on 2 years now and still have pain some time. I've become a compulsive walker to keep the circulation going.)
After spending weeks holding ice to my head at work and not sleeping, I finally caved and saw a Dr about my neck pain. With chronic illness, it seems like as soon as I tell a Dr somethings wrong it turns out to be nothing, so I've learned to just wait it out. Welp, turns out I have spinal degeneration along with a neck sprain. Sometimes it seems like right when you get used to the "program" the rules change. Love this community of people who get it.
Hi! I’m a relatively new below the knee amputee on the left side, but I was never warned of this. Obviously, I get why it’s a bad idea, (because complications) but still I find it weird that I wasn’t given that bit of info. Granted, I rarely shave anyway, because I have very fair, fine hair on my legs. But still a good point of advice. It’s one of those things about being an amputee that you don’t really think about until it’s in your face. But, such is life!
I am a right leg below the knee amputee as well. I feel your pain. I just prescribed to your channel. Thanks for putting yourself out there and making these videos.
Im a double below the knee amputee. I'm an old biker so I never thought about shaving my legs. You are correct the liner does wear the hair off of the area. My legs have been amputated for over ten years now. I still build and ride motorcycles. you are so correct about being careful with your stubs it is easy to get them infected and its a real bear to get them to heal. I wish you the best. Keep the positive attitude
do you still ride bikes with prosthetic legs? or is it too dangerous now?
@@larsswig912 I still ride my chopper motorcycle to shift I heal shift. I grew up riding motorcycles so I never gave up my love of riding.
@@joellekarma that's awesome! I'm still learning how to ride one lol.
I love people 100x more when they say "I couldn't care less' it drives me bonkers when people say "I could care less" if you could care less that totally negates what you are saying (I grew up with a mom that studied English, and always corrected our speaking)
HAHAHAHAHA! My mother harped on "I could care less" her entire life. Also when people mispronounced "lingerie" (she was a French major) and also when people would say you can get [whatever] "for free" -- instead of just plain "free". She was right of course, but it got really old!
@@epona9166 reminds me of how my dad sometimes harps on how the express checkout lines are labeled "10 items or less" instead of "10 items or fewer". 'less' might be grammatically wrong, but it saves 1 letter in writing and 1 syllable in speech, so in a way it actually fits better with the idea of an express lane, not that my dad would ever accept that logic.
Very interesting. I had no idea. I quit shaving my legs seven years ago, after an extreme health crisis. I was so glad to be alive that things like shaved legs were just not so important any more. The health crisis I went through also changed hair growth patterns all over...from head to toe. My legs just stopped growing very much hair at all. Other hair things happened but we won't go into that. Like you said, less time to get ready for the day! That's a plus.
I haven't known anyone who has had an amputation and I wanted to become more familiar with experiences that I have never had. Also, it helps me become more comfortable with the issue, so that when I come across amputees while I am out in the world, I hope that seeing it as a normal thing, will make it easier for me not to stare and become less awkward. If I had an amputation, I don't think that I would want to be defined by it and want to be able to show that respect for people who are different from me. I have had terrible things happen to me. I also have some disabilities and my mind is Neuro divergent. I don't want to be seen as a tragedy and I don't want to treat other people that way. I look forward to watching more videos from your channel so that I can educate myself 💚
thank you for being so open about your life/procedures I feel great about your upbeat attitude please be well and keep it up!
wow, my first thought was like: okay there wouldn't be enough suction anymore but i never thought about the "moist biome"
I was also told by my doctor not to shave my legs!! my skin’s too thin, my ingrown infections were pretty bad, lupus is fun etc etc. i honestly did NOT look back because it saved so much time, but i was worried that I’d lose the more traditional feminine aesthetic, like you said. Turns out my leg hair is pretty thin and light and virtually unnoticeable from a normal distance. I’m seeing that being feminine is totally possible even with leg hair. It’s been a far easier road than i thought 🥰 I’m curious about others’ experiences!
I'm a non-amputee that don't shave my legs. I am however a former synchro swimmer and it turns out that you need some leg hair to be able to feel where the surface of the water touches your legs. So after a while I stopped bother to shave my legs in special ways to still feel the water and then just stopped shaving them at all and never started again after I stopped swimming. I have light and thin hairs and they are not seen if you don't look closely. I save a tremendous amount of time and still feel feminine even though that's not so important to me.. :)
I have dark, spiky hair .they say it doesn’t get spiky if you shave but my never shaved teenage leg had very soft hair. Mine is visible from only a few feet away. I’ll super jealous of blond haired people lol
I mean if you think about it women all naturally have leg hair, so it can't possibly be unfeminine if that's what women actually look like without modification! My mom never shaved her legs until she moved to Canada because it just wasn't a thing women did where she grew up. It's amazing how deeply we learn the cultural things around us though. Because even though I think this, I'm used to seeing women with little or no leg hair so now that's what feels normal to me too.
junbh2 your first sentence is gold and i will be using this line in the future 🥰 thank you for sharing your experience 💜
I have lupus too! And no friends with lupus. =/
I didn't know a thing about the issues which amputees have to face. Thank you for talking so openly. This lifts taboos from topics, that are quite normal and shouldn't be a taboo at all. 👍
I think it's amazing that you'll share about your experiences like this. Who knows how many people you may have helped. 💖
I am legally blind
Due to that my husband shaves my legs now
At first it was very strange
Now 8 years in
It’s like we got this
"Hey babe, would you shave my legs?"
"Is, is that a sex thing?"
"NO! I'M BLIND!"
"Right, of course, sure. Let's, uh, let's go do that then."
But you can literally feel the hair on your legs, I can't see my leg hairs, my sight is bad enough, I just feel for where they are and run the razor over where I feel them. Easy peasy.
I tried to do mine once.
Cut myself
So never again
Hubby happy to
This is so sweet!!
Does he also shave your beaver, your snatch, your snappy nappy dug out?
I just love how your leg is way less hairy than mine and I have absolutely no reason to not be shaving other than. I feel like it is pointless because my hair grows back so fast. Also, the front of my legs (both calf and thigh) are WAY hairier than the back and I thought that was how it was for everyone. Interesting.
Same! I think it’s actually the front that’s more hairy then the back, commonly.
I don’t shave my legs either. If I had the option of having it magically gone forever, or leave it, I would pick gone. But shaving? Nope, too much of a hassle XD And I’m not blond, so it’s pretty visible. But I still wear shorts and skirts. It’s just something ‘everyone does’, which does sort of give me a good feeling that I’m going against the mainstream(? Not native English speaker, does this make sense ^.^” ), because why do what everyone does? I’m me.
Well personally i dont care if female's shave or not. No matter what areas.
But it is nice with atleast shorter hair at the erotic zone i admit. Less chance of hair in the mouth is nice lol :)
Yup its not legs i know. I shall move myself to my corner of shame
Same, I’d never even thought that some people would have different hair densities. Always figured either you were or weren’t. Don’t wanna 100% yeet all my fur but I would love to just maintain a slight beard stubble without having to shave.
Only strippers shave above the knee, it's too much work honestly, you ever tried to shave your legs in the shower?
I’ve been in the disability community most of my life, but this conversation has never turned up. Thanks!
I swear ever since I started clicking on things I initially say no to, I’ve been learning so much. Love this
I don’t know why my TH-cam recommended your videos but... I’m watching them all and your strength and positivity are just amazing! You are a great inspiration! Thanks for sharing your journey! ... and your Cakes cat 💙
I have a connective tissue disorder so I ended up needing my entire spine/skull fused and my lower leg. I swear still everyday I realize I can’t do something anymore that I would just never have even thought of. I wish I could remember the last time I twisted to look out the window or looked at my plate as I ate. Last night was a sobering one... Taco Night... 😂
Only one leg?
Oh man, I love that you found the humor in it. And I'm picturing you still holding a taco up, having to hold it sideways and everything falling out, but you do it anyway 😂
Taco night! Oh noooo!
Sending good wishes!!!
Woah you’ve been on TH-cam for a couple years. Glad the algorithm brought you to my way! I’m not an amputee but I’ve learned so much from your channel. Appreciate ya lady!
I admire the fact that you have kept your positive and bubbly personality!
My dad also had an amputation.
But he uses Nair to remove the hairs.( maybe that's an option)
You have to be careful , it can cause irritations.
Love you're video btw😊
Hi Jo! I am glad I found your channel through recommendations! C:
My family largely consists of orthopedics (me excluded, I was only part of customer service xD) but talking about life experiences with patients was always something I enjoyed a LOT!
I got somewhat derpy happy when I saw how pretty your leg was made and that I still recognized so many parts of it, including your Össur Iceross base liner! >U < The thing that surprised me most was how long your liners were and that you were using a double sheath too, especially with an under-knee surgery done.
This is my first video, but I can tell you are an active, lively and strong woman. Also I totally get your irritation with the broken symmetry and the not shaving = odd femininity. I would probably try waxing my legs or use laser treatment to reduce hair growth permanently on my leg. It's absolutely valid though to just let it grow. Some hair shouldn't define if a woman is feminine or not. (post-mastectomy patients heard the same thing from me)
You look fantastic and so does your cute cat! What a fluff ball! ;D Hope you have a wonderful day! Thanks for the insight in your life!
Unfortunately both of those alternatives wouldn’t work either. Waxing also causes micro abrasions and significant risk of ingrown hairs when the hair is regrowing-so again, same risk of bacteria building up and getting infected.
And laser hair removal isn’t much better.
1) “hair removal” it is a misnomer. It doesn’t “remove” hair at all. It just makes thinner, lighter hair grow back
2) it can damage the skin and make the skin thin-not idea for something with lots of friction and sweaty like her stump inside the prosthetics. Also, when it is done-it can damage the skin and she’d be unable to wear her prosthetic for a while when it is healing.
It isn’t worth the risk of getting her limb infected-and having it need to get amputated even further.
@@SolidChristianTeachings what about depilatory creams?
Love the cat. You talking and sharing your experience with being a amputee is very interesting.
I’m glad I got distracted watching your stories because now I’m subscribed. You are just so cool and funny. I’m not disabled, but I do have huge dip in my neck where the doctors didn’t take care of my tracheotomy site. And my grandma would always ask if I wanted to have her make me something to cover it up. I would always tell her no. I don’t want to cover up something that is apart of me now. It’s who I am. Of course our situations DO NOT compare.
All I can hear in my headphones:
"Pppuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!!"
Pure cat joy. Cakes loves youuuu!
I would have never thought about not shaving if I was wearing a prosthetic, but makes total sense. It would be weird for me not to shave, I think, but it would be nice for less to shave. Lol.
Hi Jo! I just Had to drop a line to Thank You for being the phenomenally courageous, informative, and attractive, Woman You are. I'm a combat Vietnam Vet and I have two Buds that lost a lower limb in 'Nam. We get together periodically at the VA hospital. Yet, I'd never had realized some of the problems they may be experiencing if I had not been made aware them by Your highly informative videos. Again, You have my heartfelt Thank You for helping me, and others, better understand this sensitive subject. God bless You and Yours.
I love your attitude and approach to how this changed your life. You have such a positive and subtle sense of humor.
Adulting is overrated Jo. I always spill something on my shirt or pants.
gentlebutch this simultaneously gives me hope that I’m not alone and also fear that I actually won’t grow out of my clumsiness 😂
Same. And it’s always water, soda (pop/ cola), or coffee. And very often the more carmel color stuff ends up on my lighter color shirts.
Added to the list!!!
I just pour saracha on my clothes before I leave the house so I don't have to be embarrassed by doing it on accident.
I have been thinking about amputation of my foot for pain reasons, and my daughter turned me on to your channel. Hadn't thought about shaving, not an issue I don't do it much anyway. What it did make me think about was the skin irritation. I get a rash from my boot and in just about all of the casts I have been in. Do they have more breathable options? Also, how far up does your sleve go, and why?
Thanks for sharing 👍
Phantom pain
Do you know the reason for your foot pain? Depending on the reason, treating foot pain focusing on neural pathways instead of trying to fix a structural disorder might help you
I just stumbled upon your channel and this particular video, and I feel like you have some sort of charisma.
I also just became a subscriber because i wanna see more of you. You seem a honest and cheerful to heart person.
Your passion for life is amazing and that's something I wholeheartedly hope that more people had.
Keep on being awesome :)
Thank you so much!
I was in a severe motorcycle crash in 2007. Due to poor decisions made on my behalf whilst in a coma, they chose Not to amputate and subsequently had to endure several "Reconstructive" surgeries. To say the least, they bungled it.
Every orthopaedic specialist I've seen since has been shocked that my left leg was not amputated.
During the series of botched bone grafts they took a chunk of my calf muscle and stuffed in what was left of my foot.
There have been a multitude of negative knock on affects as a result of the botched surgeries such as sciatica and multiple ruptured and herniated disks (my entire lumbar is FUBAR) requireing two back surgeries and annual epidural steroid injections.
The orthopaedic surgeon responsible lost his license to practice, so at least he won't be damning anyone else to living in chronic pain.
I have been told there is no hill I won't die on. In short, I'm stubborn.
They told me I'd be in a wheelchair. I showed up to my next appointment on crutches.
I was then told I'd never walk again without crutches. I showed up to my next appointment with only a cane.
They said I'd have to lead a sedentary life. I became a ranch manager, community organizer, and festival coordinator.
Being disabled and learning to cope with limitations, and push past them, I greatly appreciate you sharing your journey. I have only recently discovered your channel and am extremely glad that I have.
I got a bit off track.
My partner, whom also has limited mobility, stopped shaving their legs a good while ago. At first they were concerned how I felt about it. When I realized this was the case I simply said "I have hairy legs. I'd be a massive hypocrite if I got upset at you for not shaving off all your body hair"
Again. Thank you so much.
Being forced to be sedentary during the pandemic has been extremely rough. My spoon count is greatly diminished as a result and I've been struggling to get active again.
Words fail to adequately express how much your channel means to me.
I love how soft the amputation sight has gotten!
Not shaving - something that would never have crossed my mind. And muscle wrapped around the bone for padding - never thought of that either. And the end of the leg is quite squishy. So much I don't know about being an amputee - but I am learning thanks to FJ the educator.
This video made me slightly emotional. In 2015/2016, I had a routine surgery on my left leg for a bone condition that I have. With the way that my body is, this quickly resulted in Compartment Syndrome (can quickly become life threatening, so most cases, they just amputate the limb that is affected). I am so lucky to have the doctors that I do, because they were able to save my leg. I wasn’t fully aware of the situation, but I have moments where I wonder what life would look like, without that leg. I never realized about the shaving thing. You’re totally right, it’s the little things that make things like that seem the most real.
I never really thought about that. But I absolutely hate shaving, so less area would be awesome. But I could see how having to stop doing something that you do like, or makes you feel good in any way is a big blow.
Thank you for sharing a peek into your life. As a society I wish being open and honest was less taboo.
I was initially going to suggest waiting for a full day to putting your leg back on after shaving but I didn't think about the ingrown hairs. I work at a facility that works with amputees from time to time so this was super helpful and made me think of a lot of self care they need to consider.
Glad I stumbled on your channel today ♡ Sub+
I thought of moving away entirely from suction as an attachment aid, in favor of a bespoke, 3D-printed micromesh. A 3D scanner would capture the precise measurements of the leg attachment surface, an algorithm would modify the vertices of that mesh to accommodate the slight compression necessary to maintain sufficient attachment pressure (not suction, just compression against the attachment surface), and the mesh would itself be 3D, such that multiple layers were separated by vertical trusses attaching between them, effectively holding them a millimeter or two apart. Enough of them together could offer a bit of additional structural support like your current compression fabric does. This would allow ambient air to at least be exposed to the skin that is part of the attachment surface. A more sophisticated solution would be to cover the mesh with a micro-thin polyester and fit a tiny, hearing-aid-battery-powered micropump to force air through the bottom of the mesh to circulate inside and then exhaust the heated air through vents just below the top seam of the mesh. Also, if it would not be impertinent, what is the difference in your weight pre- and post-amputation, such that this difference is attributed to the imbalance between your intact leg and your prosthetic-mounted leg?
Wow footless Jo,,3 days ago I have had the very same amputation (right leg bellow the knee) l will be honest my head was up my arse with worry. After seeing how you have been copping with your situation,I have come to the conclusion I am in a state to deal with this one my self now , if a beautiful young woman as your self can cope with the varring changes you have made.i am now sat in hospital wanting to start the rehab.have had to put something in writing to thank you for the easy way you describe the things you are having to deal with. Thank footless AL....
I never knew this, it makes since though after you explained why. I think it's amazing that you are doing these videos and helping educate everyone. Also to raise awareness about some of the issues amputies have to face both before and after amputation. I hope you continue to do these videos.
Yay early squad again I love how often you are posting. 💗💗
I had no idea, that's so random seemingly but makes sense actually
I’m a new subscriber. Thank you for being so open and honest about the additional challenges of being an amputee. I have a dear friend who is facing a leg amputation due to cancer. I will be passing along this video.
That is very interesting and something I never thought about. Thank you for sharing!
Also: CAT. I could hear her purring when she was very close to the camera, nice.
I have all my limbs and haven’t shaved in 3 years. It’s a wonderful freeing feeling. And to know my husband is more attracted to me now because of my new found confidence in who I am as a natural woman makes me feel so good.
i have all my limbs and I don't shave either. I don't do it because I love how my skin feels WITH THE HAIR, allergies and sensory issues related to me being autistic and the time compsumtion.
I had full foot and leg reconstruction dec of 2018 where they removed all my bones and replaced them with metal. ( i have rheumatoid disease) I didnt shave for awhile as u can imagine and once i was a bit better, i decided i didnt want to shave anymore at all. And i still dont. 💙 i realized that i only was shaving bc of how others would react bc not shaving didnt bother me at all. I only worried about it when i left the house to the doc or went swimming etc. So i made the choice to stop to see if its really something i wanted myself. And i was fine. 😊 and i havent since. Its a personal choice but it never really occured to me that it WAS a choice. Ya know? I think its great to really choose on your own. It was a really welcome side effect of the surgery 😊 love your videos so much.
Me too. I just dont care and I feel better when I dont
I've been enjoying your videos, popping around here and there to watch random bits. I have to say your bedroom feels like it's the calmest most peaceful quiet fluffiest coolest place to be. I didn't think that a gray-painted bedroom would feel that full of light and that soothing.
I find you very inspiring. I have 3 different autoimmune disorders which affect my joints, soft tissues, and nerves. It's a completely different thing, but I know that feeling of being told that suddenly certain things are not allowed for you anymore. Or certain things are your life now, whether you want it or not. It sucks and it's not fair and it's hard to just be like okso let's go with this all the time. You have a really healthy outlook on your amputation and it is awesome that you will share your story.
As a side note...isn't it annoying that you're supposed to be "inspiring " all the time? That's one of the things that I just flipping hate sometimes about being sick. Every time I do something I also gotta "inspire" somebody too. It's exhausting.