[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/12\/eds-story\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/12\/eds-story\/","headline":"Ed’s Story: Double Amputee Conquers Goals and Steps","name":"Ed’s Story: Double Amputee Conquers Goals and Steps","description":"After undergoing a second below-the-knee leg amputation, Ed Carney knew exactly where to go for his therapy \u2014 \u201cback home” to the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute’s inpatient rehab unit at UPMC East. \u201cIt was like going back home to family,” says Ed, age 70. \u201cThey knew me, and I knew them. And I knew they’d get […]","datePublished":"2021-12-29","dateModified":"2023-04-17","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/rehab","name":"UPMC Rehabilitation Institute","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/rehab","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc-rehabilitation-institute\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/GettyImages-1030277448.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/12\/GettyImages-1030277448.jpg","height":325,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/12\/eds-story\/","about":["Health Topics A-Z","Rehabilitation","UPMC Stories"],"wordCount":865,"articleBody":"After undergoing a second below-the-knee leg amputation, Ed Carney knew exactly where to go for his therapy \u2014 \u201cback home” to the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute’s inpatient rehab unit at UPMC East.\u201cIt was like going back home to family,” says Ed, age 70. \u201cThey knew me, and I knew them. And I knew they’d get me back on my feet again.”Round One of RehabDiagnosed with diabetes a decade ago, Ed has struggled with numerous disease-related complications, including kidney failure and circulation issues in his feet. Despite several bypass procedures to improve blood flow, he developed sores on his left foot that wouldn’t heal. One by one, he lost the toes on his foot until his doctor recommended amputating his leg below the knee.In early 2020, the retired real estate broker and grandfather of three underwent surgery at UPMC St. Margaret. After several months of healing, he was admitted to UPMC East’s rehab unit to learn how to use his prosthetic leg.\u201cGoing there was an easy choice,” says Ed, who lives with his wife, a UPMC information technology specialist, in Murrysville. \u201cIt’s only 15 minutes from my home.”Ed didn’t know what to expect, but he did have a goal: to get back on his feet and walk out of the hospital without a wheelchair or walker. Over the next two weeks, the physical therapists and occupational therapists worked with him on gait training, balance, strength-building exercises, and daily living skills.\u201cThey taught me how to get in and out of the bathroom and shower, and in and out of a car. I even worked on standing and balance while whipping up a batch of brownies in the kitchen,” says Ed.Two weeks later, Ed walked out of UPMC East using only a cane. \u201cI cried. Just the feeling of being able to walk again was overwhelming,” he says.Round Two of RehabIn early 2021 \u2014 just one year after his first amputation \u2014 Ed was back in surgery to have his right leg amputated below the knee. \u201cThe same thing happened,” he says. \u201cPoor circulation in my toes and wounds that just wouldn’t heal.”When Ed returned to the UPMC Rehabilitation Institute at UPMC East, he knew what to expect. He also had a goal: to walk again and be able to climb the five steps of his family’s travel trailer at a campground outside Presque Isle State Park. His extended family vacations there every summer, but he hadn’t been able to go for two years due to his leg problems.\u201cIt was good going back for rehab at a place I was familiar with,” says Ed. \u201cI knew what I needed to accomplish; I just wasn’t sure how I was going to do it without any legs.”Like the first time, he worked with therapists on using his prosthetics, rebuilding his strength, working on mobility training, and developing techniques for independent learning.\u201cIt was scary when they said, ‘let’s take a walk’ for the first time,” says Ed. “There I was with a walker and two sticks at the bottom of my legs. But they did a great job helping me.”The rehab team worked with him on walking, standing, using steps, balancing with his prosthetics, and daily living activities. Because Ed enjoys baking, they also spent a lot of time working with him in the kitchen where he had to stand on his prosthetics while baking brownies, a cake, and muffins.\u201cIt was a good way to work on my balance, mobility, and endurance,” says Ed.A Team EffortOne week after leaving rehab, Ed made the trip back to his trailer in Erie. He sent a video to his therapists at the rehab unit to show them he had achieved his goal and conquered the steps.\u201cI was so happy. I was able to do something I haven’t done in two years. It was a real accomplishment,” says Ed. \u201cI couldn’t have done it without them.”Ed continues to make goals \u2014 including walking without a walker and, eventually, without a cane. He looks forward to making more trips to Presque Isle and hopes to be golfing again by next spring. He credits the entire rehab team \u2014 the therapists, nurses, and other staff \u2014 for providing the support he needed to meet his goals.\u201cEveryone encouraged me. Even a member of the housekeeping staff came into my room and said, ‘You go Ed!'” he says. \u201cIt was a team effort all the way.”Donna Ruby, RN, one of the nurses at the rehab unit, says Ed was an inspiration to both patients and staff.\u201cHe was determined from the start to walk out of there and conquer those steps,” she says. \u201cTo watch his transformation from needing two people assisting him to walking independently was amazing.\u201cIt’s a hard thing to understand how difficult it is to put those prosthetics on and train the mind to know what to do,” she adds. “But Ed met every challenge with a smile on his face. We all learned from him.”Ed’s treatment and results may not be representative of all similar cases."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2021","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"12","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/\/12\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Ed’s Story: Double Amputee Conquers Goals and Steps","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2021\/12\/eds-story\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]