"Prosthetics wait time"

I had my right leg amputated above the knee in august of 2022. When I got my first prosthetic (straight knee with waist belt) I was able to progress very quickly with my walking. The staff within Westmarc are very compassionate and encouraging to try to push myself and get to a point of walking with reduced or no mobility aids. 

However, around January of 2023 I started to get a pinching pain at the top of my socket - it was too big for me, I was wearing 3-4 thick socks and it was decided to recast the socket. This new socket was quick and lasted me until maybe May/June of 2023.

Since this I have had recurring problems with the fit of my prosthetic - we changed to a silicon liner and air suction which worked well for a few months. Since June of 2023 - Feb of 2025 due to wait times for a new socket I have probably been without a prosthetic for easily 12 months.

I started having an issue where my residual limb was too big for the socket this was around July/beginning of August 2024. I have been without a wearable leg since then, My prosthetist put me on the list for a new socket around November/December of 2024, I had a casting appointment at the beginning of January and it is now nearly the beginning of March and I still have no idea of when my prosthetic will be ready. 

Due to the long waiting times for the prosthetics to be made, I have been substantially set back in my progress with my walking. I have had to revert to the straight knee with waist belt due to not having a prosthetic and when I started to wear a leg again it is expected that my stump will change again and this leg is easier for adapting to changes. In 2023 I was told that I was at a point where I was able to progress to a free moving knee, however due to fitting issues and at least 3 months of wait time for a new prosthetic I feel like I have been set back to square one of my journey. I need to rework on my stamina and all of the things I was doing when I had a leg, that I am not able to do without a wearable prosthetic. This is really demotivating and it has a massive impact on my mental health and my motivation because this is totally outwith my control.

I was advised by someone at Westmarc to share my story here as this should not be the norm for waiting times to get a prosthetic. I feel like my life is on hold while I am waiting, but then have severe anxiety when I get a leg that it may only fit for a few months and then I have another 3-6 month wait for a new prosthetic where I am back at where I was before getting the new leg.