Regaining Independence After Limb Loss: A Patient’s Journey of Learning to Walk Again

In 2012, Bree Jones graduated from college with a degree in criminal justice. She was excited to start her career, help others and use her voice to change lives — until her own life changed drastically.

At the end of 2013, Bree noticed a small, burning feeling on her right side near her hip. She was diagnosed with sarcoma, a rare type of cancer that begins in the bones and soft tissues. 

She went through multiple rounds of chemotherapy and radiation. The cancer returned three times over the course of two years. To save her life, her doctors performed a hip disarticulation, a surgical procedure to remove her leg at the hip.

Beginning the Prosthetic Rehabilitation Journey

After the surgery, Bree met with a prosthetist to receive an artificial leg. This was the first step in regaining her independence and prior abilities. The journey would not be easy. According to the Amputee Coalition, adjusting to a prosthetic foot, ankle and knee often has a long learning curve. Bree’s prosthetic rehabilitation would likely require more energy and effort as compared to other lower extremity prostheses.

With the difficulties ahead, Bree was determined to stop using her wheelchair and learn to walk again. After sharing her goals with her prosthetist and surgeons, Bree learned she could achieve her mission through prosthetic physical therapy. 

“I just thought you get a leg and you learn to use it, but there's a lot more to it,” Bree says of her decision to come to ATI. “Everything I do today with my leg, I just refer back to what I was taught in therapy. It's going to forever stay in my mind. And that’s the best part I got out of it.” 

Bree Meets Daniella, A Prosthetic Physical Therapist At ATI Physical Therapy

Bree was recommended to see Daniella Morton, a physical therapist and clinical director at an ATI Physical Therapy clinic in Las Vegas. 

Daniella is one of only a few physical therapists in that area who specialize in limb loss physical therapy. Her passion for working with limb loss patients was sparked several years ago when a patient with a prosthetic leg came in with the goal of learning to walk again. Daniella realized that while she had learned about the mechanics of prosthetics in physical therapy school, she did not have experience with practical application.

“I started doing my own research on different courses to take and continually educated myself on the topic,” Daniella says. “Then, after about six months or so of education, I approached the different prosthetic offices in town and let them know that I wanted to treat their patients.”

Bree’s Rehabilitation Process Begins

In 2017, Bree went to meet with Daniella. She entered the ATI clinic in a wheelchair, but she let Daniella know that her goal was to get out of the wheelchair and walk again. After that initial visit, Bree knew that she was in good hands. 

“I could see how [the therapists] worked one-on-one with their patients and showed a lot of TLC. They were strong, but not pushy; they wanted you to actually benefit from therapy and not sit there and waste your time,”  Bree says.

Bree began attending prosthetic physical therapy appointments three times a week. In the early stages of treatment, her appointments mostly consisted of stretching and slowly walking back and forth with support. As her comfort with the prosthetic improved, she progressed to exercises such as lateral steps, sit to stand and picking up objects off the ground. Once she had mastered those movements, she started climbing stairs and completing laps around the inside of the building.

Overcoming Challenges In Limb Loss Rehabilitation

Bree was proud of her progress, but the journey was not easy. Physically, she was constantly sore from retraining her body’s movements. She was also exhausted mentally, which was one of the most difficult parts of her treatment. 

“Therapy was very hard. My mind wanted to move faster than my body could, so fighting it mentally was the hardest part,” Bree recalls.

Her determination pushed her forward. She was ready to face one of the last tasks in her treatment: learning to walk outside. 

The outdoors presented a new set of obstacles, such as traffic, other pedestrians and uneven terrain. Through consistent therapy and Daniella’s support, Bree built up her confidence and rediscovered her stride on uncomfortable territory.

“[Daniella] would spot me, and sometimes I didn't know she wasn't holding onto me. I was just doing it by myself,” she says.

About a year after beginning, Bree completed her treatment and graduated from physical therapy. On her last day, she walked, not rolled, out the door. Bree had accomplished her goal. 

After Physical Therapy

Bree continues to walk using her prosthetic leg and often receives compliments from others, including fellow limb loss patients, on how well she walks. She attributes her success to her time in therapy at ATI and her unwavering determination to achieve her objective.

“[Daniella] wanted me to set goals. I think that's so important because what are you doing therapy for if you don't have something to look forward to? My goal was to get out of the wheelchair and to just use a cane and that's where I'm at right now. It feels good!” Bree says.

Her New Goal: Advocacy For People With Amputations And Cancer Survivors

While Bree’s life has certainly changed due to limb loss, her passion for helping others has not. She dedicates her time to limb loss advocacy and education through her involvement with the Las Vegas Amputee Support Group and the Amputee Coalition. She also volunteers as a Certified Peer Visitor to provide information and support for individuals who are living with or soon-to-be living with limb loss.

In addition to limb loss groups, Bree is also involved in a cancer support group. She is currently battling breast cancer and receiving treatment. She shares her experience with both limb loss and cancer on her YouTube Channel in hopes that others in similar situations see her videos and know they are not alone.

“Somewhere, there's somebody who needs to see it or knows somebody who’s been through it,” she says.

Daniella also continues to work with limb loss patients and shares her passion by educating her fellow therapists on limb loss and teaching classes at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). She hopes to improve general knowledge and training surrounding limb loss to help this underserved population.

How Physical Therapy Can Help Limb Loss Patients

Inspired by the dedication of patients like Bree  and the work of talented clinicians like Daniella, ATI has developed a treatment program focused on delivering individualized care that improves functional outcomes and helps limb loss patients achieve a better quality of life.

If you are scheduled to undergo limb removal or are currently living with limb loss, our team offers pre-surgery physical therapy, rehabilitation and prosthetic training physical therapy to help you get back to the activities of daily living.  Contact us to learn more.