amputees

I'm an amputee as well, and am relatively new to this. I do know the only real exercise I can do is swimming. There's no chance of falling, and it offers plenty of resistance. The best thing is reduce your basic caloric intake with diet change, and do some moderate exercise that won’t hurt you. Most times when I tried to get in shape before, I would do something that would hurt me for a few days and I’d quit trying. Swimming so far has been my best option at least.

I am a R. below the Knee amputee. I chose to have my leg removed after having a rare spindle cell sarcoma found in my foot. My amputee was in September 2000 and began with great physio support and continued monitoring for a couple of years and when we moved I lost that support. Now 13 years later I've been suffering with a lot of pain in my residual limb behind my knee and down. I've had Xrays, MRI, Ultrasound and nothing, there is no reason for the pain medically. Recently I was told that I probably have Chronic Myofascial Pain, having suffered with chronic pain since 1989 after two rear end car accidents in one week. it is a relief to find out what is wrong. I have a new massage/bodyworker who is now working on my body back in alignment, as I try to loose my extra weight, about 20 lbs.

While I was having my massage and bodywork done I talked about the pain in my right leg, basically what has happened is all my thigh muscles have atrophied so I'm over using the hamstrings hence the pain I get when I exercise or walk too much or am on my feet for too long. Hopefully some of you are still reading this. That is the short version of my problem. I need to build and strengthen these thigh muscles again but I don't know how, where to start, what to really do. I know if I don't do this the pain in my residual limb will only get worse. So please suggestions, exercises, u-tube videos, does anyone have anything that will once more give me back those muscles so I am using them instead over over using the hamstrings. My bodyworker said when I try to go side ways it's my hamstrings that are tightening, same with up and down. I need help or this weight will not come off and I'm at an age where it is harder to loose extra pounds.
Thanks