Up Down Walk with Lisa

If you’re here, you’re probably dealing with limb difference – either your own or someone you care about. Maybe you’re a nurse who’s tired of the same old patient education materials. Or a prosthetist looking for resources that don’t sound like they were written by someone who’s never actually worn a prosthetic.

Hi – I’m Lisa, and I became an amputee in my late 40s.

My journey started with a car accident 25+ years ago, involved hardware implanted for foot drop, and ended with an infection that led to amputation.

So I created what I couldn’t find: realistic, snarky, actually useful resources for people dealing with limb loss.

What You’ll Find Here

Phantom Pain Management That Actually Works: Forget the vague advice about “staying positive.” I share specific techniques for managing phantom limb pain, including the 20-minute reset routine, conversation scripts for when people ask awkward questions, and decision frameworks for pain days.
Prosthetic Reality Checks: Yes, it gets hot wearing a prosthetic leg in summer. No, I can’t just “run” to catch the bus. Real answers to the questions people actually have about living with a prosthetic limb.
Resources for Caregivers: If you’re supporting someone through amputation recovery, you need tools too. I provide practical guides for caregivers navigating this journey alongside their loved ones.
Medical Professional Resources: Nurses, doctors, and prosthetists – I see you trying to help your patients with limited time and resources. My downloadable guides and quick reference materials are designed to fill the gaps in traditional patient education.

No Inspiration Porn Zone

This isn’t a place for “overcoming adversity” stories or “look how inspirational disabled people are” content. Amputation is a medical reality, not a motivational poster.

You’ll find practical strategies, honest experiences, and zero pity party invitations here.

I don’t sugarcoat the hard parts of amputation recovery. Phantom pain sucks. Prosthetic adjustments are frustrating. People say awkward things. But there are real tools and techniques that make it manageable, and that’s what I focus on.

Who This Site Is For

New amputees trying to figure out what’s normal and what’s not
Experienced amputees looking for fresh strategies for old problems
Caregivers and family members who want to actually help (not just worry)
Healthcare professionals seeking patient resources that don’t sound condescending
Prosthetists looking for real-world feedback and patient education materials
Allies, advocates, and employers ready to create real inclusion, not just performative gestures

Start Here

If you’re dealing with phantom pain right now, grab the Pain Days Playbook. It’s 20 pages of practical strategies including the 20-minute reset routine, conversation scripts for when you need to cancel plans, and decision frameworks for managing pain days without guilt.

Looking for quick reference guides? The Phantom Pain Quick Guides Bundle gives you four printable mini-guides you can keep handy when you need fast answers.

Want free resources first? Download the Conversation Scripts guide—it’s full of responses to those awkward questions people always ask about amputation and prosthetics.

Want to rep the cause with some attitude? The shop has snarky merch for you (or gifts for people who need a reality check).

Real Tools for Real Problems

Amputation recovery isn’t a straight line. Some days are better than others. Phantom pain doesn’t care about your schedule. Prosthetics have learning curves.

And people will continue to say wildly inappropriate things.

But you don’t need inspiration – you need information. You need practical tools. You need someone who gets it to tell you what actually works.

That’s what Up Down Walk with Lisa is all about: still getting you there, just a little slower, with a lot more realism and a lot less BS.