Re: Amputation or not?

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Posted by pat on November 12, 19102 at 08:41:19:

In Reply to: Amputation or not? posted by Brian Downie on November 08, 19102 at 16:31:56:

Hi Brian

First of all, I have to qualify my comments below. I'm a bk, which as everyone knows is a lot less a disability than an ak. But when they start talking about removing the entire tibia, and grafting cadaver bone, I think they'd lose me. An ak is a much bigger deal, and might entail a little more thought in your decision making, but I think the principle is the same.

Have the amputation. Doctors will keep trying heroic measures to save even the most damaged leg unless you tell them enough is enough. I had an ankle fusion which developed some complications and they wanted to do a series of at least two more and possibly three more surgeries. The recuperation and rehab was about two years if everything went well, and I'd wind up with foot that was pretty non functional, and very possibly still painful.

The technology in prosthetics today is truly remarkable. I was up playing golf 6 weeks after the amputation. It's now been 8 mos, and I'm running again and working out 4 times a week. As an ak it will be tougher, but still I know what I'd do.

This is a no brainer. You'll have a more functional leg, and less pain if you go with the amputation...

Just one man's opinion...

: In late May of this year, I was involved in a single vehicle accident. As a result of the accident my Tibia was crushed (some 40+ pieces between my knee and ankle, the Fibia had a compound fracture and one other fracture and my ankle was broken.

: To this point no calcification has occurred, the pain is still quite intense. I have for the last 21 days have been using the EBI Bonehealing system, again with no let up in the pain.

: The dilema I have is that there is no guarantee that the EBI system will generate calcification and for that matter no time set. If this does not work then the surgeons are suggesting a bone graft, which will mean the total removal of the Tibia and the removal of +/- 50% of the required bone from my pelvis and the balance from a cadaver. I understand this procedure is extremely painful and again no guarantee of success. Long term I have been told to expect arthritus in my knee and ankle and that I will not have the same range of motion I used to have.

: The question is should I just save a whole bunch of time and long term pain for an above the knee amputation and some short term pain.

: Any help will be greatly appreciated.

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Re: Amputation or not? Brenda 12:51:37 11/16/102 (0)

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: Hi Brian : First of all, I have to qualify my comments below. I'm a bk, which as everyone knows is a lot less a disability than an ak. But when they start talking about removing the entire tibia, and grafting cadaver bone, I think they'd lose me. An ak is a much bigger deal, and might entail a little more thought in your decision making, but I think the principle is the same. : Have the amputation. Doctors will keep trying heroic measures to save even the most damaged leg unless you tell them enough is enough. I had an ankle fusion which developed some complications and they wanted to do a series of at least two more and possibly three more surgeries. The recuperation and rehab was about two years if everything went well, and I'd wind up with foot that was pretty non functional, and very possibly still painful. : The technology in prosthetics today is truly remarkable. I was up playing golf 6 weeks after the amputation. It's now been 8 mos, and I'm running again and working out 4 times a week. As an ak it will be tougher, but still I know what I'd do. : This is a no brainer. You'll have a more functional leg, and less pain if you go with the amputation... : Just one man's opinion... : : : In late May of this year, I was involved in a single vehicle accident. As a result of the accident my Tibia was crushed (some 40+ pieces between my knee and ankle, the Fibia had a compound fracture and one other fracture and my ankle was broken. : : To this point no calcification has occurred, the pain is still quite intense. I have for the last 21 days have been using the EBI Bonehealing system, again with no let up in the pain. : : The dilema I have is that there is no guarantee that the EBI system will generate calcification and for that matter no time set. If this does not work then the surgeons are suggesting a bone graft, which will mean the total removal of the Tibia and the removal of +/- 50% of the required bone from my pelvis and the balance from a cadaver. I understand this procedure is extremely painful and again no guarantee of success. Long term I have been told to expect arthritus in my knee and ankle and that I will not have the same range of motion I used to have. : : The question is should I just save a whole bunch of time and long term pain for an above the knee amputation and some short term pain. : : Any help will be greatly appreciated.

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