This is my decision.

[Daniel]

his is not a surprise, this is my decision.

Now I should give you a little bit of history. In 1987 was in a plane crash

lost TALAS? bone in my right ankle, for 30 years of trying to walk on that

foot.

In April of 2012, I fell from a ladder just 4 feet off the ground.

Shattered my right knee into 17 pieces. Which left my leg bow to the outside. My foot was not in line with the leg bone.so we did and ankle fusion. and this went to hell inside the cast the side of my foot die.

they took the muscle from the inside of my right leg at the growing, and made new flat to fill the hole in the side of my foot.

Trying to walk on this fusion has been nothing but pain.

When the doctor said amputation I was horrified, but then remembered in the plane crash they wanted to amputate my foot then. But I said no and I lived with it for 30 years. So now it's time to fix this pain.

After my amputation gets well, will develop total knee replacement.

I think this is the best thing to do, and not have to live with pain every time I walk. I hope you can understand what I'm saying, for my journalist stinks.

I have spent the last two months reading and studying everything I can about the amputation, and the recovery. Won't have to learn how to walk on a stiff ankle, it's instead a long time.

But this was my decision, and I have thought about a lot.

Yours truly Dastardly Dan

[stonecutter]

So am I to understand that you are going to have a below the knee amputation? Initially after my accident they indicated that I would have a fused ankle too. That was surgery 1 of 5 for attempting to repair my leg. The 6th surgery left leg below-the-knee amputation.

I can't guide you either way, but I do know this: I haven't looked back.

[allenuk]

Dastardly:

Pain is the killer, above all others. Even a 'little' pain can completely screw your life up - and the lives of those around you.

I have made the following comment before, but it's worth making again:

I know of many amputees who run, cycle, climb mountains, get on with their lives.

I have never heard of ANY people with fused joints, or rebuilt ankles or feet, who do any of the above. Apart, maybe, from get on with their painful lives.

Life after amputation isn't all plain sailing, Dan, but the problems are a darned sight easier to overcome. So like Trevor, I say go for it. And good luck.

But tell us more about the shattered knee. Having a working knee joint is certainly preferable to having no knee joint, so what have the medics said about the future of your knee?


Allen.

[snarfler]

Hello Dan,
I am happy to see That it only took you 30 years to reach the inevitable conclusion. Take your time and exercise good prudent judgement. From an engineering perspective a bone "Fusion" is doomed to fail from the outset. The total knee replacement success is based on how much collateral damage they do to your hamstring tendon. If severed completely your recovery time could be as much as Two years if you recover at all. It is possible to perform the surgery without compromising this tendon. I strongly suggest you find a surgeon qualified in the latest techniques. While I wouldn't wish an amputation on Hitler, (Well ok. Maybe Hitler) Have you also considered an above knee amputation?

[Daniel]

Trevor/ Allen:
Thanks for your heartfelt comments, and advice.
As far as my knee goes, after the plane crash my right foot was offset to the right of my leg bone.
Foot pointed to the right, about 25°.
They said could not replace my knee with my foot so far out of line.
So we decided to do the infusion on the ankle to get everything in line, for knee replacement.
So that is where we are today.

Hey guys, I really appreciate the support.

Yours truly dastardly Dan

[Daniel]

Snarfler:
thanks for the info and we will make sure they keep their eye open on that hamstring.
Hey thanks for the support.
Dastardly Dan.

[stonecutter]

So Dastardly Dan, what's the game plan? Do you have a timeline of what's going to be happening and when? Once I made my decision it was pretty swift, but I was fighting blood infections and gangrene, so the doctors were motivated!

I hope you don't have to wait too much longer to be able to get on with your life...

Please keep us posted!