Post by gtgallop on May 14, 2021 17:53:05 GMT -7
I'm 47 and a life time of rugged outdoors activity is catching up to me. I've had multiple knee surgeries (both sides) and left foot broken twice with various ankle injuries that one gets. My left knee is completely arthritic an the knee doc wants to replace it. The left ankle is just as bad and may require one to two surgeries to repair it and the foot. So I'm looking at two surgeries for sure and possibly a life time brace to add to that. After that my outdoor days of adventure are done. No more hiking.
In my last knee surgery (ACL rebuild) I had a reaction to the anesthesia and nearly died. Technically I did but was revived.
I need to limit the amount of surgery I go through and having two is weighing on my mind. The possibility of two plus life in a brace or three plus life in a brace isn't setting with me. In a previous injury on the other leg I had a bone infection and nearly lost the leg above the knee - so I have done some thinking on the matter. It is not a new topic to roll around in my head.
I offered my knee doc an alternative to knee replacement - leg replacement. Amputate at the knee and put a stick on it.
I have some expectations for this though.
Will I be able to rejoin mother nature and hike? Will I end the pain? Will I be more mobile than after two surgeries and lugging a wounded leg behind me?
Mom thinks I'm nuts. She wanted me to reach out here and see what people say that have been through it. Is it a one surgery event? Is there a better place to amputate above in or below the knee? Am I expecting too much? What does a prosthesis cost? Are they better than the ones of yesteryear? I would think technology and engineering today has this down pretty good and the only big issue is fitting the cup as your leg changes shape.
Please talk me out of this if I have no clue what I'm getting in to.