Post by ric on Mar 27, 2019 0:22:23 GMT -7
Hello everyone, I'm a new left leg Below the Knee amputee 1/14/2019. In 2009 I was diagnosed with Charcot in both feet. It's a diabetes condition that causes the bones in the foot to weaken enough to fracture and/or dislocate. Eventually , as in my case, the joints collapse and the foot becomes severely deformed. I've broken bones in my feet just by walking. I constantly got ulcers that became infected which sent me to the hospital for wound care or toe amputations. There was alot of pain every day for 10 years, I had to quite working and go on disability. I've had so many surgeries that I lost count. Three years ago my wife at the time couldn"t take my frustration and mood swings no longer and we divorced. I couldn't take all of this no longer and asked about amputation to my left foot (my right foot isn't as bad and has kind of stabilized for the time being, but in my head I know its a ticking time bomb). I was always talked into another surgery of some kind including reconstructive (which broke in 6 months that needed another surgery to remove all the broken hardware). In March of 2018 I was in the hospital for an infected ulcer, again in July with an infection in my foot from a broken bone that I got from pushing the brake pedal on the lawn mower and yet again on New Years Eve with another infection that turned to gangrene gas. that time I was doing treatment in a Hyperbaric Chamber along with surgeries. at this time the doctors were talking about another reconstructive surgery when I told 'em I've had enough..."Take It Off." They spent another two days trying to talk me into reconstructive surgery when I told them its coming off, either here or I was leaving and going somewhere else to have it done. After they said ok they'll do it, just about all the nurses that was attending to me would tell me that was the best thing for me. A couple days later it was determined that the infection and gangrene gas was gone and I had my operation. From the hospital I was sent to a Rehabilitation Facility for a few days where it was determined that I didn't need it so I was sent home. The doctor put me in touch with Nelson Prosthetic in Buffalo N. Y. and I was given a couple shrinkers, then we did the casting, and then fitting. Yesterday 3/26/19 I picked up my prosthetic with the biggest smile. On our way home my Fiance saw that tears were rolling down my cheeks and she asked what was wrong. I said that I was so happy and now I can picture us being married standing and walking down the isle together. What a day! I'm walking with crutches for the next couple weeks, a very strange feeling, like I'm on stilts. Turning around is awkward and I'm having trouble getting in and out of the car. The knee doesn't bend enough, something I'll have to mention to my prosthesis in a couple weeks when I see him. Best decision I've made in my life.
