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Post by hodgie on Jun 30, 2019 10:26:01 GMT -7
Hi, I’m a new member. I’ve joined to try and gather as much information as I can on whether to finally agree to have my troublesome and painful right leg amputated below my knee. I suffered multiple fractures of my tib/fib 40 years ago and after multiple surgeries, I’m finally considering something that once was unthinkable, due to the constant pain. The threads I’ve reviewed of people here who’ve had elective amputation all seem fairly positive, with very few having any regrets, which I find extremely encouraging. From what I’m able to understand so far is that having a nerve block a day before surgery as well as having an epidural, as opposed to having general anesthetic, will lesson phantom pains after. It seems that the biggest problem afterwards is getting your residual limb conditioned to your prosthetic and having to get frequent socket changes and adjustments. The extra work to clean and maintain a prosthetic limb, as well as the residual limb seem like a small price to pay to be able to walk relatively pain free to me. I’m 62 and in relatively good health, so my family physician has recommended having it done before I get much older. I have an appointment in 3 weeks with the surgeon, so I would appreciate any feedback from those of you who’ve been through it. Thanks so much for your support!
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david
New Member
Posts: 2
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Post by david on Jul 13, 2019 8:38:19 GMT -7
Hello Hodgie,
I was amputated below the Knee at age 37,and got used to my new leg quickly,in about 12 months I was driving,cycling and gardening, now at 54 I can do everything that I used to do before the accident,for example,lift a 35 bag of cement,go hiking etc.
Over the years I've met a few people who've had bad accidents similar to mine that have kept their injured leg and it has been a genuine handicap for them.
You'll feel a lot stronger with your new leg.
I'd be very careful about what is said by a lot of people about "Phantom Pain",I think it"s bullshit,of course having a limb amputated and wearing a prosthesis is uncomfortable,but their appears to be a lot of downright misinformation about "Phantom Pain",it could be just ordinary pain from a badly fitted prosthesis,or a little skin problem.
Anyway,best of luck,I'm sure you'll feel like a new man once you get used to wearing a new leg!
David
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Post by snowyh on Jul 14, 2019 2:58:26 GMT -7
Welcome to the forum, Hodgie! I'm not a leg amputee nor do I wear a prosthesis nor was I an elective amputee, so I can't respond from personal experience, but the opinions posted on this forum by people in your situation (suffering from years of pain in an injured limb) have been overwhelmingly positive after amputation. And yes, it's important to do the nerve block/epidural prior to surgery to lessen the instances and/or intensity of phantoms pain afterward. Please let us know how things go at your upcoming visit with the surgeon!
Helen
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Post by snowyh on Jul 14, 2019 3:33:49 GMT -7
I'd be very careful about what is said by a lot of people about "Phantom Pain",I think it"s bullshit,of course having a limb amputated and wearing a prosthesis is uncomfortable,but their appears to be a lot of downright misinformation about "Phantom Pain",it could be just ordinary pain from a badly fitted prosthesis,or a little skin problem. David, I will admit that after your first post denigrating phantom pain (in the Pain Management area) I actually doubted whether you were even an amputee. But now I see where you're coming from. You think phantom pain is triggered by a physical source--surgery* or an ill-fitting prosthesis. Phantom pain is generated in the brain, not the amputated limb, and is more prevalent in upper-limb amputees. Pain generated by the nerve endings in the stump is something entirely different. It appears you are very blessed to have never actually experienced phantom pain at all... no wonder you think it's BS! Please refrain from talking smack about pp--it's a very real issue to those who suffer from it. Helen *suggesting we allow 2 years after surgery to "get used to being an amputee" |
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Post by hodgie on Jul 14, 2019 5:02:08 GMT -7
Thank you for taking the time to respond and assist me. I’m at the point mentally where I’m ready to ask the surgeon to go ahead and begin scheduling to have it done but I have to confess, there’s times that I’m scared about what life will be like afterward.
Thanks so much for your help, I’ll let you know how it goes next week.
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Post by stonecutter on Jul 16, 2019 16:07:55 GMT -7
Snowyh pretty much said all I would have... See my post in the Pain Management section disagreeing with david's opinions about phantom pain. Feel free to ask any questions... having something amputated is a major decision - better armed with information than not...
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Post by hodgie on May 7, 2020 13:48:05 GMT -7
After finding the courage to have my damn leg amputated, Covid-19 has postponed my surgery indefinitely. Unfortunately the delay has spawned new fears and second thoughts about going through with it. I’m not sure whether I can psych myself up again or not 😫
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