
Amputees Support Group
Amputation is the removal of a body extremity by trauma or surgery. Many have undergone amputation or have been living with a missing limb since birth. In either case, life as an amputee can be challenging. This is the place to find others going through the same experiences as an amputee. Share your thoughts, troubles, and solutions with the community.

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Hi all. It seems many of you HAD to have an amputation - such as a motorcycle accident, infection, etc.
Anyone here had a choice? For example, doctors suggesting to try more surgeries to fix an ankle etc. before amputation, but you chose amputation?
I have leg problems and have been unable to stand or walk for 3 years. My family doctor thinks an amputation would be worse - his amputees all have phantom limb pain, some can't walk with prostheses etc. I showed him a video of a DBK amputee running and walking normally, but he didn't think it was real!
I have not asked any other of my doctors about amputation yet, as I want to be sure I've tried all avenues first and I'm afraid they will say 'no' - only for life and death reasons. It should be about mobility and quality of life. Agree?
Anyone here had a choice? For example, doctors suggesting to try more surgeries to fix an ankle etc. before amputation, but you chose amputation?
I have leg problems and have been unable to stand or walk for 3 years. My family doctor thinks an amputation would be worse - his amputees all have phantom limb pain, some can't walk with prostheses etc. I showed him a video of a DBK amputee running and walking normally, but he didn't think it was real!
I have not asked any other of my doctors about amputation yet, as I want to be sure I've tried all avenues first and I'm afraid they will say 'no' - only for life and death reasons. It should be about mobility and quality of life. Agree?
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I hope I don't sound too negative, because that is the last thing on my mind, but just do your homework. I also felt for me it is quality of life and I did this for a new lease on life. I haven't ran or jumped or riden a bike since I was 11 y/o, so I am still hoping that if I want to achieve these things I can if I set my mind to it. My point, get more opinions, talk to physical therapists, prosthetists or anyone else to give you more info for a more informed decision.
Please email me if I can help in any other way.
I was given 3 choices.
1.Remove the tumor and what was left of my heel and other affected surrounding bones. Then recontruct, fuse etc what was left of my foot. No guaratee that they could get clear margains around the tumor. Or how many months/years before I would be able to walk.
2.Remove tumor and do nothing. Wait to see if bones grew back. No guarantee of clear margains.
3.Amputate. Get clear margains. Cancer would be completely gone, and I could walk again in a few months.
One of my docs said to me "the most important thing is to save your life." So for me 3 was the only choice I could make. It was a tough decision even though I knew it was the best one. I turned it over in my head for a couple of months before I decided. Once I did I couldn't look back. I also had 2 doctors tell me if it was them, they would do the amputation.
To answer you last question about mobility and quality of life... Absolutely it shoud be about that. But unfortunately when there is cost and insurance involved, somebody always gets screwed.
* Take my knee out and put in a replacement knee.
* Take my knee out with enough bone and muscle on each side that the Dr's felt was safe so the cancer did not come back, and put in a cadaver bone (live with a straight leg the rest of my life)
*amputate.
NO WAY was I amputating my leg, so I chose option 2. Along with the cadaver bone they put in metal plates and screws to fasten it to the existing bones in my leg.
My problem came when I got infection on the patch of skin between my first incision (surgery to take tumor out) and the second incision (surgery to take out knee and put in cadaver bone) that would not heal. They surgically removed the infection that literally left two huge holes in my leg (you could look inside my leg and see the bones/muscles/metal plates). Then I had to decide if I was going to amputate or do a muscle/skin graft plus multiple surgeries late to place metal rods in my leg to strengthen the leg to walk on. With the second option, there was a lot of chance for infection again with the open wound and the metal plates already in my leg and possible amputation down the road anyway.
They made me make the decision, no one would lean one way or another as to what to do....I was 15.
Looking back, this was definately the right decision.
Dianasmom...mentioned a tumor in the foot. I have a new bump on the bottom of my foot that started about 6 months ago. How did you know yours was cancer? I read that bumps on the bottom of the foot can be noncancerous or cancerous. I don't have the two scientific names for it right on hand. I guess it is worth mentioning the next time I see a doctor...Jude, a very positive post. Thanks.
I wonder if my family doctor saw Heather Mills in Dancing with the Stars. He didn't believe the video I showed him. I have since collected links to many more amazing ones. I like to focus on the positive stories; my family doctor focuses on the negative ones. Ugh. Well, he is only one of my many doctors....I'm too scared to dicuss it with them...yet.
We tried to save the ankle and it was an accident, but the docotrs inevitably left the decision to me. Pain and miser the rest of my life, and never ever being able to walk again, or amputation and a shot at living a VERY normal life.
I chose the amputation and had my lower left leg removed on Oct. 26th. Almost 7 weeks to the day and I was casted for my first temporary leg, and with the flo-tech systam I have I can walk with a cane for short periods that get longer each day. I will get the new leg in two weeks that means a total of 9 weeks and I will be starting to live again with no pain and able to take care of myself. I am off of the pain killers and I have no antibiotics in my system.
The decision lies in what kind of quality of life you will have. In my case it was a no brainer. Why be a miserable pain freak and never ever be happy or take a small amount of me away and live a great life.
Your surgeon sounds to me like he is stuck in the middle ages. With the advancements in prosthetics, and good orthotist to get you set with a good leg, you could do everything you want to do and more. I would personally talk to another doctor and seriously think about it. I was on my feet the next day, and went home from the hospital in three days feeling better than I had in months.
In no way am I agreeing or disagreeing with anything that your physicians say. But in the end, you have to know what you are capable of putting up with for the rest of YOUR life, not their satisfaction. Research, research, research. I came here before my decision and it made it so much easier.