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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Muscles & Bones
/ Amputees Support Group

Searching for "regrets"

panhines
panhines
I am considering having a BTK amputation. I've had 10 surgeries on my right ankle and things are not getting better. At this point I believe I have the choice to LOOK "whole" - with two full legs, or FEEL "whole" [which for me requires the ability to walk vigorously - not so slow that I have to ask people over 80 to slow down to let me catch up, the ability to ski, dance, hike etc]. I was once a competitive bodybuilder, aerobics instructor, aggressive skier, etc. Being as inactive as I am is emotionally destroying me.

So far I've found plenty of reasons to go forward with the surgery. But I'm concerned that I'm missing the downsides of the surgery. What can go wrong? What often does go wrong? What can be done to prevent things going wrong? What can be done if things do go wrong?

I'm not looking to be talked out of the surgery, though I'm willing to listen if someone has that opinion. I just want to honestly weigh the pros and cons, and I'm having a hard time coming up with any cons!
deleted_user
deleted_user
I hate to sound like a broken record on this site but here it goes --- Look into the Ertl procedure, It's vastly surpeior to the standard amputation and I know for sure that you have several surgeons in your area that do the procedure that are approved by the ertl's.

Not all amputations are equil and most the amputees that have "regrets" have had a really crappy surgeon who messed up their stump.

I'm 42 and I like you had the option to amputate. Being that it was my decision and that I know that it was the best option makes it so much easier to deal with on the mental level. I did have postop issues when some of the sutures didn't desolve properly and I had some major infections from it. I was on IV antibiotics for a few months and had to have 2 follow up surgeries to cut out and remove the infection and yes that really sucked but i do NOT have any regrets as to amputating. I'm free to move as a please and if i want to look "normal" i wear pants.
panhines
panhines
Thanks for your reply. I probably posted my question too quickly. I put my question out before doing enough reading of what's already available. There is SO much helpful information on this site. There still isn't much "I wish I hadn't done it...." but there's plenty of "things to consider before doing it....". That's exactly what I needed to read and the many postings that came before mine were super helpful!! Thank you folks. :-)
patt1937
patt1937
The best advice I could give is to find a good,experienced orthopedic surgeon. The best thing he/she can do, is to be sure to tuck the nerve endings as high up the stump as possible. Mine did a great job and aside from a little neuropathy now and then,I have done good. It has been almost a year since my BTK amputation, for a bad ankle as well, though I did not go the surgery route. I have no regrets whatsoever. Showering can be a problem, but I solved it with a Dri-Pro vacuum boot.They run about $80 dollars, but are well worth the money. My BKN was the right leg, so I bought a portable left foot accelerator from PLFA.com and it works great. About $475, but again, well worth the money for the independence. If you want to learn to ski after surgery; go to lessthan4.com for info. Hope this helps.