amputation

Hi there david .. Totally can relate had a fall almost 2 years ago now .. 15 months in after 3 ops got a 2nd opinion I've got a rod from my heel to just below my knee my ankle is crushed beyond repair .. But I want it off there saying ill walk but I've got a letter saying my ankle cant be fixed and this rod can never be removed ... What do I do now how did u get amputation ???

hello john  . getting an agreement to an amputation was in no way straightforward unfortunately. after 3 months i had been refered to a knee specialist as it was obvious the physiotherapy was having no affect and the knee was unable to straighten past 40degrees  with the ankle fixated and the knee unable to straighten it was very hard to walk. pon seeing the specialist a through examination was performed and  i was informed the tendons had been damaged and will never regain there normal function , i asked the surgeon  will i regain proper mobility he replyd never with the knee joint  as it is .so i said i do not want to waste your time and mine remove the leg i will sign any paperwork required and i will have the op tomorrow !  unfortunately there is quite a few difficultys in having my leg amputated above the knee due to a femoral nail in place and an MDT (multi disciplinary team ) was set for the following month 4 surgeons 1 plastic surgeon to be encluded  video and photographis eveidance was required  and none of the 4 surgeons where happy to perform the op so i was then transfered to another hospital and another surgeon he reviewd my case and again un happy to do the opp, then i was asked to go to the royal ortheopeadic satnmore hospital to see one of the countrys top surgeons and after an initial review he asked if any of the other surgeons where in the aggrement amputation was best option  i explained all the surgeons i had seen where in agreement but would not undertake the opp he explained why . the femeral nail having been in place since i was 18 some 30 yrs now may prove to be hard or impossible to remove and the femur canot be left hollow  this is why they are reluctant to do the opp as once the femur is cut the pin must be removed or shortened in situe  luckily he has all the equipment to overcome any eventuality and was happy to perform the amputation   in total it has taken me around 8 months to find a surgeon to amputate but without the difficultys involved this would have been alot sooner . if your prognosis is just a frozen ankle you may find it hard to get a surgeon to agree to amputate as its fairly easy to walk with this problem i sent 30 yrs with very limited movement in my ankle only around 10 degree of movement  without any restrictions to what i could do . if your not happy or its very uncomfortabl to walk  see your surgeon and just be very straight  . i sent emails to surgeons saying if its not removed i will put myself in a position where you will have to remove it  . i think if your very determined to do it the surgeons will pick up on this and act accordingly .   i hope you get what treatment you want  but it may take some time   

Hi again david .. My issue is I have no movement at all my ankle heel and tibula rbone my ankle is in 100+ prices where the tib and fib come down and bend are snapped off and in where the ankle should be so they've basically put a rod in its bout 10+ inches long goes from my heel through what's left of my ankle bits then goes into my tibula and stops just bell my knee .. But I've got no movement at all ... Nothing .. Not a thing honestly not 2% .. I'm on my 2nd opinion who initally agreed to amputation but soon as the paperwork turned up from Liverpool he said lets do this bar it's long but it might just work .. In his eyes he's happy but I just cant walk my foot is completely frozen solid cant take a step at all ... The actual term was a pilon fracture . Of the tib fib calus and the heel . But its all been non union from day one . They've only just decided to say the ankle will never repair ever but they cant remove the bar either as its inside not beside my bone

thats exactly what i have a nail inserted through the base of my heel through the talus into the tibular aparently its a common problem with a fall from height the tibular compresses the talus and as in my case smashed it to pieces i had a doner bone graft as my tallus was non existent and needed to be replaced  i also needed a plate and screws in the side of the ankle  as well as a nail in the femur and a plate and 16 screws to pin the knee joint together as this split into 3.  i can understand jow  you feel i am able to walk only in a soft cast and after a very short time its very painfull fortunately a below the knee amputation is considerably iesier to walk with a prosthetic and if your having difficulty in walking at all possibly the best option . surgeons will always try and keep a limb as understandably its there job to preserve  rather than simply amputate  i think as in my case you simply need to be extremely vigilant and tell them straight . im 49 yrs old and stressed  i am not going to undergo further oporations and will not be swayed from my course.  i fully understand the complexity of the task i wish to undertake and am fully aware of the pain and work required to get to my required level of mobility . i was extremely active before my accident and told them i will be back to as near as normal once i have a prosthetic  and will not accept the condition i am in at present if the removal of a major limb is what it takes then so be it   its not easy but up to you to force the issue   ask to see your surgeon again and ask what the long term prognosis  will be   how long has it been since you had the nail inserted  are you weightbearing  atm ? just need to be vigilant  john