Last post Tue, Apr 29 2008 7:42 PM by DSB. 8 replies.
Hello everyone,
I am new here and joined after reading alot of the postings and thought someone may be able to help.
My wonderful husband had a knee replacement years ago and 3 revisions since dec.2001, his knee cap is not even in the right place with 2 screws, a wire in his chin bone, and a knee cap that is down and to the left he can't even wear a knee brace, he's in constant pain and medications (some pretty heavy duty one's at that) don't even help, he uses a cane most all the time but still falls SEVERAL times a day. We have asked his dr. several times about taking his leg off but his dr. thinks it would be to hard for him to learn to walk with a prostetic, he is a very strong willed person and can do most anything he sets his mind to. I will support him no matter what him and a dr. decide, I am with him for the long haul........
Any help would be appricated and can anyone suggest where to start looking for a dr?
THANKS IN ADVANCE FOR THE HELP.
JOY
Hello Joy,
welcome to Disaboom.
Sorry to hear about what Your husband has to go through, but I can understand him well, because I'm in the same situation.
I'm not living in America, so I can't help You with finding a doctor. But I have found that no doctor wants to be cheated out of finding the diagnosis, and also make the hard decisions.
And also they seem to simply not enjoy to take off a leg when the patient is okay with the decision.
Give them a little nervous breakdown and they'll happily do it.
Take care,
Daisies
Hello I became a aka as of 9-11-07. I started walking with a prostetic on 2-08 I am now walking with a cane I started with a walker. I hope to be off of the cane soon. I weigh about 295 lbs and have not had any problems with walking with a prostetic like most thought that I would have because of my size I am strong and just put my mind to it and take things one day at a time. What state are you in I am in Michigan. Good Luck feel free to contact me at any time.
Hi Joy
Welcome to Disaboom-It's amazing that something weighing 80,000 lbs. falling on a limb did not severe it completely off at the point of impact! Best of luck to you and yours.
Stay Strong
Vinny
Hi Daisies,
I understand from some of the posts of yours that you are due to have an aka, so am I, prob in ablout 4-6 weeks. You also say you are not in America, where are you! I live in the UK. Take care. Jill
Hi Joy,
I am new in hear also I do not have a disability but my hubsand has just recently had his right leg amputated below the knee( due to Diebeties) its been nearly 1 year now & its been hard for him to learn to walk with his prostetis but he does have complications, he is a big man & like your husband is very strong willed & if he wants to do something he will. before his surgery it was very difficult but now he will say it was the best thing & if he had to do it again ( & he will the other leg is not good either). he will.
Hey tweety. Welcome to Disaboom. I am a BKA. I lost mine to cancer, about a month after my cancer surgery. I knew I was going to lose my leg, so I was kind of lucky there. My surgeon told me that he has performed many amputations on people who eventually decided to have the amputations rather than deal with their limb and the problems they had with it. I can't help you with the AKA part and whether or not it would be hard, but I have heard many success stories about people with an AKA. Perhaps a second opinion would be helpful to you? I wish you and your husband the best.
Hello Joy, I was reading your message, and I am a amputee. I've been one for about 43 years. I was born with a disability which caused me not to walk on my left leg. So in order for me to walk they decided to amputate below the knee. Now I didn't get a chance to complain about, being a baby and all. But I do thank the Great Spirit for blessing me to have the courage and ability to walk on a prothesis. I can't really say how hard it would be for someone who has had a leg, and then all of a sudden loose one. I do have a friend who at the age of 52 lost his leg do to his mistake by not taking care of himself. He asked me how did I cope with it after I got older. What I told him is you take it one day at a time, and thank God that you can still walk. Your husband is a lucky man to have a wife that is willing to go the long haul with him, and if he does decided to take the altimate challenge, you tell him to tell his doctor that it is his life and that if this would help him more than the hurting pain that he is in every day of his life then do it. And if not please get a second opinion. IT is his life and his leg, and he should be the one to make that choice. I know, and believe that he will overcome any possibilities as a amputee. God Bless you both, and continue to live
Hi Joy welcome to disaboom. There are a number of resources you might find helpful when trying to find a doctor. Many senior centers are non-profit and are staffed by members that may have had to go through this or know someone that has and the doctor and healthcare provider. So I would start with your non-profit senior centers and they might be able to provide other resources. Another is if you have a college or University where you live they often run community outreach programs dealing with senior health issues.
Last is of your husband is a typical hard headed man he will adapt humans have a great capacity to overcome many things age may just may take a bit longer.
