tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101286884737808495.post2945937131504674359..comments2020-04-04T18:28:19.620-04:00Comments on IIAGDTR: Elective AmputationRichard Blalockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11206813997862346871noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101286884737808495.post-4446730479697969462013-11-16T22:27:24.549-05:002013-11-16T22:27:24.549-05:00Becky, sorry you are having a rough time with this...Becky, sorry you are having a rough time with this. I believe your doctor is right based on what you have written. Is there any work-from-home jobs you might be able to do to obtain insurance? I am thinking with a prosthesis and no pain you'd then be in a better place to return to the workplace.Richard Blalockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11206813997862346871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101286884737808495.post-84380353768039157462013-11-16T18:15:19.168-05:002013-11-16T18:15:19.168-05:00Thanks for this info. I have neurofibromaosis typ...Thanks for this info. I have neurofibromaosis type 1 and have a large growth on the bottom of my right foot. It was very painful to walk on. I went to a orthopedic specialist and together with a plastic surgeon the removed the growth and using my latissmus muscle rebuilt the botom of my foot. Well this turned out horribly. Its been three years since surgery and I am in more pain now than before the surgery. I can no longer work and I have to keep my foot propped up most of the time because it swells up very quickly. I also wear a compression stocking all of the time. I am now seeing a doctor that charges me very little because I have no job and no insurance. He has me on pain meds but has suggested the only way to help the pain in thelong run is amputation. Its either that or a life of pain meds that don't help much.beckycrafordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14805412170111814166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101286884737808495.post-43822898331804591932013-10-31T09:12:02.858-04:002013-10-31T09:12:02.858-04:00Thanks Richard! :-)Thanks Richard! :-)Kate Bettisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16675697263537244480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101286884737808495.post-90928560062093031712013-10-27T18:02:45.695-04:002013-10-27T18:02:45.695-04:00Kate, it is good to research all options available...Kate, it is good to research all options available to you. Whether you need to go down this road or not, it is good to be fully aware of the choices available to you. I know several women currently considering this procedure, and all are talking to those who have had the operation.<br /><br />Best of luck to you, and if you have any question don't hesitate to ask.Richard Blalockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11206813997862346871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101286884737808495.post-13212977173927799072013-10-27T06:28:36.251-04:002013-10-27T06:28:36.251-04:00This is really interesting for me to read. I'v...This is really interesting for me to read. I've been having constant pain in both feet for five months - I try to explain how bad it is to family and friends, but it is hard for them to understand how life impacting it is. My doctors keep saying it is one thing, then another, and then "here you go, here's some pain medication" - that doesn't work...sometimes I use cold packs, sometimes I use warm packs to try and ease the pain, but mostly nothing works. I feel sick at the thought that this pain is going to be with me for life and told my mother and husband that I would rather have my legs below my knees removed. They thought I was joking - I'm not. I won't do this yet, as there is still some avenues I can look at to see if there is something that can be treated, but I will do it if all they can offer is pain management. I want to live...!! Thank you so much for this post Richard.Kate Bettisonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16675697263537244480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101286884737808495.post-67587998089388110392013-09-22T14:12:14.077-04:002013-09-22T14:12:14.077-04:00Best of luck to you Cassandra. It seems so awful f...Best of luck to you Cassandra. It seems so awful for surgeons to operate and operate and leave their patients in no better and more often in worse condition. Life is far better imo with a prosthesis than a painful, irreparable foot that limits life in every way, every day. Please let me know if I can help answer any questions. As an fyi, I just ran 18 miles this morning. No surgery on my old foot could have fixed it to do this.Richard Blalockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11206813997862346871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101286884737808495.post-1961796134080389142013-09-21T20:07:18.380-04:002013-09-21T20:07:18.380-04:00Thank you for posting this.
I am seriously think...Thank you for posting this. <br /><br />I am seriously thinking about a below the knee amputation on my left leg. I have had six foot/ankle surgeries including a subtalar and tibial-talar-calcaneal fusions over the past 13 years. As a result of the TTC fusion, my fibula is too short for a total ankle re replacement. My last surgery was in May 2013 where I had a bunionectomy, fifth digit repair, and a painful screw from the TTC fusion removed that was gauging my twice-repaired posterior tibial tendon. I was then broadsided by a person who ran a red light in July, which totaled my car. I have been dealing with daily swelling and pain since 16 days after the accident. Luckily, my family is supportive thus far as they have watched me suffer all of these years. I plan to discuss this option with my doctor at my next appointment in two weeks. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17928841298947607122noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101286884737808495.post-74186555984830317062011-02-01T09:02:49.933-05:002011-02-01T09:02:49.933-05:00Hi Lisa,
You probably found this post via a searc...Hi Lisa,<br /><br />You probably found this post via a search engine. If you look on the right sidebar of my blog you will see the archives and can read as much or little of my entire journey from prior to the operation until the most recent posts, which is about my running the Charleston Marathon. So in a word, I am doing great.<br /><br />Feel free to email me to discuss anything on the topic. This is a very tough decision and it still seems strange to me that I lost my foot. But I do not regret it in the least.<br /><br />At least as important as your surgeon will be your prosthetist, for that are NOT all equal and you will have a lifetime relationship with them. <br /><br />Best of luck to you.Richard Blalockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11206813997862346871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101286884737808495.post-46476303391127022882011-01-31T23:17:13.569-05:002011-01-31T23:17:13.569-05:00I am in the process of making the decision to have...I am in the process of making the decision to have a below the knee amputation due to partial paralysis on my right foot. I have had several very painful surgeries (tendon splitting, transfers, cutting of flexor tendons in my toes as well as my achilles tendon snapping and a repair). It's been many years since my last operation and I have two little boys. My neck and back on my left side are always aching and my foot is just dead weight. Cold during the winter and swollen during the summer. I limp and it is getting worse. I am active and would do anything to run or hike or even ride a bike with my boys. I am 40 years old and I fear my future is going to only get worse. Unfortunately I am being met with resistance from family, but mostly have a good support system and great doctors. I have been researching this option for over a year now and I wish I had done this sooner. My fear is that I have been walking with a limp for so long and cannot remember how it even feels to run. What if I go through this and God forbid something horrible goes wrong. I need to hear inspiring stories like yours. Thanks for the post! Would love to know how you are doing now.<br /><br />LisaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101286884737808495.post-40306154774266624992010-04-06T13:47:23.225-04:002010-04-06T13:47:23.225-04:00"I would much rather lose another limb than g..."I would much rather lose another limb than go through a root canal."<br /><br />Now that is FUNNY but true! As I've mentioned before, surgery comes with it's own risks, but I've known people who have been through 16 - 26 surgeries in an attempt to fix a wrecked paw. So how is that any "better?"<br /><br />You have a terrific attitude and will do great, lots to learn over this first year.Richard Blalockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11206813997862346871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101286884737808495.post-76820120972902779682010-04-03T10:16:19.540-04:002010-04-03T10:16:19.540-04:00Excellent post! I hope that when people google ANY...Excellent post! I hope that when people google ANYTHING about amputation surgery your blog pops up first. If I had read this post way back in July I would have had my surgery right then and there! Except I would much rather lose another limb than go through a root canal. Keep up the great work, you are an inspiration to us all.Wombat4https://www.blogger.com/profile/12861222943336137469noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101286884737808495.post-69221046966426895992010-04-03T09:38:36.967-04:002010-04-03T09:38:36.967-04:00Hi Ian,
I am hoping anyone considering amputation...Hi Ian,<br /><br />I am hoping anyone considering amputation will be able to point to this post for others to read who many not understand this decision. I have talked to people in this exact dilemma and it is hard to have to convince someone else that they want to go through this procedure. You are right, ultimately it is up to the individual. The decision is not easy on many levels.<br /><br />I think as long minds are open to facts then the best decision can be reached.<br /><br />- RichardRichard Blalockhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11206813997862346871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2101286884737808495.post-19086970120138007902010-04-03T09:04:12.331-04:002010-04-03T09:04:12.331-04:00Great post, Richard. The sharing of this kind of k...Great post, Richard. The sharing of this kind of knowledge with people who are looking at the elective option is invaluable, and your humility and generosity in offering assistance to others and their close friends and families tells us all we need to know about you. The pressure of others in any decision making process can sway opinion, but it is the individual, in every case and scenario, who has to look at themselves and live with their decision every day of their lives. Knowledge of personal experience is so powerful here.Ian @imofohttp://mebutfitter.comnoreply@blogger.com