After 2 postponements, tomorrow I will have my above the knee amputation. Not looking forward to it, but at same time I am. This is a result of an accident 6 years ago that left me with a fused hip, 8' of metal rod with a hinge for a knee, and so much scar tissue build up, my knee became un-bendable almost from the beginning, and my leg 2" shorter. Now the knee and metal is full of infection. I have thought from the beginning my leg should have been taken, but the doc thought he could save it. I hope I will now be able to have better mobility and lose a lot of the pain I have had over the past few years. My biggest concern though, is still being able to head south this year! My wife just retired and this is supposed to be our first snowbirding winter.

Good luck. Hope you can travel south this year. Work hard at recovery and it can happen.

Thoughts and prayers are with you for a speedy recovery and making it south for the winter!!

Good luck and I hope for the best for you.

It sounds like you will be much better off after surgery. My prayers all goes well and you have a quick recovery. Going to be an uphill battle but I think from your post you are up for it. Best to you and your recovery!!!

ATK tomorrow | Good Sam Community

Chock_Full_o__N
Explorer
Aug 25, 2014
richardwise wrote:
Day 9 after amputation, and I realize I had an extremely optimistic view of recovery. Still feeling effects of a major surgery and am getting bored taking it easy and sitting around. Am learning to use crutches, but body getting used to them is hard. I thought I felt bad after the first day of wrestling practice in high school! I never knew I had so many unused muscles in my arms and shoulders, plus I have to be careful of the pic line for my IV antibiotics. Six weeks of them, then I hope the pic line comes out. Doctor says he may release my to head south, but prosthesis guy says not to wait, he wants to try getting me on one right now. Not sure if he is right about not waiting or is afraid I'll go to someone else. Right now, not sure if I can even use one. Still too soon to start trying one anyway. Just taking it one day at a time.

They generally try to start you getting into a prosthesis pretty soon after surgery. The prosthesis helps shape the stump properly. If you wait a few months, the stump will find it's own shape and may be harder to fit the prosthesis over later.

Good luck with your crutches. I had arthroscopic knee surgery last winter and was no-weight-bearing for over 2 weeks. My wrists, shoulders and neck seized up from the strain of hauling myself everywhere with my arms.
emzee
Explorer
Aug 27, 2014
All the best. Having a fit now may be the best move, ask your doctor first.

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