Need To Find A Doctor/hospital

[michael63]

At first, excuse my poor english.

I am male, 43 years old from central europe.

24 years ago I had broken my left ankle five times. They have made a spongiosa plastic. The recovery time was 8 months (walking with crutches). Two years later they removed the screws and plate.

No I a suffering with a heavy athrosis in the ankle (3 years of heavy pain) and athrosis in the knee too (Due to a bad position from the ankle).

Next year the doctors want to make a Arthrodesis (make it stiff).

And within the next three years I have to expect an artificial knee joint.

That means a lot of pain and immobility again. The prothesis of the knee will keep its function for about 12 years. Then I will be around 58 years and get the second artificial knee and so on...

I am afraid of all that treatment!

I hope, no one of you think that I am crazy, but after many years of problems and pain and considering the future i am realy tired of my leg.

I am looking for a doctor/hospital who is willing to amputate my leg above the knee.

I know what I am talking about:

Twenty years ago I had a girlfriend. After one year together she has got bone cancer and they had to amputate her right leg. Neverless she died three years later. I have seen all her problems with the amputation and her limitations.

I know what I have to expect!

Does anyone know a doctor or a hospital, who could help me and amputate my leg?

[cathyy]

Next year the doctors want to make a Arthrodesis (make it stiff).

And within the next three years I have to expect an artificial knee joint.

That means a lot of pain and immobility again. The prothesis of the knee will keep its function for about 12 years. Then I will be around 58 years and get the second artificial knee and so on...

I don't know much about the arthrodesis, but knee replacements do NOT give you a long period of immobility. They have you walking on it just a few days after the surgery. There will be pain, but the pain is actually less than the pain caused by severe arthritis of the knee. I know this from caring for people who have had the knee replacement surgery.

I think you need to see a better orthopedic specialist.

[michael63]

Dear Cathyy,

I have visited four different orthopedics.

A problem is my age: If I get a knee replacements now what will happen in 10 or 12 years? I will get the next one. And after its life again a new one. How many times is it possible to replace it? Usually two or max. three times. And then???

I have problems with the ankle AND the knee.

I know that missing a major limb is no fun! I am sure, I would have big, but less problems than now or in the future.

I am doing no sports (of course, with my problems now), and I am working in an office (sitting job), where I wouldn`t need an artifical leg all the day.

I have no parents and no children. But I`m happily married and I have the full support in this case from my wife.

My desicion is definitely. I need an experienced surgeon who is willing to amputate my leg.

I think the doctors in Thailand are the most open minded in the world.

Thanks for your help!

Edited November 2, 2005 by michael63

[Dara]

Michael63 - My heart goes out to you for suffering so much pain. My question at this point would be - how do you know that you will really get rid of the pain? My understanding is that many amputees still feel the pain they used to experience - would anybody be able to really guarantee that yours will be gone for sure?

Being 58 is pretty young - it has been said that this is the century for medical advancement with likely progress in limb and organ replacement. I wonder if taking a chance with future developments might not be preferable to going with an uncertain one...

[michael63]

Dear Dara, now I am not 58, I am only 43 years old!

The doctors say, I should wait as long as possible to get the artificial knee joint, because I am too young. That means years of pain again.

I know about phantom pain, but they cannot be worser than the pain now. And if I will find a doctor (to amputate the leg) with experience (there are methods during surgery to minimize future phantom pain), the phantom pain will be much less than the pain now.

My general condition now is still good enough to learn to use a prothesis or to walk with crutches (like I do now many times). But what will be in 30 years, when I will loose the leg, because it is impossible to get a third or fourth knee joint?

Twelve years ago I lost a part of my left index finger in an accident. First I had some emotional problems with it (I felt incomplete), but after short time I get used to it. But now with the problems of the leg and the wish to loose it, I feel "over-completely".

I was talking to my psychiatrist about that and he told me that he knows about something similar from people thinking to life in a wrong body. There a two kinds of them: people who are living in a body with the wrong sex (transgender) and people who need to be amputees (it is called "Body Integrity Identity Disorder (BIID)"). Fifty years ago nobody understood transgender people, now it is accepted (in some countries like thailand by the doctors, but not really in my country). And he (my psychiatrist) thinks, that in fifty years it would be no problem to get my leg of. But I need it now! He said, that he cannot help me in this case, but he wishes that I will find a way to get it. He is sure, that I will be happier than now. Happier, not happy.

If you don't know about BIID here some links just for information:

http://www.biid.org/

http://pixnaps.blogspot.com/2005/07/ethics...amputation.html

http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=38441

http://www.abc.net.au/science/news/stories/s1395891.htm

[bina]

just out of curiousity: have u considered the fact that sitting at a desk all day is worsening your knee pain?? i have arthiritis in joints (43 yrs old also with some genetic thingy with tendons and joints) and sitting all day worsens any pain in hip and knee.... i work outdoors, climb fences, chase goats, etc... no, i dont run, i walk, and in winter cannot stand in the morning till i do some yoga stuff, sitting for a long time on a chair is misery, so i sit on floors (thai issan style!), etc,but better than not having a leg

i second catthyy, get a new ortho; try alternative methods (hydrotherapy etc) and i know lpeople with knee surgery at your age and younger even and they feel great, they swim for exercise, walk, are not overweight (a problem with joint injuries etc), etc... and pain management.... definately healthier than chopping off a leg.... its not the same as a boxer's tail... its heavy duty surgery and recovery time, and having friends with artificial limbs (israel soldiers etc) its definately not the best option....

just my personal two cents cause i thought it was a bit of an unusual request.....