would you amputate your leg if you were in my shoes?
I have been blind my whole life, I am now in a wheelchair because I woke up one moring and my leg was paralysed now over a year later I still have no function of this limb. I now use a wheelchair and/or crutches. which is not only dangerous but Is very hard on the euqipment (I have had my electric chair replaced 3 times over and its not even a year old yet) I've broken white cane (like 14 i think) and killed 2 manual wheelchairs. I want to remain active but my back is seriously injured from the dead weight. I can't feel my limb and I have had staph 7 times in my life if something happened I would never know. I want to walk again and not have to rely on crutches and run a safety risk. I know of many people who are amputees and although it was an ajustment they are doing just fine. so would you electively amputate your leg if you were me?
how would you say I'm not adapting? I still went to college I am training my own servicd dog, I still remain as active as possible I use a white cane in front of my wheelchair but one litle stick is not going to stop and electric wheelchair if it hits something. I'm doing the best i can but I wondering if this might be better. a paraplegic can still see there legs and see if something is wrong I can't. they can see were there wheelchair is going i can't. they can see the tips of there crutches I can't. there is a difference
March 17th, 2011 - 01:28
I’m an above knee amputee, however I am not blind of visually impaired so I won’t be able to help too much.
While I strongly believe that amputation has gotten a bad wrap over the years, it is a major surgery and shouldn’t be taken lightly. I hate to say it, but if you have no feeling or the ability to move the limb now, a prosthesis won’t fix that. Prosthetic limbs don’t walk on their own, if you were to be an above knee you would need a strong hip and femur to move the limb forward. If the entire limb was taken off to the hip, your back troubles would only get worse as you would need to swing your pelvis to move the hip and knee joint.
Using my own experience (as I said before I’m not blind) there are many visual cues needed to operate a prosthesis. I need to be aware of the ground ahead, especially if it is slippery or uneven. I need to be sure that my foot is positioned correctly in order for the knee to unlock, swing forward, then lock again. Other wise I fall on my backside or face-first. Footing is extra important on stairs or inclines. Prosthetic knees don’t work the same as a human knee. They swing outward and it’s hard to lift them to avoid objects or sometimes people. ( I’m terrible for accidently kicking things)
It is also very important as am amputee to be able to check your stump/residual limb for any: sores, cuts, blisters, bruises etc. As the limb remains in a socket for several hours a day keeping it clean and inspecting the skin helps stop a minor problem from becoming a serious infection.
I only know one amputee who is legally blind, but he has some vision which has helped him adapt to using prosthesis. Given that you are blind, and that you have no feeling or use of the limb I’m not sure if you would be considered a candidate for a prosthesis.
Talk it over with your doctor and see what they have to say on the matter. Perhaps something can be resolved with the wheelchair to make it more userfriendly
March 17th, 2011 - 01:28
You technically don’t have to wear shoes. And if you amputate, you wouldn’t have a leg for the shoe in the first place, thus I couldn’t be in your shoe(s).
March 17th, 2011 - 01:28
Although an amputation seems drastic, I agree that it seems to be the best option for you. I wish you the best of luck and I hope whatever you choose to do will improve your situation.
March 17th, 2011 - 01:28
Seems that you condition is somewhat similar to that of a paraplegic, only you do have one leg that’s still functioning apparently, so in that respect your situation could be considered advantageous vs. having not use of your legs. I haven’t noticed any paraplegics that were the least bit interested in having their legs amputated, I don’t see why would why you would be either. Based on what you’ve mentioned, it doesn’t seem that you’re adapting all that well with your condition. I do suspect your blindness is compounding your problems, but I don’t think that amputating your leg will necessarily improve things either.
Edit: I would say that if you’ve managed to break 3 electric wheelchairs in less than a year, and totalled two other wheelchairs as well, then there’s likely a problem with how you’re using them. I would bet that the vast majority of wheel chair users don’t go through 3 in a year. I’m not trying to insult you or anything, but at some point you have to take step back and figure out why this is happening.
March 17th, 2011 - 01:28
I would not have my leg amputated unless it were an absolute medical necessity, such as overwhelming infection that would cause my death. It does not sound like you are at that level, especially as you have one functioning leg. I am a paraplegic but I’m not in your situation as I am not blind. I think having your leg electively amputated sounds too drastic, but I don’t know about the severity of the infection problem, or what your doctors advise. Is there someone who can look at your leg regularly for signs of infection?
March 17th, 2011 - 01:28
Uh, If you are blind then how are you posting on yahoo answers.
March 17th, 2011 - 01:28
I think before you go the drastic step of amputating your leg you need to explore all your options.
1. OT/PT Why are you breaking your wheelchair so often? Maybe you need some training. I know people very hard on their chairs (including people who are blind) and they do not break that often.
2. When was your last staph infection? Infections are also very common with amputations. I would discuss at length with your doctor which is a higher risk – amputation infections or your previous type staph infections.
3. Stop using the crutches. They are likely the cause of your back being injured. Give your back a break.
4. I agree that being an amputee very likely has some advantages over using a chair when you are blind, but I would join an amputee support group online and try to understand better the challenges you would face before you do it.
March 17th, 2011 - 01:28
If I had all the problems that you are having with a leg that doesn’t work & is constantly becoming infected, I’d ask if amputation was a viable option from the Doctor & have it removed. You say that you want to walk again some day & a prosthetic leg might be your only option to attain this goal if the leg has no chance at returning to a useful state.
It sounds like you are keeping a level head you must have a sense of humor to deal with all of this over the years. I sense it in your wording. The humor, that is! Hang in there & I wish you all the best in your quest to walk again!
March 17th, 2011 - 01:28
there a many factors to think about as well as talk with your dr.’s. if you currently have back problems they may not be helped by removing the limb/limbs. if you use crutches at times it will mean that the hip will not be supported which could cause a sever scoliosis of the spine. if your using a electric chair it might make mobility easier and the risk of injury less. the other factors would be, would you have pain in the legs? would you be supportable to staph infection with or after amputation? (because you could be in the hospital a couple days.) how quickly your body normally heals after injury? how much physical therapy would be needed after surgery? would taking this limb off cause mental hardship? could you be fitted with a usable prosthetic? the best thing to do is weigh your pros and cons and talk to the dr.’s you trust to consult their opinion. ultimately the decision is yours as it is your body. if I were in your shoes I would think about it, but I would not take the decision lightly.
March 17th, 2011 - 01:28
how are you going to get better mobility? are you thinking not having the leg in the way will make it easier?
once the service dog is trained, things should get easier. The college should have a health center. You can go in periodically and ask them to check the leg..
a staph infection can cause swelling or an abscess which you could feel.with drainage and pus..maybe the dog could be taught to alert to it.
I would be concerned that it is something that can be treated once the doctors figure it out, but if the limb is gone, they can’t fix it.
The college should arrange a guide for you if necessary…from where you get dropped off to the classroom..maybe you or they can enlist a student from the class to meet you….just until the dog is ready to take over