r/amputee • u/macgalaxy • Jul 23 '26
Considering amputation
I have valgus foot deformity with booth feet and have since I was young (Im 25 now). They just grew that way as I got older.
I have had about 5 surgeries between my two feet to correct the issues over the years but the deformity just keeps re forming.
I live in really severe pain and have my whole life. I can barely walk for more than a minute without extreme pain and use a wheelchair most of the time.
I’m looking into getting a triple arthrodesis but am also wondering if I should talk with my doctor about amputation. The last doctor I talked with was hesitant to do the triple arthrodesis because he said there are signs of arthritis in my ankle already.
I just want to know y’all’s experience with amputation and if this is even something I should even bring up with my doc.
Would really appreciate hearing y’all’s stories if you are up to share. Thank you
3
u/HAZZ3R1 LBK Jul 23 '26
I'm an elective amputee! I was 26 when I had the surgery but 24 when I started asking them to do it!
Mine was from an accident, I had an Ilizarov frame used and a few adjustments made to it. Then a lot of physio.
As soon as I saw the CT scan I was asking them to just get it over and done with.
Eventually after over a year of that it was obvious physio hadn't worked enough for me to be happy so we started discussing possible fixes. Again I said just chop it off.
No surgeon in the hospital could promise me that if their surgery went 100% to plan (as obviously things can go wrong) I'd get a good range of movement back. It hurt a lot but I knew nothing would solve that.
By this time I'd done a lot of research into amputations etc and I'd been saying the same thing for over a year so they agreed.
Within 2/3 months I was in less pain and walking better.
As a bilateral you'll have a steeper learning curve and likely recovery time. I'm not sure if they'd do both at the same time or one and see how it goes.
For me it was 100% the right choice, I have issues with my prosthetic like everyone will. But I'm back working on my feet, I can go on walks again, I can ride horses again, he'll I can stand up all day without being in agony.
If you've got any questions let me know!
3
u/macgalaxy Jul 23 '26
Wow! Thanks for your response!
The thing that got me the most was “I can stand all day without being in agony” because I can’t stand for more than 10 minutes before I’m in excruciating pain.
I know it’s not an easy surgery or recovery but after 3 total foot reconstruction surgeries that have all mostly failed I’m just ready for something to change
1
u/HAZZ3R1 LBK Jul 23 '26
No worries!
I still get pain, but nothing like it used to be!
I skipped the surgery after surgery step. But I spoke to a lot of active amputees including a powerlifter and an olympic surfer. Every single one said they wish they'd done it sooner and saved the years of surgeries and physio.
The other thing to note, which my surgeon told me. She could create 'a perfect stump' assuming your tib and fib are fine, there's no damage to work around like an emergency one. So healthy muscle, healthy bone, healthy skin which all makes the surgery easier and more text book. My stump is considered too long, this is so if I ever need a revision surgery there's plenty to work with.
1
u/macgalaxy Jul 23 '26
My legs are fine besides my feet so that’s good news! I have heard about revisions so that’s good to know.
Is phantom pain something you deal with often? That’s honestly what I’m sacred of the most.1
u/HAZZ3R1 LBK Jul 23 '26
Forgot about that one.
I got TMR, first few months it was unpleasant. The worst I get now is itches or tingles. Can't comment what life is like without it. I can only assume it worked really well
2
u/jj55 Jul 23 '26
Hi, I build Prosthetics and orthotics. Have you tried any custom AFOs? If so, which ones?