This community is dedicated to recovering from accidents and unexpected events which emotional and/or physical distress.
Some examples of accidents that can cause long-term s...
|
Help! What ?'s should I ask?
|
Watch this |
| View More Posts Ignore |
I'm seeing Dr. Lee tomorrow at 8:00 AM. I'm seriously thinking about talking about amputation of my left arm. I'm not sure how far up it would be. I hope below the elbow. My accident was 1/2/07. I have no feeling or movement from my elbow down. My arm is still swollen but no where's near what it used to be. I cannot have spinal cord stimulation because of spinal canal stenosis. Dr. Mao wants me to see Dr. Eskender, neurosurgeon at MGH about DBS. I believe that is Deep Brain Stimulation.
I'm very frustrated with the spasms, pain and lack of use from my left arm. What should I be asking Dr. Lee about amputation? Would phantom pain be less pain than I have now? What can a prosthetic do? Please help with questions. Thanks, Janelle Posted on 07/13/08, 03:07 pm |
| 2 Replies | Add Your Reply |
| View More Posts Ignore |
ask everything you can think of. Is it the best alternative to your current situation? what is the amount of aftercare and duties you will have to do to maintain the amputated limb. is there an alternative solution. is insurance going to cover the procedure and aftercare if not what amount will you have to pay. what is the expected outcome of the surgery. the most important is will it improve your quality of life. anything and every thing you can think of ask it!!!! dont be afraid 
|
|
|
|
||
| View More Posts Ignore |
I am not positive I’m going the amputation route. It is permanent. I want efforts that can be tried to be tried. I do know however, is that if my arm is going to be the way it is now there is nothing to save. My arm is a weight around my neck literally. I need to know that things will get better. The same cannot be. My quality of life is decreasing daily.
Mike & I want to go to Vegas in Nov. There is no way we can do that with the way I am. Dr. Mao wants me to see a neurosurgeon about DBS, Deep Brain Stimulation, where SCS is impossible. If that works & helps with the pain that will assist with one problem. The other problem is a dead arm from the elbow down. Something has to be done about that. Dr. Lee is the one to address that. I don’t want amputation but if that is the only real answer then it needs to be discussed and reviewed if that is the right move to make. The fact is I want my life back. I can’t work, go out with friends, go on vacation. All I can do is have Mike raise my arm up in the air or set it in a pulley attached to my bedroom door and raise it up. This helps with the pain. I take drugs. I want off them. I want a glass of wine with dinner. There has to be a solution to the situation I'm in. I need answers. But, I need to know what questions to ask. Thanks, Janelle
|
|
|
|
||
Dr. Lee is scheduling muscle transplant surgery for my left arm. The muscle will be taken from my right leg. It is a 12 …
I just want to give my POV on this topic and ask others for theirs. I was involved in a car accident on Aug 11th 06. …
I have been thinking about one of the other posts and the phrase "mind over matter". It has bothered me …
