Monday (7/11/2016)

Update: 

For the last couple of years, I’ve been struggling to find a solution to my hypersensitive nerves.  They’ve severely limited my use of my prosthesis and my activities.  Switching to an elevated vacuum socket and the use of steroid injections has allowed me to get out of the wheelchair for 3-4 hours a day; sometimes I could do more but it always comes at a cost.  I easily can overdo it and then spend a week or two recovering and getting the pain back under control.  I’ve lost the ability to do so many of the things that I used to take for granted.  Sometimes it weighs heavily upon me. 

Recently, I’ve been struggling with whether I should I just accept my limitations and be content, or should I try another option.  I was told by the surgeons in Rochester at Mayo that reconstructive surgery would be the last ditch effort with limited hope for success. I’ve decided that I should try anyway.  Then if the end result is that I am still limited, then I will choose to be content.  I am considering having the surgery done in Indianapolis.  The doctor there uses a different technique (named after his grandfather) which should address my specific complaints better than a typical revision surgery.  I am currently in the process of setting up an evaluation to see if I am a suitable candidate for the surgery.  I’ve spent the day doing on-line research and communicated with a couple of other amputees that have had the same procedure done.  Their reports were very encouraging to me and have given me confidence that this is the right thing to try.  I’m not certain how soon the evaluation can be done and then how long it will take to get the surgery scheduled, but I’m excited that there is a possibility of improvement. 

Traveling to Indianapolis for the evaluation, then back for the surgery, and back for some post-op visits will be a bit of a hassle; but if it improves the quality of my life it will be worth in the long run.  I actually considered doing this last year; but I wasn’t quite ready to commit to it.  I’ve spent the last year turning over every rock nearby looking for answers and haven’t found any.  So now it is time to turn over that other rock that is farther away and will take more effort.  Hopefully I’ll find what I’ve been searching for.