sad painful days

[tony barr]

Jake,

In response to our question, reconstruction of your limb may help eliminate
your problem as you described below.

You should be evaluated by a compotent surgeon whom is familiar with all the
aspects of the Ertl procedure before considering the surgery or any surgery
for that matter. You may find a list of surgeons by state performing the
procedure on a routine basis at www.ertlreconstruction.com Perhaps you might
want to make arrangements for an evaluation.

We have documented cases where surgeons(or interns) have performed the most
common performed amputation, the  "guillotine procedure" where the limb is
more less severed an stiched.Reconstruction cases have revealed on many
occassions,the   sciatic nerve being wrapped around the end of stump,
floating open blood vessels arteries and instabilized tibia & fibias as well
as muscle tissue.

This can all cause tremendous discomfort when floating inside during your
gait and while wearing a prosthesis.
Blood flow not properly cauterized actually stimulated growth to nerve
endings that from neuromas or perhaps better described as "nerve balls" a
the sides and ends of the stumps. This generally occurs 3-5 years post op
and is often improperly diagnosed as "phantom pains" or bone spurs.

I am not a surgeon of prosthetist but can quess that since you are
experiencing (described below these sensations) after only four months
post-op(10-03)the problem will not go away on its own nor will any
prosthetic device resolve the problems you have described for the long term.

It's a tragedy that our medical community whom performs 3000 limb
amputations every week  do not take pride in the final outcomes, as they do
other internal forms of amputations i.e hip and knee replacements,
masectomies,etc.

But then again they don't get paid as much either!

Tony Barr
Barr Foundation
www.oandp.com/barr
www.ertlreconstruction.com 

-----Original Message-----
From: AMP-L-owner at u.washington.edu [mailto:AMP-L-owner at u.washington.edu] On
Behalf Of JACOB CALLAWAY
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2004 11:35 AM
To: Amputee Information Network
Subject: Re: sad painful days

Wendi,
I have a Neuroma on the left side of my stump that causes me problems, when
I initially start out in the morning and after I remove the prosthesis at
the end of the day. If I go a day without the prosthesis it then causes more
problems, seems the more I wear it the better. I also found that when I
remove the leg (BK left) if I get in a tub of hot water and massage the
Neuroma area it helps lots, otherwise it jumps and hurts a lot. Don't you
think that since I've only had the leg since 10/03 that it will get better
with use or will it get worse ? Should I talk to my Dr. about doing
something to correct the Neuroma, can it be corrected?
Jake,
----- Original Message -----
From: "Wendi" <wde1971 at bellsouth.net>
To: "Amputee Information Network" <amp-l at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Monday, February 23, 2004 8:09 AM
Subject: sad painful days


> Jake don't beat yourself up.  We all have our bad sad and painful days.
> I have pitty parties when my kids are out playing and I hurt too much to
> play with them.  But i do get out and play with them most of the time.
> If you are still hurting then sometimes it takes and objective opinion
> to help you out.  It never hurts to call your CP  or go see them.  If
> they have any experience then they can help you through it.
>
> I have done stupid stuff like wearing too many socks and couldn't figure
> that out on my on.  I was in the frame of mind if it hurts put on
> another sock.  and then another and then another and I was just
> frustrated and in pain.  Just talking to my CP on the phone I was able
> to calm down adn he talked me through my pain and ina  couple of days I
> was better.
>
> Hope this helps a little
>
> wendi
>