Amputation

Question: amputation? My wife had a below the knee amputation 23 years ago. She ocasionaly has severe pains where they buried the nerve endings in the bone. These are not phantom pains. Although thats what the doctors keep telling us. I was just wondering if there is any type of medication that she might be able to try that might work? When she has these pains it is impossible for her to get any sleep,or do anything withou being in extreme pain constantly. Any help would be deeply aprecieated. Thank you. Very concerned.

Answer: Neurontin can treat nerve pain. Consult with a Neurologist. ~~~~~~~~~~ OR talk to her Dr. about a TENS unit... Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulations (TENS) is a safe non-invasive drug-free method of pain management. It relieves pain by sending small electrical impulses through electrodes placed on the skin to underlying nerve fibers. TENS is believed to work by two different mechanisms. First, electrical stimulation of the nerve fibers can block a pain signal from being carried to the brain. If the signal is blocked, pain is not perceived. Secondly, the body has its own mechanism for suppressing pain. It does this by releasing natural chemicals called endorphins in the brain which act as analgesics. TENS may activate this mechanism. By effectively managing pain without drugs, TENS allows many people with chronic pain conditions to resume daily activity.

Question: Amputation......................? should I go to the doctor, or use the saw outside?? Friend dare.

Answer: oh yeah just use the saw, you will be fine!

Question: What actually happens during an amputation? I know it sounds a bit sick, but I'm writing a major work for school and I need a detailed description of an amputation procedure as part of my story. If anyone knows the details of it- what is used, how the wound is sealed, and etc I'd really really appreciate it. If it helps, I'm writing about a transfemoral amputation on both legs.

Answer: Try this out and see if it helps: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amputation

Question: How could a knife wound in a fight cause amputation of a limb by surgeons? Say someone was in a bar fight, the other person pulled a knife and stabbed him several times. Where would they have to stab, and/or what kind of complications could arise that would make the doctor suggest amputation of a limb?

Answer: Surgeons don't remove limbs for no reason. There has to be death of tissue beyond repair to cause this. If dead tissue is allowed to remain, gangrene will set in and then you have the serious potential of death instead of just loss of a limb. Mary is right. It must be circulatory system related.

Question: How much does a traumatic amputation Hurt? I know that losing a finger or hand or leg in to an accident must be one of the most traumatic things ever. I was in a car accident and have broken a bone and a few cuts, but that must be nothing compared to how much an amputation hurts. Does the body go into some kind of mode where endorphins kick in and it does not hurt so much as it looks. Unfortunately to answer, this must have happened to you.

Answer: I had a patient several years ago that had both legs amputated. One was amputated in the actual injury; the other was removed in surgery at the hospital. He said that it hurt. He knew that he was injured, but he said that he was able to tolerate the pain for quite a while. I think that he said that he lost consciousness after the beam was removed from his legs and he was being put on the helicopter. He ended up having to have a wound vac because the amputations were traumatic and therefore left open because there wasn't enough skin immediately to cover the stumps. He said at that point he had phantom pain.......in other words.....his feet hurt.

Question: What is the chance of supressing MRSA complications that have already required the amputation of my leg? acquired MRSA in rehab facility. after prolonged aggressive antibiotic therapy the lesions appear in several sores above the amputation site. I have Type 2 diabetes which only complicate things.

Answer: Upgrade your Diabetes to Type 1 and you should be fine.

Question: How much do you think a back leg amputation would cost for a 3lb dog (puppy)? Just trying to do some figuring..I have a consult with an orthopedic surgeon next week, just trying to get a roundabout figure on an amputation. Also, do you think it would be futile to "call around" and ask about prices? There are several good vets in the area that will possibly do an amputation but I'm not sure if it would sound stupid to call and ask for a price.

Answer: No, you should call around. You would be getting the same service for different prices, possibly by hundreds difference. At my vet they are charging me about 250 to amputate my cat's leg, (fractured into 3 pieces and not repairable). And they are great vets!

Question: How do I help a loved one with a recent amputation? My brother is 23 and just had an above the knee amputation due to an accident. I am just trying to learn all I can about the process of healing phyicaly and emotionally. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

Answer: They feel apprehensive about being pitied. Help as much as necessary with the goal of rehabilitating into extended activities of daily living. Adapting to a changed self-image takes time, for instance if he is not married, then whoever is going to marry him is going to be a very special type of human being. Learning to cope psychologically without a leg where he previously had a leg may take more than five years, because there are many small issues to address before these small solutions, one at a time, day by day, year by year, are going to make him strong enough to function as a complete human being again. The grieving process doesn't necessarily follow E. Kubler-Ross's sequence and all the steps are not necessarily there, because E. Kubler-Ross got some of her information at seances from demons. Accidents leading to limb amputation can be traumatic enough to lead to Post-traumatic stress disorder, or more commonly a traumatic crisis reaction. If he is a Christian then he should learn to thank God for everything, because everything works together for good to those who love God, to those who are the chosen according to God's purpose (Eph. 5:20, Rom. 8:28).

Question: What is the recovery time after an above the knee amputation? I might be facing an amputation above the knee due to an infection in the foot. I have poor circulation in the leg due to many surgeries after receiving gun shot wounds to the knees in Iraq. The Doctor is entertaining the idea of amputation and I was wondering if anyone out there knows the time line for recovery after an ordeal like this? Thanks for your time and prayers, Justin

Answer: I just had a revision to my above knee amputation on Monday. I'm home now and i was told I can be walking in about 4 or 5 weeks. You need to let the wound heal, then let it shrink to a good size. Wait for the stitches or staples to be removed then go to rehab for a few weeks to work on walking. It may be longer for you where you'll have to relearn walking but if you do what they tell you it doesn't take that long. the cast they put on Monday fell off Tuesday because the swelling reduced that fast so healing will be a breeze as long as you drink lots of fluids and keep on the medication. people have this hang up about amputating but really if it isn't working get rid of it. you have to weigh your options. If you leave it the way it is now are you going to have lots of complications and surgeries? will you be living in pain? will you need to take medication for circulation? will it eventually result in amputation down the road any way? With amputation you will need to learn how to walk again but it sure beats having a straight leg or living in pain.

Question: How do you get rid of a recurring Pyogenic Granuloma that has caused Osteomylitis and amputation of a big toe? Skin grafts have been attempted as has numerous excisions. Osteomylitis of the bones in the great toe resulted in amputation of the toe. Wound flap failed and wound has taken 4 months to heal, now is beginning to over granulate again. No history of diabetes or any other such. Suggestions or advice appreciated

Answer: Have you tried a polyurethane foam dressing? Harris and Rolstad report the findings of a small clinical trial of a polyurethane foam to treat over granulation: “Although there is very little in the literature regarding hypergranulation tissue, the fact that there are numerous treatments by various wound clinicians demonstrates the recognition of its presence as a clinical problem. The paucity of published information prompted the authors to design a study to collect objective data on a treatment method they had found useful in their practices. This article explores the issue of hypergranulation and offers a nontraumatic method of management. A prospective non-controlled correlational study was undertaken with ten patients and twelve wounds using a polyurethane foam dressing to reduce hypergranulation tissue. The results demonstrated a significant decrease in height of 2 mm of granulation tissue from initial measurements to measurements taken two weeks later."

Question: How much pain is there after below-the-knee amputation? Also, is phantom limb pain probable, and does is last forever? My vascular surgeon feels I should have a below-the-knee amputation soon. I have seen the orthopedic surgeon who will do the procedure, but he didn't give me much good info at all. Anyone know if there is a support group for amputees? Thanks a lot. This is really scarey.

Answer: There is considerable pain after below the knee amputation, just like any other surgeries...and the phantom limb pain is experienced by amputees up to six months or even a year...after surgery

Question: I have had a below the knee amputation recently, will I be able to go back to rollerblading and cycling ? I used to play roller hockey and loved it, I also used to bicycle a ton. I recently under went below the knee amputation and I want to get back to my old life and get active again. I want to know if these things are possible for me and where can I find the help and equipment needed o get this done? Please some one help me out here.

Answer: I should think so, I have a friend who lost his leg below the knee in a scooter accident, he was a cyclist before. He now has a carbon leg and most people think he is stronger and faster than he was before! Ask your specialist or doctor about a leg, they are available. Good luck.

Question: What happens to blood flow after amputation? does the body adapt or do surgeons need to adjust veins and arteries to better suit the body after amputation?

Answer: I think you realize that the arteries and veins leading to the amputated limb are closed off. You're asking about the rest of them, correct? The answer is that the body adjusts. None of the other arteries or veins need to be rearranged or adjusted as to size. The body is an amazing thing and can make all kinds of adjustments that you wouldn't think it could. I had a complete blockage in the main artery leading to my arm. My body managed to send blood BACKWARD through another artery to detour enough blood to my arm to keep it alive. True story, it's called a subclavian steal and is very rare. I ended up getting a bypass so that a more adequate supply of blood could get into my arm.

Question: Does this call for an amputation to prevent infection? My dog was hit by a car 5 years ago, and survived with a broken hip and crushed tail. The tail no longer wag but still has hair growth until today. However lately, the tail looks like it has loss some muscle strength and looks more limp. Does this call for an amputation to prevent infection?

Answer: The best person to ask would be the vet! He knows your dogs situation, better than anyone here does!

Question: How bad is the arm amputation scene in Requiem for a Dream? I want to see this movie so bad, but I'm so scared of it! I love Jennifer Connolly and Jared Leto, and I obsessed with this movie...I just...have a hard time making myself watch it. How bad is the amputation scene?

Answer: good movie, the whole movie is pretty messed up, but that entire scene when he gets his arm cut off and the whole movie is coming to a head, it's pretty intense.... you'll never want to do drugs. ever...

Question: What is the usual pain relief following amputation? Is it Paracetamol and Ibuprofen? In my scenario (for an essay) i have a lady who is on the above since she had an amputation 4 weeks previously - the pain relief is inadequate. Yes i know the pain relief is not enough - my essay is on ethics and pain - lack of pain relief being the ethical issue. The scenario does not explain if she was on anything else initially such as morphine. You can only be on morphine for so long. Its in the UK

Answer: There is no such thing as usual pain relief as it will depend on the patient, the amount of pain, any allergies, any other medication and even the doctors preference for certain drugs. At first she would have been given something like an opiate that is a relatively strong painkiller but only for a few days. Then she might have been tried on medium/strong strength painkillers maybe dyhydrocodiene. By four weeks the pain should not be to bad as the wound should be healing but it is possible she is suffering from phantom pains. Paracetamol and ibuprofen might be used and so might a drug called co-codomal. Tens machine are being used increasingly for pain Relief after surgery in some places hope this helps

Question: If someone is diabetic and needs a toe amputation due to gangrene, Is the Doctor suppose to use anesthesia? My friends dad is diabetic and he had a toe amputation do to gangrene but they did it without anesthesia and he was screaming in pain as they were practically ripping his toe off.. Are they suppose to use anesthesia? thanks

Answer: We usually anesthetize people for amputations. There are several different options for anesthesia (local, digital block, ankle block, spinal or general). There is no excuse for proceeding with inadequate pain relief. Diabetics frequently have decreased sensation in their feet from peripheral neuropathy, but they still need a little anesthesia for amputations. One reason is that you have to cut back into living tissue or you get a wound that won't heal.

Question: In the 19th century why did amputation needed to be done quickly? I am going my GSC Es in History and we have to write a report about surgery's, in the 19th century.. I been away while my teacher had been teaching the lessons about Amputation and I don't no what to write about it.. please i need some answers by monday.

Answer: I don’t really have a proper answer but back in the 19th century (1800s), medical science was still relatively primitive. The technology used to kill advanced at a much faster rate than the technology used to heal (see Civil War). Opening up a body exposes it to a wide variety of germs. When enough germs get into the site, it can cause an infection. Back in the 19th century, many doctors don’t really know medical asepsis, which is to use sterile tools to cut the human body. Thus, it is much faster for a patient to get infected and die compared to modern times.

Question: Whats wrong with my cat after penile amputation? My cat had bladder stones with a kidney and bladder infection so he had a penile amputation surgery. He has fully recovered, but still urinates outside of his litter box. The doctors told us this would only be temporary, but it is not looking that way. Will my cat ever be able to control his bladder again? If so, how and when?

Answer: Your cat may have developed a litter box aversion, i.e. he may have come to associate the pain of urination with those conditions with the litter box itself, and therefore is now afraid to pee there, because he remembers the pain. Here is an article about how to retrain your cat to use his litter box after his ordeal: http://cats.about.com/cs/litterboxproble… Here is a product that may assist in the retraining: http://www.preciouscat.com/precious-ultr… and the website also appears to have more information you may find useful.

Question: Does The IRS give a tax break, during the year which you have an amputation? I was injured at me work due to a faulty electrical device, which crushed my hand, I had one of my fingers amputated. At some point I was told that I could get a tax break due to the amputation, anyone heard of this??

Answer: No. However, if you itemize deductions, you may be able to deduct some of your medical expenses if they're high enough.