The Old Amputation Question Again...
Posted: Wed Jun 29, 2005 4:37 am
Hi...I am nearly 9 years post accident. I have treated with my pain management doctor for 5 of them. I have had the SCS implant, which did not help my pain. My doctor says he wants to re-do it, I just don't think 're-doing' it for the THIRD time will help much. I have also had exploratory surgery and nerve grafts done that did not take. I currently take neurontin, effexor and lortab for the pain, which eases it, but I am never free from horrible, burning pain in my hand, and pains that shoot down my arm into my hand that take my breath.
I can do a shoulder shrug. That's all the movement I have ever had in the arm. An EMG done about 2 months ago has shown no improvement in 9 years. My hand is starting to claw, and my back and shoulder are breaking down due to the weight of the dead limb.
When I mention amputation to my pain doctor, he tells me not to do it, that I would just 'trade one pain for another'. I don't understand phantom pain, but my arm has been 'numb' except for the pain since my wreck happened. I do have feeling above the elbow but nothing from the elbow down. I don't understand how the two pains could be that much different. The way I see it, I think I could benefit from amputation in the fact that the weight will be gone. I feel my quality of life would drastically improve.
I know it won't get rid of my pain, but will it be worse, as my doctor has said?
Can the nerves that are damaged be cut to where there's no pain sensors left to 'get through'? Or if you cut one nerve, you hafta cut them all?
What is phantom pain? What does it feel like?
Anyone that has struggled with these questions, and found your answers through amputation or information, I beeeeg you to please respond.
And to my brothers and sisters who deal with this injury every day like I do, just believe that your injury happened for a reason. Mine, like many stories I have read about on here, is minor to what I could have been left with. I am a miracle...I totally believe that...and so are you.
Thanks 4 reading!!
I can do a shoulder shrug. That's all the movement I have ever had in the arm. An EMG done about 2 months ago has shown no improvement in 9 years. My hand is starting to claw, and my back and shoulder are breaking down due to the weight of the dead limb.
When I mention amputation to my pain doctor, he tells me not to do it, that I would just 'trade one pain for another'. I don't understand phantom pain, but my arm has been 'numb' except for the pain since my wreck happened. I do have feeling above the elbow but nothing from the elbow down. I don't understand how the two pains could be that much different. The way I see it, I think I could benefit from amputation in the fact that the weight will be gone. I feel my quality of life would drastically improve.
I know it won't get rid of my pain, but will it be worse, as my doctor has said?
Can the nerves that are damaged be cut to where there's no pain sensors left to 'get through'? Or if you cut one nerve, you hafta cut them all?
What is phantom pain? What does it feel like?
Anyone that has struggled with these questions, and found your answers through amputation or information, I beeeeg you to please respond.
And to my brothers and sisters who deal with this injury every day like I do, just believe that your injury happened for a reason. Mine, like many stories I have read about on here, is minor to what I could have been left with. I am a miracle...I totally believe that...and so are you.
Thanks 4 reading!!