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Surgery concerns...

  • Thread starter Thread starter 999sugarbabe
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999sugarbabe

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I saw my orthopaedic surgeon on 21st... some birthday present that was :!:
He's told me that the (10 year old) fracture in my leg hasn't healed (nice), and the plate and screws have broken (it gets worse), there are signs of "abnormalities" in the bone and fracture site which were apparent on the CT Scan (due to being diabetic perhaps, I wonder?).
He has offered me surgery to remove the broken metalwork where possible (probably not all of it), graft some bone (he didn't say from where, but I'm guessing it'll be my pelvis), introduce some special (and very expensive) protein mixture, replace some metalwork with stronger metalwork, and remove a couple of obsolete screws.
He said there is no guarrantee it will work, a risk of infection, and a chance of amputation.
Naturally, I think, I requested some time to think about this and to get Christmas over with before deciding what to do.
I live alone and this could/will make life VERY difficult for me to manage.
I have no one I can really discuss this with and, as I'm pretty depressed currently, I'm not confident about making ANY decisions.
How on earth can I decide?
At the moment I'm mobile, albeit on crutches when outdoors, but do I risk becoming less mobile?
Diabetes type 2, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, a history of DVT (deep vein thrombosis) to name but a few, all add to the risk factor.
I'm hoping to be able to talk to either my G.P. or practise nurse about this, but I'm not very optimistic. (My relationship with them isn't that good).
Has anyone else gone through a similar situation who can advise me what's best course of action?
 
I'm afraid that It's not something I know about in humans, but I do know of my vet brother doing this kind of surgery on a dog. With Brilliant results. It strikes me that what you really need is a support group. Would your local church or other relevant place of worship have a group that could help? My 90 year old mother lives alone 3 hours away from the nearest of her children and the people of her villsge, led by a wonderful woman vicar, see to it that all their frail elderly parishoners are looked after.
 
This is one of these situations where it would be great to have a crystal ball.

I don't know anyone who has had the same dilemma as this.

How is your control generally? Are you at higher than average risk of post op infection? How are your blood vessels eg do you have cold feet? Are you in pain? What happens if you DON''T have the op? What are the chances of you getting an amputation if you do get the op? Are you already stuggling to live independently and how would this be affected by a good result from the op or a bad result from the op?

What we may be able to do is help you get better control of blood sugars prior to any operation.
 
I think Hannas idea of a support group is good, going over and over things in our heads we often often dwell on the negatives.
In addition, before any operation doctors have to tell you the worst case senario, which always sounds horendous. You need to try to find out the most likely outcome but also the most likely outcome if you don't have the operation. You should at least try to talk to your GP about this.
I know it's not quite the same but my daughter broke her arm when she was 10, and it was pinned. Two years later she had to have a bone graft for the non healed fracture. Apart from large scar, the bane of her adolescent years, it was totally successful.
 
Thanks for the responses.

Whilst I may feel it, I'm not a geriatric yet hanadr :!:
Is your vetenarian brother available to do the surgery :?:
I think I'd trust him more than a doctor anyway. Their training is probably better :wink:

I'm not into "support groups" as such, and hey - I regard this website as my support :shock:

Yes Katharine, I wish I had crystal balls too...... I could make a fortune at Barnham & Bailey's circus :lol: I have circulation problems and cold feet (in every sense), but my blood readings are between 5.3 and 8.7mmol/L, which aren't too bad are they?

I am going to try to speak to my Doctor or Nurse... just plucking up courage :roll:

Phoenix, if your 10 year old daughter can go through it I should be able to. I've had many operations myself, just that in the past (when I WAS younger) everything healed quickly. Not so when you are older :?

Your responses have helped me quite a bit. Getting someone elses ideas & opinions does relieve some concerns, and it helps knowing that there are people out there who take the time to listen and empathise.
Thanks to you all
XXX
 
Your blood sugar control is pretty good. On the other hand your freezing feet sound not so good.

How about a list.

What good things could happen if I get the op?

What bad things could happen if I get the op?

What good things will happen if I don''t get the op?

What bad things will happen if I don't get the op?

How will things be different in five years time for each of these scenarios?

Be as detailed and as imaginative as you can.

Then trust your gut.
 
Well, I saw my G.P. who, after listening to what I had to say about my concerns re: undergoing surgery, suprisingly seemed to agree that I should speak to the surgeon again before deciding, and possibly put off surgery for the time being.
With what's involved, and the risks of ending up in a worse state, it's a hard choice.

My leg won't get any better on its' own (after all it's had 10 years, and still one of the the original fractures is mush), and the older I get the riskier surgery becomes, not to mention if my other conditions actually worsen with age, do I really want to risk losing part of a leg :?:
On the other hand (or leg), advances in surgical techniques may alter the statistics more in favour of waiting.
I'm just going round in circles (nothing to do with the leg problem!).

I see the surgeon in the new year....

I used to be uncertain, but now I'm not so sure :!:
 
I used to be uncertain, but now I'm not so sure
At least your sense of humour hasn't been amputated !

With decisions like these it was easier in the old days. The doctor or surgeon decided and you went along with it and lived (or not) with the consequences.
 
Katharine would know, but it used to be that it was legal for a vet to treat a human, but not for a doctor to treat an animal. I don't know if this is still the case. I think it went back to the army, who had more ets(for the horses0 than doctors (for the men) and horses were more valuable than men.
 
The vet thing is still true. Vets are trained in surgery and doctors generally are not. Vets also get some training on human anatomy. They could take your appendix out (and spay you as well!) no bother.

There has been some articles on surgeons doing specialist ops on large primates. They are specifically invited to do so by the vets of course.
 
I have watched my brother perform surgery( on my own animal. Anything else wouldn't be legal) and he's impressive. the rate of post-op infection in his clinic is VERY low. ( surgeons might learn something)
However, a while ago, an elderly woman was hit by a car crossing the road outside his clinic and he sent the head nurse out to administer first aid, because he was afraid that he might end up getting sued. The ambulance took an age to arrive and the woman died of a skull facture before they did.
The head nurse told me later she's sure that my brother could have saved her, but didn't dare try. They did all an untrained person could.
 
Well, that's thrown the cat amongst the pigeons!

Yesterday, I "had a bit of a turn", and to cut a long story short ended up in hospital A&E. I may now have a heart problem too :shock:
I wasn't kept in, but I shall be getting a referral to a Cardiologist...

Now this, is another nail in my surgery coffin, so to speak.

My instincts keep telling me NOT to have this leg surgery. I'm seeing the Surgeon this Friday at the same hospital, so presumably his online notes will flag this visit. :?: ... More to discuss with him.

I can't take much more. :cry: I've no one I can really discuss it with any more. I miss my best friend SO much at times like this. She would have been a tower of strength.
 
Hi Sugarbabe,

You had a difficult decision to make and now it sounds like the anaesthetist/cardiologist could be making it for you.

If they decide no surgery that it the easy bit. If they decide it is up to you, it is even more problematic. I do think your body knows more about it than you do, so gut instincts count for a lot in my book.
 
Hi Sugarbabe,
Sorry no personal experience of your problem, but could you ask your GP to be referred to another surgeon for a second opinion. I know if you don't get on with your GP it will be hard but it is your health. You never know another surgeon may have more experience in your sort of problem.
Sorry can't be more helpful, but in your circumstances it is what I would do.

Obviously your heart problem may rule an operation out, but if it is still an option then may be another option.

Good luck with your cardiologist appointment, if you have no one to go with take a notepad and paper and jot down some of the key points, and also questions you have. I always go in with my mum and find they are really helpful and answer all our questions, never had an unhelpful cardiologist yet!

Best wishes to you,
Jox
 
Hi, one and all.
Just back from the Orthopaedic Surgery appointment.
Due to the (possibility of a) Cardiac problem he's put me on "hold", and I'm discharged pending the Cardiologist's findings. :|
I've got to see my GP, arrange an appointment with Cardiology, and then see where we go from there.
I'm ok with it all, as my gut feeling was NOT to go ahead with the surgery for the time being anyway.
We shall wait and see....
 
I think this will give you the time to think about everything and decide whats best for you, and discover what your options will be - hope everything goes ok
 
Back from seeing the Cardiologist today.

He's treating me for Angina, whilst awaiting several specialised tests to be carried out (at the famous Harefield Hospital), as there is a possibility of something rarer and more sinister...
More tablets too :!: :roll:

That's my leg surgery out of the frame for good I suspect.

It's times like this I really hate being on my own as, try as I will NOT to brood on things, it will gnaw away at the back of my mind (what's left of a mind that is!).

Off to see my G.P. in a couple of days...

I could do with some support right now, and I don't mean the type you wear :!: :wink:

Any single (young & female) nurses reading this feel free to PM me :!: The PM doesn't stand for Post Mortem :!: :lol:
 
Well, I've had my scan at Harefield Hospital and now I've got to wait for the Cardiologist to see me...
 
Hi sugar
Keep us up to date on events. we do wanto know and hope that our long-distance support helps you
 
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