To Revise Or Not To Revise

That is the Question Amputation is a difficult road, one that can change direction quickly, even after you heal. For many amputees the surgical side of their life isn’t over. Many of us end up needing a TMR surgery or even a revision, while others will have to amputate even higher! Going from a below knee to an above knee amputation is life changing because one amputation is completely different from the next. What is required of you to be able to walk again, heal again, and trust again takes its toll. So why do revisions happening? Why are they required for so many? For some people their bone density is compromised. For others, bones spurs grow causing pain, And still others, myself included, find foreign objects left in their limb that no longer serve a purpose and only cause distress for the nerves. There are so many reasons that revision is brought up in doctor offices around the world and so many amputees who find it hard to wrap their head around being opened up again.     This past summer, just 8 weeks ago, I had this very choice. I was a possible candidate for an experimental surgery that I wasn’t sure the rewards were worth the risks, until we did a CT scan finding a foreign object coming out of my femur, causing the pains I have been dealing with for 6 years! But what if your story isn’t so clear cut? How do you decide that revision is right for you?       Make a list of pros and cons about your revision. Compare them and talk about them with your family and the people who support you. Be open minded, not all revisions are necessary and timelines change. Allow the chips fall where they may and be attentive to what’s going on around you: how have you been feeling, how’s the pain, is there something specific that you really must have done (maybe you have an underlying infection-you don’t want to wait on that one), maybe you’ve been promised a “nicer” looking residual limb. Whatever it is, weigh that in your mind and on your list, and ask, is it necessary, and if the surgery doesn’t go as planned are you ready for that outcome? And finally, something I’ve always believed in, Mindset and Manifestation.     Make your decision then, if you’re going for it, leave the “what if’s” behind and start setting your goals and VISUALIZING your successes post-revision. Your brain is powerful and where you led it, it will follow! You are stronger than you know, dear Warrior!!! It’s time to rise up! Have a blessed day, And as always, Be Healthy, Be Happy, Be YOU!!   Much love,