Hello,
I am a 54 year old male that has had Type 1 diabetes for just over 45 years now. Approximately 4 months ago, I developed swelling in my left leg below the knee and woke up one morning and was unable to put pressure on my left foot. I limped around for about a week before I went to the Emergency room at a local hospital here in Montreal, Canada. After ten days in hospital, I was finally told that I may have osteomilitis in my foot because of a charcot joint in the metatarsil bones. the scans ansd x-rays To make a long story short, I am now facing a possible amputation and would like to know what my chances of survival are if the leg is amputated above the knee, and no blood is used for the surgery. I have severe calcification in my arteries below the knee, and I am assuming it is pretty much the same above the knee, or maybe slightly better above the knee since there is plenty of feeling there. Oh yes...did I mention I also have severe neuropathy in my feet? And I have an ulcer in the bottom of my foot which was caused by the charcot joint piecing the bottom of my foot and have been on two different antibiotics in the past 4 omths. I am still presently on Cipro. so, do I or don't I follow the suggestion of my vascular surgeon, and think about removing the leg, or do I just try to endure the pain with pain killers and antibiotics until the ulcer possibly closes?
Help! I need to make an informed decision!
Ted

Originally Posted by cossack Hello, I am a 54 year old male.... so, do I or don't I follow the suggestion of my vascular surgeon, and think about removing the leg, or do I just try to endure the pain with pain killers and antibiotics until the ulcer possibly closes? Help! I need to make an informed decision! Ted