3 replies to this topic

[BoyFallDown]

Hope this doesn't come off as too crazy, just a passing thought I had.

I met a few people in rehab with double amputations above the knee and, while they struggled to walk, it seemed very likely that with enough time they would be wheelchair free. I have pretty decent hip function, and I've seen the most returns in my hip flexors / extensors since my injury. Hypothetically, if I were to electively amputate (assuming some dr would be mad enough to do this), could I walk again with these prosthetics?

[wheeliebear75]

Personally I think you are comparing apples to oranges here...sure they're still fruit with seeds that grow on trees...but there are still some major differences too...a person who is a double amputee still (unless something also happened to the hips or spine) has their signals going through uninterrupted & would not have weakness in their the muscles that were not cut off/amputated.....we as what ever level of SCI both the where (C? T? L? S?) & how bad (% of damaged cord) is different because the signals are not getting through properly.

Can you walk with KAFOs & a walker or crutches? a prosthetic leg I would think would work much like your own leg with a KAFO holding the joints straight so as to allow weight bearing.

But here are MY questions to you: #1 If simply chopping off the limbs of a paraplegic & replacing them with prosthetic ones would allow someone with use of hip muscles to walk....don't ya think some big shot at the Mayo clinic or some other BIG researching hospital/college would have tried it already? #2 If WALKING is what you're after they're coming out with exoskeletons that will help make use of our own limbs.....& they're getting more & more practical looking & hopefully someday will actually cost less than a brand new room addition to a house. #3 How long ago was your injury/illness? If you're still somewhat early on in the recovery stage you may still be able to gain more function.

Most Dr.s take their Hippocratic oaths VERY seriously, especially about the part "To do no harm". Which thankfully so, is why I would actually think you'll have a hard time finding anyone to even consider this proposal.

Bottom line: If you broke the axle on your car you wouldn't try fixing it with new tires.....we're not cars but the analogy still applies.

[BoyFallDown]

wheeliebear75, on 21 December 2011 - 08:17 AM, said:

Personally I think you are comparing apples to oranges here...sure they're still fruit with seeds that grow on trees...but there are still some major differences too...a person who is a double amputee still (unless something also happened to the hips or spine) has their signals going through uninterrupted & would not have weakness in their the muscles that were not cut off/amputated.....we as what ever level of SCI both the where (C? T? L? S?) & how bad (% of damaged cord) is different because the signals are not getting through properly.

Can you walk with KAFOs & a walker or crutches? a prosthetic leg I would think would work much like your own leg with a KAFO holding the joints straight so as to allow weight bearing.

But here are MY questions to you: #1 If simply chopping off the limbs of a paraplegic & replacing them with prosthetic ones would allow someone with use of hip muscles to walk....don't ya think some big shot at the Mayo clinic or some other BIG researching hospital/college would have tried it already? #2 If WALKING is what you're after they're coming out with exoskeletons that will help make use of our own limbs.....& they're getting more & more practical looking & hopefully someday will actually cost less than a brand new room addition to a house. #3 How long ago was your injury/illness? If you're still somewhat early on in the recovery stage you may still be able to gain more function.

Most Dr.s take their Hippocratic oaths VERY seriously, especially about the part "To do no harm". Which thankfully so, is why I would actually think you'll have a hard time finding anyone to even consider this proposal.

Bottom line: If you broke the axle on your car you wouldn't try fixing it with new tires.....we're not cars but the analogy still applies.

All good points, and just to reiterate, this is not something im seriously considering. Just having one of those what-if moments. The thing that got me thinking the most was when I saw a youtube video of a guy who was amputated above the knee and was walking fairly normally. The prosthetic was responsible for bearing all the load on the artificial knee joint and even flexing as he walked for a more natural gait. Seems like you'd really only need good control of your hips to make something like that work.

But you're right, I'm holding out for the exoskeletons ;)

[wheeliebear75]

I could be wrong but I believe that they still have to be able to lift up their leg (the prosthetic of course) which is why when the leg is amputated they try to preserve as much of the muscle as possible so that when they start chopping the cut the bone further up than they do the muscles so they can not only create a flap to cover the end but the more muscle preserved the better chance they'll have of walking....nuther words it still takes MUSCLE in the legs to use the legs. My dad had to have his right leg amputated from just below the knee, his was amputated because his diabetes allowed/fostered an infection in his foot & they HAD TO cut it off or the infection would have spread.

I understand NOW that this was just one of those passing "Huh I wonder if...?"s & that you're not actually seriously considering amputation as a means of walking.

But I still think you or anyone else would have an easier time with using KAFO's or even full leg braces + crutches or walker than you would with prosthetic legs.

Edited by wheeliebear75, 21 December 2011 - 08:59 AM.