Hi all,
As it's been a while I thought I'd update......
On Monday 2nd. March this year I finally had my left leg amputated above knee, with Mr. Mannion. My surgery was performed at the Royal Preston Hospital.
The CRPS is gone on my left side. For the first three weeks or so I had some strange sensations but no phantom pain. The CRPS in my right leg has remained the same although I do have moderate arthritis in the right knee now. Hardly surprising given the thirty years of favouring the left side!
Last Friday I stood upright using a prosthetic leg. I'm now having physio with said leg twice weekly. Strangely, nothing has been a challenge physically. As an amputee, it's been almost too easy to adjust to life mostly (so far) in a wheelchair. I'm well aware of the amount of hard work I have ahead of me.
On one hand I would recommend amputation. On the other hand, to get through it and to cope emotionally as well as physically is incredibly difficult and psychological support will almost definitely be needed.
If anyone wants to know anything about amputation, particularly with a view to dealing with CRPS, please let me know.