SKI-er or Sk-ater. We know how to enjoy ourselves

seven-day-weekend

My husband would vote for the mobility above all else, I would chose the stiff leg.

[Deleted User]

I would think that amputation has to be the back up option but not as a first choice. As for 1 and 2, well what a difficult decision. Maybe time to get a pros and cons list done. It would be good to talk to someone with a stiff leg. Maybe there is someone on the disabled thread?

margaretclare

seven-day-weekend wrote: »

My husband would vote for the mobility above all else, I would choose the stiff leg.

Your husband would agree with DH, then. Regarding the permanently stiff leg, it's a question of lifestyle. Apparently walking is quite OK and for most normal activities - however, we're people who still like to jump in the car and go out whenever we choose, even if it's only down to the sea-front to look at the birds, ordinary things like that. And we'd like to be able to drive up to the Lake District in spring, and had a wonderful holiday in Germany in September. I couldn't imagine him never being able to get into the car again, but if we were people who've given up driving and rely on the bus passes, we probably wouldn't see it as a problem. It just puts a big limit on the things we can do together, the places we can go, the enjoyment of life. Which is one of the problems of stereotyping people of our age-group. I've had it said to me: 'Oh you have a free bus pass, why do you still need to drive?' Well, unfortunately because (a) walking as far as the bus, standing and waiting etc has been very difficult for me and (b) the bus doesn't go to all the places I want to go to.

There's a man who walks past here every Tuesday morning (Tuesday: market-day) and he obviously has one leg which is stiff. He catches the bus at the top of the road, goes into the little market-town with his back-pack, and we see him walk back when he's done all that he has to do. He seems to walk pretty well and does the same thing week in week out. But is that the only place he goes?? Because that's not our lifestyle, and we want to keep what we have.

Savvy_Sue

but I can't believe a stiff leg would leave your DH completely unable to get into a car ever again? I can see it might mean changing your car, and doing some research to find one he could use conveniently, but given all the different designs and shapes these days it cannot be an impossibility, can it?

And if amputation became necessary, you WOULD find ways round all the problems you can currently see.

It's all very overwhelming at the moment, but there will be solutions, I am sure!

seven-day-weekend

I agree with Savvy Sue about the car, I'm sure you could find one he could get in and out of. You'd need something a bit bigger than a 206 though. We too like driving places and it would be a restriction of our lifestyle if we couldn't.

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/motoring/features/car-choice-i-want-more-legroom-what-are-my-options-492587.html

donny-gal

Two answers from me MC

If I was making the decision for myself - I would go for new joint.

If I were making the decision for my DH, then I would say go for the safest option, as I would want him there, false leg, stiff leg, or whatever. If he couldn't drive, i.e. have and run a car there would be money for taxi's.

I doubt imagine that helps much.
DG

Errata

That's a really difficult decision for anyone to be faced with, and I've given some thought to what I might decide.
First of all I would want to have a long discussion with the consultant about what each option might be like 5, 10, 20 years down the line. Then I would ask the consultant what he believes would be the best clinical choice for now and the future. Then I would ask the consultant what they would choose for themselves in this situation. Then I'd attempt to synthesise all of this and hope to make the right choice based on clinical reasons rather than emotional ones and pipe dreams of what I'd always thought my later years migh be like.

Off the top of my head ? I'd go for a stiff leg - halfway house - I wouldn't even consider a replacement joint.

margaretclare

donny-gal wrote: »

Two answers from me MC

If I was making the decision for myself - I would go for new joint.

If I were making the decision for my DH, then I would say go for the safest option, as I would want him there, false leg, stiff leg, or whatever. If he couldn't drive, i.e. have and run a car there would be money for taxi's.

I doubt imagine that helps much.
DG

Thanks for this, and to everybody for all the other suggestions.

Obviously, for me I'd rather have him alive and kicking, no matter how many legs he has or hasn't. But given what I said to the consultant back in October, that he must be given the chance to make his own decision, that's how it's gotta be. I know he's still turning the thoughts over in his own mind and will decide nothing until after he's had a chance to talk to the consultant on Friday. In any case, nothing will happen until January at least, because the consultant is away until then and he's said he isn't going to leave it for anyone else to do.

Errata

Could this solve the stiff leg/car dilemma ?
My brother broke his leg playing football when he was younger and was in a pot from ankle to well past his knee. Luckily it was his left leg so his mate removed the front passenger seat from his own car so brother could get himself into the car and sit on the back seat with his left leg stuck out in front of him resting on a bean bag.
Sounds like a bit of a carry on, but it meant he could keep his social life going.

Savvy_Sue

Errata wrote: »

Could this solve the stiff leg/car dilemma ?
My brother broke his leg playing football when he was younger and was in a pot from ankle to well past his knee. Luckily it was his left leg so his mate removed the front passenger seat from his own car so brother could get himself into the car and sit on the back seat with his left leg stuck out in front of him resting on a bean bag.
Sounds like a bit of a carry on, but it meant he could keep his social life going.

:rotfl: When I said there would be solutions, I admit I hadn't thought of that one! :rotfl: