Knock yourself out.
Ok, well the overarching theme going into this decision/procedure was an increased quality of life. I've thought about this heavily for a very long time and consulted with lots of PTs and found a few other paras/quads who went through with the surgery (every single one said it was the best decision they've made since their injuries).
I've been dealing with pressure sores on both legs for quite awhile now, they're chronic and I'm sick of dealing with them. Secondly, I hope it helps with a component of my nerve pain that I deal with 24/7. I tell people I have two parts to my nerve pain. The first is an underlying intense buzzing and electricity feeling that I do believe will stick around even when my legs are gone (phantom pain). However, the second is a very specific pain that is only triggered when certain parts of my lower legs are touched (guessing due to my incomplete injury). This pain is the worst: even a light brush of my pants against my leg will set off this 3-5 second searing pain where it feels like Zeus is sticking me with a lightning rod and it burns like a mofo. Logically, it makes sense that if that physical stimulus was gone, that pain would be gone. Of course, nerves are weird and I can't get a conclusive answer from any neurologist, but that's a reason. I've tried nerve blocks, was on every pain killer under the sun, and nothing really helped.
Finally, my legs are dead weight and honestly, just get in the way. I'm a super active guy, and the sports I pursued/want to continue pursuing (skydiving, skiing, etc) will be so much easier and safer without dangling legs. I did a jump post injury and the landing was super sketchy. No matter what we did, even clipping my knees up to my chest strap, my feet hung below my butt, so it would be very easy for my legs to get caught on landing, snap, break, you name it. I have enough hip flexor strength to lift my legs, so without that extra weight I'll be able to lift them nice and high and land on my butt. Skiing will be a lot safer because the sit-ski shell can be molded around me so nothing can get dislodged, etc.
Each and every time I have to transfer somewhere (into my truck, onto the bed, up a flight of stairs), I have to pick up and place my legs. It's really cumbersome and I'll be able to get around a lot easier.
Some people ask, "What if they find a cure?" I live my life now. I don't live my life wishing I could change my situation, or by making decisions in anticipation of a cure that might come about within my lifetime. Even if they were to fix my spinal cord tomorrow, the chance of me rehabilitating these legs anywhere near how they were pre-injury is unlikely. Muscles are gone, bones are brittle, nothing's had any nerve innervation for 4 years now. I'd have a better chance walking on prosthetics.
) that is in our budget.
)
