A woman from Machen has decided to have her right leg amputated after five years of unrelenting pain that followed a severe ankle fracture. The decision comes after multiple treatments failed to control symptoms tied to a condition that developed after the original injury.
Long-running pain despite multiple therapies
The patient, a 33-year-old mother of two who works for a building society, fractured her right ankle in three places after slipping in Bedwas. Although the bones subsequently healed, the pain intensified and spread up her leg. Over the past five years she has been treated at several regional hospitals, including the Royal Gwent Hospital, the University Hospital of Wales and Llandough Hospital, receiving a range of interventions.
Treatments tried included:
- steroid injections
- spinal cord stimulation
- physiotherapy and counselling
- ankle fusion surgery
Despite these measures, the pain—identified in clinical terms as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) in the source material—remained severe. She has been reliant on strong daily pain medication and can walk only short distances unaided.
Decision to proceed with amputation
After consultation with pain and orthopaedic specialists across the named hospitals, surgeons have agreed to proceed with amputation of the affected limb. She has a pre-operative appointment scheduled for the autumn.
"It was the hardest decision" she said, adding she felt "buzzing" at the prospect of removing the source of her life-changing pain.
The woman describes the original injury as a "freak accident" while at work: she slipped on the day off and broke her ankle in three places. Since then she has been under multidisciplinary care, but the persistent pain has left her daily life and mobility severely restricted.
| Year/Timing | Event |
|---|---|
| Five years ago | Fractured right ankle in three places after slipping |
| Subsequent years | Multiple treatments: injections, stimulators, counselling, ankle fusion |
| Autumn (pre-op) | Pre-operative appointment ahead of amputation |
The case highlights the complex course that can follow severe limb injuries, and the difficult choices patients and clinicians face when pain proves refractory to conventional therapies. Local health services and pain specialists have been involved at several stages, reflecting the multidisciplinary approach often required for CRPS and similar chronic pain conditions.
Those seeking more information about services for chronic pain or support following amputation can contact their GP or local pain clinic for guidance on referral pathways and rehabilitation options.
