Orthopedic nerve surgery gives Florida patient relief after amputation

After a life-altering accident in 2021, John faced one of his greatest challenges. A 2,000-pound beam fell on his left leg, causing extensive damage that ultimately required a below-the-knee amputation.

Determined to move forward, John committed to his recovery. But lingering nerve pain made daily activities, and using his prosthetic leg difficult. That’s when his prosthetic specialist referred him to Dr. Russell Holzgrefe, an orthopedic hand surgeon at Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola Hand & Upper Extremity Center with advanced training in nerve procedures.

Dr. Holzgrefe recommended targeted muscle reinnervation (TMR), an innovative surgical technique that reroutes severed nerves to nearby muscles to reduce phantom limb pain and prevent painful neuromas.

“John sustained a devastating injury to his lower limb, and his previous amputation left him with severe neuropathic pain,” said Dr. Holzgrefe. “TMR gave us a way to relieve that pain, improve his ability to use a prosthesis, and more importantly, help him return to activities he enjoys.”

The outpatient procedure was a success. John returned home the same day and quickly began making progress.

Just a few months later, he’s walking full blocks, swimming again, and even exploring a return to work. “It’s night and day from where I was,” John said.

For others living with post-amputation pain, John has a message of hope: “It sounds scary, but this surgery gave me my life back. I’d recommend Dr. Holzgrefe and Ascension Sacred Heart to anyone.”

Ascension Sacred Heart Pensacola Hand & Upper Extremity Center in Pensacola, Florida, offers comprehensive care for conditions and injuries that affect the hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder. Your specialist starts by listening to understand you and your concerns. Then, we work with you to create a personalized care plan to help you get back to what you love. Non-surgical and surgical treatment options, including minimally invasive procedures, are available to help relieve wrist and hand pain.