Amputations Are Deadly: Life-Saving Options You Need to Know

Losing a limb to PAD shatters your life, turning simple joys into impossible challenges. The physical limitations are overwhelming, but the emotional and psychological wounds cut even deeper. Everyday tasks become monumental challenges, and you’re forced to relearn how to live, now relying on prosthetics, wheelchairs, or crutches.

The hardest part? Your sense of self is shattered. You’re not just losing a limb; you’re losing a part of who you are. The financial burdens, the isolation, and the grief can feel insurmountable. Life after amputation is a constant battle—a fight to reclaim your independence, your identity, and your future. But it’s a battle that can be avoided with early detection and treatment of PAD.

Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI) is the most severe and life-threatening stage of peripheral artery disease (PAD). It’s not just a diagnosis; it’s a ticking time bomb that affects between 1 and 3 million Americans. If left untreated, CLI doesn’t just take your mobility—it can take your life.

The statistics are alarming: 60% of patients who undergo an amputation due to CLI die within two years. That’s a mortality rate worse than many forms of cancer.

CLI is as deadly as cancer, yet it often flies under the radar. It relentlessly cuts off blood flow to your limbs, leading to tissue death, severe pain, and ultimately, amputation if untreated. Awareness, early diagnosis, and proper treatment are crucial to prevent its devastating outcomes.

If you’re from a racial or ethnic minority, your risk of amputation is 2 to 5 times higher than that of white patients. An astounding 85% of amputations due to CLI could be avoided with proper treatment and timely intervention.

Over half of the patients who undergo a major amputation for CLI never received any prior treatment to try and save their limb. These aren’t just numbers; they’re people—fathers, mothers, siblings, friends—gone too soon.

Research shows that patients who undergo an angiogram—a critical procedure to detect blocked arteries—have a 90% lower risk of major amputation. Revascularization, a procedure to restore blood flow, doesn’t just save limbs; it saves lives. Compared to amputation, it doubles the chances of survival.

The message from the CLI Global Society is urgent and clear: Amputation should never be the first option. Before you—or someone you love—loses a limb, demand that the limb is evaluated by a specialized, interdisciplinary care team. Insist on advanced imaging, like a digital subtraction angiogram, to assess whether the limb can be saved.

If you or someone you know is at risk, don’t wait. The consequences of inaction are deadly, but the power of knowledge and timely intervention can turn the tide. CLI is a deadly opponent, but with the right treatment and awareness, it’s one that can be beaten.