A woman who was told by doctors to stretch her leg to help the pain she was experiencing has shared how she ended up needing the rarest amputation in the world after a horrifying diagnosis.
Courtney Echerd noticed some pain in her left leg, but neither she nor her doctor was concerned until a second visit to a physiotherapist noted a significant decrease in her flexibility.
The 30-year-old was sent for an X-ray and MRI, and was shocked to be referred to an oncologist – and, later, diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a form of bone cancer.
Courtney was given the devastating news that her leg wasn’t salvageable, and she would need to have it amputated, including part of her pelvis, in what is considered the rarest form of amputation.
“There are no words to explain how petrified I was,” Courtney, who works in digital media and lives in Los Angeles, US, told Need To Know.
“I thought I would just do a few months of chemotherapy, tough it out, and go back to my life.
“I hadn’t even considered that it [amputation] would be a possibility.
“Even after I learned that osteosarcoma could bring on amputations, I didn’t think that could happen in the pelvis because I thought they could just shave off the tumour.
“I had never seen anyone with this kind of amputation and you’re not encouraged to search the internet, you’re supposed to let your doctor tell you everything.
“I threw up when I first found out it was within the realm of possibility.”
Courtney’s issues had started innocently enough, back in December 2021 when she first noticed the pain in her leg.
She said: “I also noticed that I could no longer touch my toes and I had previously been able to put my palms under my feet without any exertion.
“I go to the doctor for medical issues pretty quickly and this was no different – they recommended physiotherapy, a gel, and stretching.”
While getting the train one day, she sat down and noticed a “small, bug-sized knot” on her lower back.
She decided to go back to her physiotherapist, who was concerned by a change in her flexibility between their appointments.
From there, she had X-rays, an MRI, and was referred to an oncologist.
Courtney said: “I wasn’t worried at all [at first].
“I still didn’t realise how serious things were because in my head, you see an oncologist with a 20% chance of having cancer, not realising that if you’re referred out to an oncologist, it’s almost certain you have cancer.
“I still wasn’t that worried after the visit – I had dealt with difficult health processes before and I had never seen anyone get an amputation as a result of cancer.”
After a biopsy, taken by drilling into her pelvis, the diagnosis was confirmed.
Courtney was told they wouldn’t know until after chemotherapy if they would need to amputate her leg or not.
She said: “I did everything in my power to keep it from happening – never missing a cold plunge or detox bath, never swaying from my prescribed diet, and doing infrared saunas.”
But it became clear following the course of treatment that they would need to proceed with a full amputation, called a hemipelvectomy, which took place in January 2024 – just over two years after her health issues had begun.
Courtney said: “It’s been very difficult adjusting to life since – incredibly so.
“Every aspect of my life has changed and I mean every.
“There’s so much to mourn about my present and the future.
“I love walking and would go on four walks each day, so that’s something I’m not really sure I’ll ever get over.”
The young woman lives with her parents and is cared for, when needed, by her mother, who helps with running errands, cleaning and shopping – though Courtney hopes one day to live fully independent, though she currently suffers from lasting nerve pain as a result of the surgery.
She said: “I’m so fortunate to have such supportive family members, medical team, and friends – my heart breaks for disabled folks who don’t have that.”
As for her message to people reading her story? Courtney added: “You are worth advocating for – never be afraid to push for imaging or switch doctors.
“Also, you only have one body – please do your very best to take care of it.
“And while you are able-bodied, do as much travelling, exploring, exercising as humanly possible.”
