It began as a mysterious pain. Chief Master Sergeant Chad Caden experienced years of discomfort as a result of osteonecrosis in his right foot. Beyond pain, it also created uncertainty. It led him to powerful and permanent decisions. At the end of it all though, Caden returned to active duty in the Air force. Osteonecrosis may have changed his life, but it would not be allowed to stand in his way.
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In 2011 Caden served as chief enlisted manager with the 633rd Civil Engineer Squadron. Caden and the 633rd served at Joint Base Langley-Eustis. During his time there, Caden noticed an unusual pain in his right foot. X-rays detected nothing.
Given no results, and finding the pain relatively tolerable, Caden decided to live with it for several years.
Over this time, Caden’s pain grew worse. Every day tasks became increasingly difficult. Eventually he found himself unable to complete his usual activities. Between 2013 and 2015 Caden went on multiple deployments. It was during this time doctors diagnosed him with severe tendonitis. In a determined effort to continue his service and fulfill his duties, Caden carefully observed instructions from a physical therapist.
“I was doing everything they told me, from stretching and icing it, to rolling it out and wrapping it,” Caden said “Despite that, it hurt to stand, I had little mobility in my ankle, and it felt as if the pain was only getting worse.”
After his deployments in 2015, Caden decided to pursue other opinions and options. Standing up challenged him at this point. Caden visited an on-base patient advocate to guide him towards the necessary care he needed.
After an MRI, a doctor called Caden with useful, but shocking news. The doctor informed Caden that his ankle bone was entirely dead. Blood flow to the bone ceased long ago. Caden received a diagnosis of osteonecrosis. His case made up one of the small number of cases (about 10%) in which the cause is unknown.
Caden focused on finding a solution. He worried that the condition might spread to other parts of his body. Primarily, however, he desired to return to an active lifestyle, and remain serving in the Air Force.
After other therapies failed, Caden realized the best and only solution would be amputation. In December of 2016 Caden underwent the procedure to amputate his right leg. The procedure removed his leg form six inches below his knee.
Caden held confidence that the procedure would improve his life. He said his quality of life was sure to improve. He says aesthetics were wholly unimportant – “it was all about being active again.”
With his new prosthesis ready, Caden sought the best chance of recovery and returning to active life both personally and in the Air force. In agreement with his physicians, Caden decided to pursue a 90-day recovery program at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He learned how to walk on his prosthesis, and to ride a bike with it as well. The support and therapy Caden received at the center were crucial to his recovery. They also helped shape his outlook on his amputation and prosthesis.
Caden says he could not have experienced a better recovery.
“Three months there put me a year ahead of schedule. Just being there with so many other people going through the same thing as you makes it a lot easier. The physical therapists were also key in ensuring I could return to my active lifestyle and was safely progressing towards that goal.”
As a result of the all the support and care Caden received he now continues with the life he wanted, and with his duties in the Air Force. A year after his amputation Caden successfully completed both his Air Force physical fitness exam and a 100-mile bike race.
Caden describes his amputation as the best decision he has ever made. He’s never wished for his leg back. All he wanted was to have his life back. He says now that the pain is gone he looks forward. He’s establishing a new normal.
