Reality TV Star Nelson Thomas Battles Life-Altering Injury: Will He Lose His Ankle?
The Challenge' star Nelson Thomas faces the possibility of ankle amputation following a severe car accident in March Learn more about his struggle and the potential impact on his career
Courtesy of Nelson Thomas/Instagram
Nelson Thomas is facing a serious setback on his ankle after severely injuring it in a car accident earlier this year.
"The news I received about my ankle was incredibly disheartening," wrote the Challenge alum in the caption of an emotional video he posted on Instagram on Friday, September 29.
In the video, Thomas shared that his doctor's appointment yielded disappointing results, as his X-rays showed that his ankle had been rebroken and was not healing correctly.
Thomas, with tears in his eyes, revealed, "The bone has been fractured again and it is misaligned. It's not healing properly at all. I've been experiencing pain for the past two weeks, but I attributed it to possibly overworking it during physical therapy and at the gym. However, it turns out that the bone has broken where the screws and plates were inserted. It has failed to heal."
Thomas had been involved in a severe car accident in March. During the incident, Minnesota Vikings player K.J. Osborn and three unknown individuals bravely rescued him from the burning vehicle. Despite undergoing surgery earlier this year, Thomas expressed his frustration with the slow progress of his recovery. He recounted his doctor presenting him with two options for moving forward.
James Dimmock/Paramount +
In the current phase, referred to as the salvage stage, there are two options: either salvaging my ankle or amputating it," he explained. "It has been seven months since the surgery, and my doctor initially advised that it would take up to a year to fully recover. Unfortunately, these past seven months have been completely unproductive."
To save Thomas' ankle, the MTV personality had to undergo an ankle fusion surgery. This procedure fuses the ankle bone into one piece and is commonly used to treat arthritis, as stated by the Cleveland Clinic.
"This won't bring me down, but man, I'm exhausted from continually receiving negative updates," expressed Thomas in the video. "All I wanted was some positive news today."
After Thomas posted a sincere video, he followed up with a slideshow featuring X-ray images in search of a second opinion.
In his message on Sunday, October 1, Thomas expressed his determination to stay positive despite setbacks. He acknowledged the challenges he has faced but emphasized his gratitude for being alive and urged himself to wear a smile. Thomas shared the X-ray images with the intention of receiving input, advice, or guidance from others. He also mentioned his plan to consult with additional doctors before making any decisions.
