Life After Amputation Surgery
It is never easy to lose a limb, whatever the cause. Amputation impacts physical and emotional health and unavoidably alter their life. Dr Demetrius, who specialises in complex reconstruction and amputee pain treatment, can treat and guide such patients to simplify their life after amputation.
We have prepared this guide to help amputees deal with amputation by outlining what happens through the many stages of this life-changing procedure. Learning as much as possible about your concerns is a good method to alleviate fears.
What should you expect after amputation surgery?
After the procedure has been completed and the arm, hand, or leg has been amputated, extra attention must be paid to healing the residual or amputation stump. To heal the wound and get that portion of the body ready for a prosthesis, amputees must take great care of their stumps. The stump must be pain-free, able to support weight, and mobile in all directions to achieve this.
Early mobilisation is vital for a rapid recovery after an amputation. Intensive treatment of the residual limb, with compression therapy or massage with moisturizing creams, may be needed to help the scar tissue develop resistance.
What is the rehabilitation period of amputation like?
Giving patients the most mobility and independence possible is the aim of rehabilitation for people who have lost a lower limb or hand.
Exercise and learning how to utilise a prosthetic are also part of rehabilitation. Learning some unique hygiene techniques is also crucial because amputees’ stumps require ongoing care to maintain a healthy scar and prevent the skin from becoming scratchy and scaly. The stump should ideally be cleaned and dried thoroughly multiple times a day.
Are there any psychological effects of an amputation?
Amputation surgery can have a severe psychological impact on an individual. There could be many phases to it, some of which are the following:
Denial: This occurs more frequently in patients who experience an unplanned amputation. The development of post-traumatic stress disorder is also more likely to occur in these patients (PTSD).
Rage: It is normal for people to experience feelings of anger and blame others for their circumstances, which can cause anxiety, stress, violent outbursts, etc.
Depression: Anger can occasionally lead to depression – the hardest and most frequent period for amputees. It can be treated and overcome with the assistance of medical specialists, family, and friends.
Acceptance: The amputee will eventually come to terms with his new situation, thanks to rehabilitation. It will be crucial to have the support of those in a similar circumstance, as they may share insights and guidance on how to deal with the loss.
A piece of advice
Some specialists contend that patients must read about and understand what life would be like after losing an arm or a leg, particularly in the case of scheduled amputations. It is advised that they speak with other amputees, their families, and associations to learn what to expect from this new phase of their lives. They are also advised to select support systems that will simplify their rehabilitation process.
Amputee Pain Clinic offers complete amputation rehabilitation
With a comprehensive amputation rehabilitation strategy that includes a customised therapy plan, work/home analyses, and family counselling; our Amputee Pain Clinic is committed to helping you recover. Along with recognising the value of continued assistance, we also have an exceptional medical team of the best amputation doctors with excellent surgery skills.
Call us to learn more about how you can achieve a seamless amputation experience.
Also Read: How TMR helps treat phantom limb pain
Dr Demetrius Evriviades-
BSc(Hons), MB ChB, PGDip, FRCS(Plast) CCT-UK
Dr Demetrius Evriviades is a UK- trained Consultant Plastic Surgeon with 20+ years of experience in plastic reconstruction, amputation rehabilitation, and targeted muscle reanimation (TMR). He has helped more than 200 young amputees worldwide with the latest surgical and therapeutic techniques to manage pain and improve function.