The wound itself will take anywhere from four to eight weeks to heal fully, but you will likely only remain in the hospital for up to 14 days. The lengthy stay in the hospital is to allow doctors to monitor your healing and keep an eye on any conditions that may interfere with proper healing, such as diabetes or hardening arteries.
Full Answer
What do you need to know about leg amputation rehabilitation?
Rehabilitation after your lower limb amputation. ... • severe pain and deformity or ulceration of the leg. Amputation caused by inadequate blood supply . All living tissues need a good blood supply. When you ... involved in planning your care and treatment, as they work with both the diabetic and vascular (specialise in
What is included in patient education about amputation before surgery?
For a traditional prosthesis, you will need to change liners, sleeves and socks at least every six months. Getting Your Life Back After Amputation Amputation can change your life, but you do not have to face the future without help.
Are patients with vascular disease receiving good care after major limb amputation?
The stump must shrink before a prosthesis is fitted. An elastic shrinker or bandages worn 24 hours a day can help shape the stump and prevent fluid buildup in tissues. Soon after the amputation, people may be given a temporary prosthesis so that they may begin walking sooner and thus help the stump shrink.
How much more energy does it take to walk after amputation?
The leg may be swollen for at least 4 weeks after your surgery. If you have a rigid dressing or cast, your doctor will set up regular visits to change the dressing or cast and check the healing. If …
How long is rehabilitation after leg amputation?
Physical therapy, beginning with gentle, stretching exercises, often begins soon after surgery. Practice with the artificial limb may begin as soon as 10 to 14 days after surgery. Ideally, the wound should fully heal in about four to eight weeks.Feb 5, 2020
How long is rehab after below knee amputation?
In general, the incision from BKA surgery will heal over a period of two to eight weeks. During the first few days, a physical therapist will help the patient perform basic exercises and functions.
Do you go to rehab after leg amputation?
You will need to do a lot of work to recondition your muscles and relearn activities, balance, and coordination. The rehab can last as long as a year. You may have been fitted with a temporary artificial leg while you were still in the hospital. If this is the case, your doctor will teach you how to care for it.
How do you care for an amputated patient?
Care for a partially amputated body partElevate the injured area.Wrap or cover the injured area with a sterile dressing or clean cloth. Apply pressure if the injured area is bleeding. ... Gently splint the injured area to prevent movement or further damage.
How long does it take an amputee to walk again?
At six to twelve months, the residual limb will begin to stabilize in terms of size and shape, and you'll be able to have a more comprehensive idea and discussion about what will work for the longer term. During this phase, Freedom Prosthetics will be able to guide you on what design will best suit your needs.Sep 15, 2020
What benefits can I claim after leg amputation?
An amputation can keep you from performing routine tasks as well as working and earning a living. Among the government programs to help amputees is Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Because Social Security Disability is a government program, it is available to amputees in all states.
Is it hard to walk with a prosthetic leg?
Prosthetic legs, or prostheses, can help people with leg amputations get around more easily. They mimic the function and, sometimes, even the appearance of a real leg. Some people still need a cane, walker or crutches to walk with a prosthetic leg, while others can walk freely.
Does leg amputation shorten life expectancy?
6 Fortington et al determined life expectancy to be 25 months in patients who underwent lower extremity major amputations, compared with 20.7 months in patients with non-diabetic vascular disorders however, this is not statistically meaningful.Aug 31, 2017
How painful is a leg amputation?
Many people who have an amputation experience some degree of stump pain or "phantom limb" pain. Stump pain can have many different causes, including rubbing or sores where the stump touches a prosthetic limb, nerve damage during surgery and the development of neuromas.
What are some nursing considerations when caring for a patient with an amputation?
Assess the surgical dressing for integrity and drainage. Elevate the stump for the first 24 to 48 hours. Move and turn the patient gently and slowly to prevent severe muscle spasms. Reposition the patient every 2 hours, turning the patient from side to side and prone, if possible.
The Amputation Rehabilitation Team
Physical medicine and rehabilitation experts can work with you to create an individualized plan and prepare you for what’s ahead. Your rehabilitation team may include:
Your Amputation Recovery
The success of post-amputation rehabilitation depends on many factors, including:
Prosthetics After Amputation
Not everyone who has an amputation wants or needs an artificial device to replace the lost body part. In helping you decide, the physical medicine and rehabilitation team considers many aspects of your life and health, including what extremity was amputated. Leg prosthetics can help restore mobility.
Getting Your Life Back After Amputation
Amputation can change your life, but you do not have to face the future without help. Whether you choose to have or not have a prosthesis, the physical medicine and rehabilitation team will work with you to regain as much of your mobility, well-being and independence as possible.
What does it feel like to have an amputated leg?
Some people experience phantom limb sensation, which is not painful but feels as if the amputated limb is still there. When people with an amputated leg have this sensation, they may stand up (and thus fall back down). This experience usually occurs at night when people wake to use the bathroom.
What is a lower limb amputation?
Leg (lower-limb) amputation. These amputations result almost equally from an injury (as in a motor vehicle crash or during combat) or from a surgical procedure to treat a complication of a disorder (such as decreased circulation due to atherosclerosis or diabetes).
What is the role of a prosthetist before surgery?
Before surgery, a surgeon, prosthetist, and physical therapist discuss plans and goals with the person who requires amputation. A prosthetist is an expert who fits, builds, and adjusts artificial limbs (prostheses) and provides advice about how to use them. The exercises used in rehabilitation may be started before the amputation.
What are the components of a prosthetic?
Components may include toes, a foot, and, for an above-the-knee amputation, a knee unit. Newer prostheses that are controlled by microprocessors and powered myoelectrically or prostheses with bionic components enable people to control movements with more precision. Rehabilitation includes exercises for general conditioning ...
What is the interface of a prosthesis?
A prosthesis for a limb (arm or leg) consists of a socket in a rigid frame (interface), components, and a cover. The interface enables the prosthesis to be attached to the body. Components include terminal devices (such as artificial hands, feet, fingers, or toes) and artificial joints.
How to care for a prosthesis?
Training is usually continued, preferably by a team of specialists. A physical therapist develops a program of exercises to improve strength , balance, flexibility, and cardiovascular fitness. The therapist teaches people more about how to walk with a prosthesis.
What is rehabilitation exercise?
Rehabilitation includes exercises for general conditioning and exercises to stretch the hip and knee and to strengthen all arm and leg muscles. The person is encouraged to begin standing and balancing exercises with parallel bars as soon as possible. Endurance exercises may be needed.
What is below the knee amputation?
A below-the-knee amputation is surgery to remove your leg below the knee. Your doctor removed the leg while keeping as much healthy bone, skin, blood vessel, and nerve tissue as possible. After the surgery, you will probably have bandages, a rigid dressing, or a cast over the remaining part of your leg (remaining limb).
How long does a rehab last?
You will need to do a lot of work to recondition your muscles and relearn activities, balance, and coordination. The rehab can last as long as a year.
Can you take antibiotics after eating?
Take your medicine after meals (unless your doctor has told you not to). Ask your doctor for a different pain medicine. If your doctor prescribed antibiotics, take them as directed. Do not stop taking them just because you feel better. You need to take the full course of antibiotics.
What to eat after a bowel surgery?
You can eat your normal diet. If your stomach is upset, try bland, low-fat foods like plain rice, broiled chicken, toast, and yogurt. You may notice that your bowel movements are not regular right after your surgery. This is common. Try to avoid constipation and straining with bowel movements.
How to heal a swollen limb?
Talk to your doctor about what you can do. If you are active and use your remaining limb, it will heal faster. You may shower when your doctor okays it. Wash the remaining limb with soap and water, and pat it dry. You may need help doing this at first. You may need to adapt your car to your situation before you drive.
What to do if you take aspirin?
If you take aspirin or some other blood thinner, ask your doctor if and when to start taking it again. Make sure that you understand exactly what your doctor wants you to do. Be safe with medicines. Take pain medicines exactly as directed. If the doctor gave you a pre scription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed.
How long does it take to recover from a sprained limb?
You will probably be able to return to work and your usual routine when your remaining limb heals. This can be as soon as 4 to 8 weeks after surgery, but it may take longer.
How to help amputation patients?
In order to help reach these goals, amputation rehabilitation programs may include the following: 1 Treatments to help improve wound healing and stump care 2 Activities to help improve motor skills, restore activities of daily living (ADLs), and help the patient reach maximum independence 3 Exercises that promote muscle strength, endurance, and control 4 Fitting and use of artificial limbs (prostheses) 5 Pain management for both post-operative and phantom pain (a sensation of pain that occurs below the level of the amputation) 6 Emotional support to help during the grieving period and with readjustment to a new body image 7 Use of assistive devices 8 Nutritional counseling to promote healing and health 9 Vocational counseling 10 Adapting the home environment for ease of function, safety, accessibility, and mobility 11 Patient and family education
What is the goal of rehabilitation after an amputation?
The goal of rehabilitation after an amputation is to help the patient return to the highest level of function and independence possible, while improving the overall quality of life —physically, emotionally, and socially.
Why is family support important?
Family support. It is important to focus on maximizing the patient's capabilities at home and in the community. Positive reinforcement helps recovery by improving self-esteem and promoting independence. The rehabilitation program is designed to meet the needs of the individual patient.
What happens after amputation?
Rehabilitation after amputation. Loss of a limb produces a permanent disability that can impact a patient's self-image, self-care, and mobility (movement). Rehabilitation of the patient with an amputation begins after surgery during the acute treatment phase. As the patient's condition improves, a more extensive rehabilitation program is often ...
What is emotional support?
Emotional support to help during the grieving period and with readjustment to a new body image. Use of assistive devices. Nutritional counseling to promote healing and health. Vocational counseling. Adapting the home environment for ease of function, safety, accessibility, and mobility. Patient and family education.
What are the main indications for lower limb amputation?
Peripheral arterial disease and diabetes are the main indications for lower limb amputation. Patients are at increased risk of surgical complications because of comorbidities. Mortality rates of 12% have been reported following amputation in this patient group. Less than half of patients who undergo an amputation receive good care.
What is a falls risk assessment?
A falls risk assessment should be done, with measures taken to reduce the risk of falls during the hospital stay. Patients should be screened pre-operatively for MRSA. Referral should be made to the specialist pain team both pre- and post-operatively.
Why are nurses important?
Nurses have a vital role in improving pre- and post-operative care. In 2014 a National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death report examined the care of people requiring lower limb amputation as a consequence of complications associated with vascular disease or diabetes.
What is it called when you have a limb removed?
Phantom limb pain. – tingling, pressure, itching, or tickling in the part of your leg that has been removed. When it is severe, it may be called nerve pain. Nerve or neuropathic pain. – mild to severe burning, squeezing, cramping, or stabbing pain in your stump or in the missing part of your leg.
How long does it take for a cast to be removed after knee surgery?
A cast or splint on your leg help s keep your knee straight. If you have a cast, it is often removed about 1 week after surgery. If you have a splint, your doctor or physiotherapist decides when you no longer need to wear it. Members of your health care team help you get to the bathroom as needed.
Why do you need to wrap a stump?
Your health care team decides when it is time to start stump wrapping. Proper wrapping helps to support the soft tissue of your stump and prevents swelling. Stump wrapping shapes your stump to fit a prosthesis (artificial leg) if you are getting a prosthesis.
What does a nurse practitioner do?
The nurse practitioner gathers your medical history, does regular physical exams and works with you to address any issues you have. He or she may adjust or order any tests, treatment or medication you may need during your hospital stay. The . nurse practitioner. also teaches you about your condition and what to expect.
How long does it take to get anesthesia for a syringe?
They make sure they have the right patient and the right surgery before starting your anesthesia. The surgery takes 1 to 2 hours depending on what your surgeon plans to do. The incision is closed with staples, clips and/or stitches and wrapped in a thick bandage or a cast is put on.
What is the goal of nutrition therapy?
looks after your nutrition therapy. The goals of nutrition therapy are to maintain healthy nutrition and prevent malnutrition. Good nutrition is important after surgery to help your body heal. A dietitian can work with you and your family to put together a nutrition plan for you.
How often do nurses change dressings?
You may have a thick dressing on your leg to help it heal. The nurses change this dressing every day or two to help keep the incision clean and dry. You may have a cast instead of a thick dressing.
What is rehabilitation in medical terms?
The rehabilitation team and the patient decide whether a prosthesis or a wheelchair is needed. Rehabilitation teaches ambulation skills; it includes exercises to improve general conditioning and balance, to stretch the hip and knee, to strengthen all extremities, and to help patients tolerate the prosthesis. Because ambulation requires a 10 ...
What is the best treatment for a stump?
Various treatments, such as simultaneous exercise of amputated and contralateral limbs, massage of the stump, finger percussion of the stump, use of mechanical devices (eg, a vibrator), and ultrasound, are reportedly effective. Drugs (eg, gabapentin) may help.
Why does skin breakdown occur?
Skin breakdown tends to occur because the prosthesis presses on and rubs the skin and because moisture collects between the stump and prosthetic socket. Skin breakdown may be the first indication that the prosthesis needs adjustment and needs to be managed immediately.
What is Merck and Co?
Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, NJ, USA is a global healthcare leader working to help the world be well. From developing new therapies that treat and prevent disease to helping people in need, we are committed to improving health and well-being around the world. The Merck Manual was first published in 1899 as a service to the community. The legacy of this great resource continues as the Merck Manual in the US and Canada and the MSD Manual outside of North America. Learn more about our commitment to Global Medical Knowledge.
Life after leg amputation: Types of prosthetic legs
There are two types of prosthetic legs. I have below the knee prosthetic legs. My amputations are evenly amputated on both of my legs, at mid calf. This means that both of my legs are the same length. A custom socket, a gel liner, socks for cushioning, an aluminum post and a battery operated foot make up the below the knee prosthetic leg.
The benefits of prosthetics
Obviously without complete use of your legs, whether you have one amputated leg or two, you are at the mercy of crutches or a wheelchair. Mobility is a factor. Since I received my two prosthetic legs, I have full mobility. I don’t use crutches or a wheelchair at all and I haven’t since I learned how to use my legs.
The process for getting new legs
It’s been over five years since I’ve had new legs made. After five years my warranty is null so my legs are so longer eligible for adjustments. So my husband and I decided to take the plunge and start the process to upgrade and move into something new.
Designing prosthetic legs
Designing prosthetic legs is the fun part. Since prosthetic legs are made up of a custom socket, aluminum post and a foot, the next step was to test out 2 separate feet to see which features I liked best. I settled on the Endolite foot by Elan.
Walking with two prosthetic legs
I first learned to walk with new prosthetic legs once I healed from leg amputation surgery. It’s important that there are no open wounds. Additionally, it is advised that you don’t wear your prosthetic legs all day long, in order to acclimate to having new prosthetic legs on.