Living With an Amputation

An amputation is a surgical procedure to remove all or part of an arm or leg (limb). After this surgery, it will take time for you to heal and get used to living with the amputation. There are things you can do to help yourself adjust.

Living with an amputation can be challenging, but it is often possible to do all of the activities that you used to do.

How to manage lifestyle changes

• Return to your normal activities as told by your health care provider. Ask your health care provider what activities are safe for you.
• You may choose to have an artificial limb (prosthesis) made for you. Use and care for your prosthesis as told by your health care provider.
• Discuss all of your leisure interests with your health care provider and prosthesis specialist. Equipment changes can often be made, which may allow you to return to a sport or hobby. Some companies design special equipment for this purpose.
• Talk with your health care team about returning to work.
  • When you are ready to return to work, your therapists can evaluate your job site and make recommendations to help you do your job.
  • If you are not able to return to the same job, your local Office of Vocational Rehabilitation can help you with job retraining.
• Talk with your health care provider about returning to driving. You may:
  • Work with an occupational therapist to learn new ways for safely driving with an amputation.
  • Work with a prosthesis specialist or physical therapist to identify assistive devices for safe driving.

How to recognize stress

Some common challenges of living with an amputation may bring about stress. These issues are normal. They include:

• Changes in how you move around.
• Changes in how you care for yourself.
• Changes in how you participate in leisure activities.
• Emotions after the amputation, such as grief and anger.
• Issues with body image and weight.
• Problems with pain and treatment.

How to manage stress

Use these strategies to ease stress related to the daily challenges of living with an amputation:

• Be aware of any sources of your stress. Monitor yourself for symptoms of stress. Identify what challenges cause the most stress for you.
• Rethink the situation. Try to:
  • Think realistically about stressful challenges. Do not ignore these challenges. Do not overreact to them.
  • Try to find the positives in a stressful situation. Do not focus on the negatives.
• Talk about your emotional challenges, such as grief, with a mental health professional.
• Connect with other people who have gone through the same experience.
• Find ways to help relax your body and mind. Examples include:
  • Meditation, deep breathing, or progressive relaxation techniques.
  • Hypnosis or guided imagery.
  • Yoga or tai chi.
  • Biofeedback or mindfulness techniques.
  • Keeping a journal.
  • Doing hobbies, like listening to music or being out in nature.
  • Exercise. Talk with your rehabilitation team about the best way to get 30 minutes of physical activity at least 5 days a week.

Where to find support:

Talking to others

• Look for a local or online support group for people living with an amputation.

Finances

• Talk to your insurance company about what assistive devices your plan covers.
• Contact national or local amputee charities to find out if you are eligible for scholarships and medical equipment for people in need.
• People in military service may be eligible for financial assistance or programs that support amputees.

Rehabilitation

A rehabilitation program can help you regain mobility and independence. Your rehabilitation team may include:

• Physicians and nurses.
• Physical and occupational therapists.
• Prosthesis specialists.
• Social workers.
• Mental health professionals.
• Diet and nutrition specialists.

Follow these instructions at home:

Managing pain

• Work with your health care provider to manage any residual or phantom limb pain. This may include:
  • Pain medicine.
  • Physical therapy.
  • Techniques that help retrain the brain and nervous system (movement representation techniques).
  • Sensory discrimination training. For this treatment, stimulation is applied to different parts of your stump, and you describe what you feel.
  • Biofeedback. This involves using monitors that alert you to changes in your breathing, heart rate, skin temperature, or muscle activity, and using relaxation techniques to reverse those changes.
  • Acupuncture.

Eating and drinking

• Work with a dietitian to develop an eating plan that helps you maintain a healthy body weight. Your plan may include a balance of:
  • Fresh fruits and vegetables.
  • Whole grains.
  • Lean meats.
  • Low-fat dairy.
  • Healthy fats, such as fish, nuts, avocado, or olive oil.
• Do not drink alcohol to cope with stress.

General instructions

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• Do not use any products that contain nicotine or tobacco, such as cigarettes and e-cigarettes. If you need help quitting, ask your health care provider.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Where to find more information

You can find more information about living with an amputation from:

• Amputee Coalition: www.amputee-coalition.org  
• Amputee Support Groups: amputee.supportgroups.com  
• National Amputee Foundation: www.nationalamputation.org  
• National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability: www.nchpad.org  
• Disabled Sports USA: www.disabledsportsusa.org  

Contact a health care provider if:

• Your pain does not improve with medicine or treatment.
• You have trouble managing your emotions about losing an extremity.

Get help right away if you:

• Have severe pain.

Summary

• It will take time for you to heal and get used to living with an amputation.
• Look for a local or online support group for people living with an amputation.
• Work with your health care provider to manage any phantom limb pain.