Adapting to Prosthetics
The move from amputation to prosthetics can be a fast one. If a patient is strong enough and is healing well, a temporary leg prosthetic could be tried within a week or two of the amputation. It’s important to get up and moving about as quickly as possible to prevent physical complications and also for mental and emotional well-being.
As with just about everything else in life, there is no one-size-fits all type of prosthetic. What works for one person who may have a similar amputation as you, may not work for you, and the other way around. The people who design the limbs and the physiotherapists use their expertise to try to find the best match for each person. Some prosthetics are purely cosmetic, others are mechanical, and yet other, newer ones, are robotic. There is a tremendous amount of research going on to help improve the lives of amputees who rely on prosthetics.
Remember, it may take a good bit of trial and error to get your prosthesis to be as good as it can be for you.
Resources
Here are some resources that may be helpful as you learn more about living with amputations:
United States
- EmpoweringAmputees.org (toll-free:1-844-AMPOWER)
- Amputation Coalition
- American Amputee
Canada
United Kingdom
