Amputation

Help and support

Source: NHS

In this topic (9)

Being told you need to have a limb amputated can be a devastating and frightening experience. Adjusting to life after an amputation can be challenging, but many people enjoy a good quality of life once they have managed to adapt.

You may find it useful to contact a support group for people living with amputations. The Limbless Association can provide you with information and advice, as well as the details of various local support groups.Its phone number is 0800 644 0185 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).

You may also find the Douglas Bader Foundation (DBF) a useful source of information and advice.

Articles for Amputation

Assessment beforesurgery

Unless you need to have anemergency amputation, you'll be fully assessed before surgery to identify themost suitable type of amputation and any factors that may affect your rehabilitation. The assess

Help and support

Being told you need to have a limb amputated can be a devastating and frightening experience. Adjusting to life after an amputation can be challenging, but many people enjoy a good quality of life onc

How amputations are carried out

Amputations can be carried outunder general anaesthetic (where you're unconscious)or using an epidural anaesthetic (which numbs the lower half of the body). Once the limb has been removed, a number o

Introduction

Information about amputation, including why and how it's carried out, recovery and rehabilitation, prosthetics, stump care and possible complications.

Prosthetics

After an amputation, you may be able to have a prosthetic limb fitted. Prosthetic limbs aren't suitable for everyone who's had an amputation because an extensive course of physiotherapy and rehabili

Psychological impact of amputation

The loss of a limb can have a considerable psychological impact. Many people who've had an amputation report feeling emotions such as grief and bereavement, similar to experiencing the death of a love

Recovering after an amputation

After surgery, you'll usually be given oxygen through a mask and fluids through a drip for the first few days while you recover on the ward. A small flexible tube (a urinary catheter ) may be placed

Stump care

It's very important to keep the skin on the surface of your stump clean to reduce the risk of it becoming irritated or infected. Gently wash your stump at least once a day (more frequently in hot wea

Why amputation may be needed

An amputation may be needed if: you have a severe infection in your limb your limb has been affected by gangrene (often as a result of peripheral arterial disease) there's serious trauma to your