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The challenges of recovering from an amputation injury

On Behalf of | Oct 2, 2017 | Blog |

You may not remember losing your first tooth or getting your first haircut, but for many children, these moments are traumatic. Although these events are perfectly natural and rarely painful, the loss of part of their bodies is something children seem to understand as frightening and wrong.

Of course, the loss of a tooth or a few strands of hair fail to compare to the severe injury that caused the loss of one of your limbs. The amputation may be even more difficult to accept if the injury was the result of someone’s negligence. Now your future is quite different from the one you expected.

Physical therapy

You may already know how critical physical therapy will be to your recovery. You will probably call your physical therapists by their first names because you will spend a great deal of time with them, perhaps for the rest of your life. In fact, while you were still in the hospital, your therapy began with the important work of facilitating the healing of your wound and fitting you for your prosthesis. In the early stages, your therapy may include showing you how to do the following:

  • Put on and remove your prosthesis
  • Clean and maintain your prosthetic accessories, such as socks or liners
  • Care for your prosthesis and the wounded area of your limb

Physical therapy will also include monitoring your wound to ensure the skin heals properly and the prosthetic doesn’t cause blisters or irritation. This will be especially important in the beginning when the wound is still tender and likely painful.

Occupational therapy

Depending on which of your limbs was injured, you may have to re-learn certain tasks. You may also have to learn new ones, especially if your injury requires the use of special equipment or household modifications. Some of the tasks with which an occupational therapist can help you include:

  • Bathing and dressing
  • Getting in and out of the tub
  • Managing curbs, ramps and stairs
  • Adapting to modifications in your home and automobile

As you become more proficient with your prosthesis, you will likely continue with rehabilitation therapies for continued improvement and strength.

Although this is probably not how you expected to spend your time, it may help with your adjustment. While your recovery should be foremost in your mind, the cost of ongoing therapy and medical treatment may burden you. For assistance in that area, you may wish to consult a Texas personal injury attorney.

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