Succeed As An Amputee: Three Steps

As a new amputee, you’ve probably received pamphlets on subjects ranging from phantom limb pain and what kind of prostheses are available to support groups and different designs for custom items. There are a few things, however, that these pamphlets don’t tell you that can set you up for greater success as an amputee. Here are three steps to take, so you can thrive with your new prosthesis:

1. Don’t expect to catch on right away.

There’s a difference between being active and being athletic. We encourage everyone to be active—especially if you’re an amputee, as this can help with a wide range of issues—but not everyone is able to be super athletic after an amputation. And you know what? That’s okay! You’ll be able to do plenty of things you love, but at first, it won’t be at the level you were able to before. Be patient, as healing takes time. We are there every step of the way to help with the process. Our goal is to provide comfort and function to improve your freedom and independence.

2. Keep your confidence.

What we’ve seen is that the amputees who are confident in themselves usually adapt to their prostheses faster and become mobile quicker. Being confident can help you push away the worries and doubts you have about your ability to use your prosthesis.

Part of building confidence means embracing whatever level you’re at with your device. Yes, you may still have a limp, but if it’s not a big issue to you, that will actually help you get to the next level faster. It seems counterintuitive, but it works!

3. Keep a strong relationship with your prosthetist.

Prosthetists are here to help, and the good ones will listen to you and try new things to help you succeed. If your prosthetist isn’t giving you the time that you need and deserve, they can end up becoming more of a hindrance than a help! You can benefit by keeping in touch with your prosthetist after your fitting so that you can keep up to date with the latest and greatest prosthetic items down the road. For example, following a detailed evaluation of each patient, we offer a full custom socket design that is achieved through our advanced technology. This allows us to specifically design something special and unique to each person, with the technology we have available. 

We pride ourselves on being the kind of prosthetists who will listen and help you work through your problems. If you’re a new amputee or you need to find a new prosthetist, set up an appointment with us today! We would love to see you and show you more ways to succeed.