Premier Prosthetics & Orthotics Blog
Life After Limb Loss and How You Can Make Life at Home Easier
April 16, 2021
April is Limb Loss Awareness month, and since its inception in 2012, people across America have recognized it as a time for awareness and acknowledgment of the challenges and victories amputees and their families face every day. Even with the aid of prosthetics, there can be obstacles for those who have lost a limb. Help is out there. There are things you can do today that can make life easier.
The Road to Recovery
Post-amputation rehabilitation is a process that requires patience, strength, and determination. Following surgery, it is critical to establish healthy habits and prevent yourself from developing bad ones. Self-care is particularly important to amputees while adjusting to their new life.
Health is more than just physical well being. The physical aspects of recovery are important, but there is also emotional health to consider. Both are significant to maintaining a good lifestyle, and it can be easy to forget one while pursuing the other. For people struggling to maintain this balance, there are resources available specifically for amputees, and support networks designed to address challenges and concerns faced during life after limb loss. Remember, there are others who have experienced the same struggles— and most of them are willing to help.
What You Can Do at Home
It may be an obvious statement, but the success of your personal recovery relies mostly on you. The purpose behind post-amputation rehabilitation is to restore as much independence as possible. Fortunately, scientific and technological advances have brought us a long way towards that goal. Even with advanced prosthetics, however, mastering full functionality requires time, effort, and support. Here are some things you can do in your own home that can improve quality of life:
It may be an obvious statement, but the success of your personal recovery relies mostly on you. The purpose behind post-amputation rehabilitation is to restore as much independence as possible. Fortunately, scientific and technological advances have brought us a long way towards that goal. Even with advanced prosthetics, however, mastering full functionality requires time, effort, and support. Here are some things you can do in your own home that can improve quality of life:
- Install grab bars/railings in key areas. These are typically installed in places where a change in elevation is involved. Bedrooms and bathrooms are where falls are most likely to take place, so having emergency support may help in these places.
- Swap out doorknobs for levers. For those using upper-limb prosthesis, it is much easier to operate a lever than it is to turn a knob. Not only that, but levers have added grip, making opening and closing easier as well.
- Apply non-skid strips to rugs and mats. If you have any floorcloths, you should test how well they stay in place. Should there be any concerns, there are non-slip strips available that can increase the traction they have.
- Place motion-activated dispensers in the kitchen and bathroom. Automatic soap and shampoo dispensers allow for the use of one hand when washing, leaving a free hand or prosthetic for support.
When you are part of the PPO family, that means we are committed beyond just technical support for your prosthesis but to the quality of care that supports your physical and emotional wellbeing. For more information on how we can help you live life to the fullest, contact us at 314-262-8900, or contactus@premierpando.com