Prosthetic Trauma

It is more common than people think, losing lower limbs that is. After amputation, it has been found that many men and women experience several different types of rehabilitation and recovery issues. Some of these include the psychological issues, the healing process of the wounds, prosthetic limb complications, and social and long lasting effects. Some reasons for amputation are severe injury, cancer, infection, and frostbite. In some cases, it’s a victim’s only choice in order to avoid sickness and even death. Thousands of prosthetic legs are manufactured each year in the United States in all different sizes. Children and adults of all ages have reason for needing a new beginning in the world of walking. Receiving a prosthetic leg can help

Whether the leg is amputated above or below the knee determines the size and length of it as well. When it is time for fitting, the socket must fit extremely tight to the end of the leg. This ensures that there will be no slipping off. Blistering may also occur if the fit is not correct. This blistering can prolong the process of getting a new limb and learning to walk again. When a patient begins to relearn to walk again, it is definitely no “walk in the park.” Mobility after surgery usually depends on mobility before surgery and a person’s age. If a child needs an amputation at an early age or maybe even before they learn to walk, it is usually easier to adjust to having the fake leg. If the amputee is an adult or elderly person, they may struggle more because they must truly have to relearn completely how to walk and keep their balance. It sometimes can take up to 12 months to obtain a properly fitting prosthesis and several fittings over several months are usually needed in order to ensure that it is safe. Every couple years, depending on how the body of an amputee changes, the prosthetics must be changed and refitted. In “Balance Confidence Among People with Lower-Limb Amputations,” the authors write “Confidence in a person's balance has been shown to be an important predictor of social activity among people with lower-limb amputations (Miller, Speechley, and Deathe). The fear of falling is hard

Sometimes they’re seen at sporting events or even on live interviews for the world to see showing that they have recovered and returned to working and living but it’s what happens behind the scenes that is the truth. Walking again is the work of months upon months of surgeries, physical therapy, doctor prescribed medications and instructions, and huge amounts of mental strength. Children see jumping on one leg or riding in a wheel chair as a joke or a fun activity, but until living that way is the only choice, it’s impossible to realize the struggle and risks that come with such a tragedy of actually having a leg surgically removed. It’s not something that can be undone, and while follow with a victim for the rest of their