This page will be about the mental and physical preparation of the potential amputee. Part of the motivation to make this site stems from the lack of information I was confronted with when I became an amputee. Relative to many amputees, I consider myself lucky to have had the luxury to prepare myself for the amputation. Indeed it was I that made the ultimate decision. Amputees that lose their limb due to trauma often wake up one limb lighter after an accident, and there is no time for preparation of any kind. Nonetheless, if you're stuck in a hospital bed or at home between visits to your physiotherapist, this section of the site will hopefully provide you with some of the answers that you never seem to remember the questions for wheneve the experts are around. If there's something missing, ask me directly, or request that this section be added to.
I want to know more about:
- types of amputation, what sort of amputee will you be?
- the procedure itself
- waking up and early recovery
- mental and physical preparation
- the phantom limb
Here we are talking about the level of amputation, ie whether you will be amputated below, through or above the knee. This of course effects the choice of prosthetics open to you afterwards: if you are amputated below the knee, you will only need a foot; but if it is through or above the knee, then that knee will need to be replaced too.
There are three main levels of lower limb amputation, which leads to three different kinds of amputee.
Trans-tibial (TT), Below Knee (BK) is the lowest type in this discussion. Among us amputees, below knee amputees are sometimes consider as the lucky ones. They still have their knee and achieving a normal gait and function is often much easier than for higher level amputees.
Stump length
The length of your stump also has important implications for your prostheisis. Ideally you want a stump that is long enough to stick into a socket so that you can control the components below, but that leaves enough room for a good foot. You have to know a bit about prosthetic feet here, but basically, the more room for a foot, the better, because then you can fit a carbon fibre foot which is very strong, but flexible, and helps make your gait look better, and less energy consuming.
