[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/03\/coping-with-amputation-50ph\/#Article","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/03\/coping-with-amputation-50ph\/","headline":"Coping with Amputation, Emotionally and Physically","name":"Coping with Amputation, Emotionally and Physically","description":"Amputation, whether it\u2019s a limb or a toe, can be a difficult and traumatic experience. And everyone copes differently. It\u2019s normal for you to feel a range of emotions from relief (if you were suffering from constant pain before the amputation) to grief, anger, and even depression. You also will need to adjust physically. You\u2019ll […]","datePublished":"2020-03-03","dateModified":"2023-07-13","author":{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/rehab","name":"UPMC Rehabilitation Institute","url":"https:\/\/www.upmc.com\/services\/rehab","sameAs":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/upmc-rehabilitation-institute\/","parentOrganization":"UPMC"},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"UPMC HealthBeat","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/UPMC-HealthBeat-Logo.png","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/amputation.jpg","url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/03\/amputation.jpg","height":325,"width":754},"url":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/03\/coping-with-amputation-50ph\/","about":["Health Topics A-Z","Rehabilitation"],"wordCount":988,"articleBody":"Amputation, whether it\u2019s a limb or a toe, can be a difficult and traumatic experience. And everyone copes differently.It\u2019s normal for you to feel a range of emotions from relief (if you were suffering from constant pain before the amputation) to grief, anger, and even depression.You also will need to adjust physically. You\u2019ll need to relearn how to do many everyday tasks. If you have a prosthetic limb, you will need to learn how to use it and care for it.Rehabilitation focuses on helping both mentally and physically.Coping After Amputation: Adjusting to a New LifeHaving a limb amputated\u00a0means being dependent on others for help, at least for a time.As you recover and go through rehabilitation, you will steadily regain more independence and learn how to do basic daily activities in a new way. Although it may be difficult to ask for help, you\u2019ll need it at first. It\u2019s important to learn to accept help when offered.\u201cThe rehabilitation part is so critical early because people haven\u2019t thought about walking since they were toddlers,\u201d says Michael Munin, MD, professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. \u201cOften as adults they\u2019re now having to re-learn how to walk from start.\u201dNeeding help can make you feel like you\u2019ve lost some control of your life. Recognize what you can do for yourself and let others know when you do and do not need help.Emotional struggles are normal. Realize that you don\u2019t have to deal with them alone. Talk with family and friends, a counselor, or support group about your feelings. Finding others who have gone through a similar experience may help you realize what\u2019s possible. Spiritual support may also help you, whether from church leaders or members, or just taking your own time to reflect.\u201cThere is an emotional side of losing a body part, and we try to emphasize the positive of restoring physical functioning,\u201d Dr. Munin says.Life After Amputation: Recovering PhysicallyRehabilitation starts while you\u2019re still in the hospital and can last weeks or even months after the amputation surgery.Depending on your needs, a\u00a0rehabilitation program\u00a0will help you re-learn how to dress, walk, and eat, as well as balance and coordination, how to care for your skin around the amputation, and how to adjust to a prosthesis.Rehabilitation can include occupational and physical therapy. Prosthetists also hold an important role during the rehab admission process. They fabricate the prosthetic limb and make adjustments as needed to maintain patient comfort with the device.Dr. Munin says learning to trust a new limb is an important part of the early rehabilitation process. For example, someone might not feel comfortable putting full weight on a prosthetic leg.\u201cWe try to master that skill first, and then we focus on technique,\u201d he says.Physical therapists will help you take care of your skin, manage swelling, and deal with phantom pain. In\u00a0physical therapy, you will also learn how to care for your prosthesis and how to put it on and take it off. You\u2019ll also learn stretching and strengthening exercises, as well as gait training to help you stand even and regain balance. Therapists also will work on your cardiovascular endurance.Occupational therapy will\u00a0help you regain independence by helping you master activities of daily living. These include basic household chores, bathing, getting dressed, and toilet and tub transfers. Your occupational therapist will also recommend and show you how to use any assistive equipment that will make life at home easier. The therapist will also provide you any environmental modifications you need at home, at work, or for driving.The occupational and physical therapy tie in together to help a patient recover.\u201cIdeally, the goal is that a patient would ultimately, when they finish all of their training, that they\u2019ll put the leg on in the morning, take it off in the evening, and have a full day of wear schedule,\u201d Dr. Munin says. \u201cAll of these facets have to be addressed to achieve the high outcomes that we hopefully obtain for our patients.\u201dGoing out for the first time after an amputation can be intimidating. It helps to practice things you\u2019ll encounter before going out so you feel more confident. Either at home or in a rehab program, you can practice navigating curbs, stairs, ramps, and uneven ground.As you continue working, you will begin to regain some normalcy and feel more confident about your abilities. In time, it helps to focus on what you can do, rather than what you\u2019re unable to do.\u201cWe try to put the potential goals in their view so they realize they have a lot to shoot for and aim for in terms of restoration and function,\u201d Dr. Munin says. \u201cWe can\u2019t get everything back, but we can really restore a lot of function if the prosthetic rehabilitation is done in a concentrated, coordinated fashion.\u201dMental Health After AmputationDr. Munin says doctors, nurses, and staff also monitor a patient\u2019s mental health after an amputation. They treat it on a case-to-case basis, evaluating factors like a patient\u2019s mental history, support system, and more.Sometimes new problems can happen: depression, suicidal thoughts, body image issues, and post-traumatic stress. In serious cases, doctors can seek a psychiatric consult.\u201cIt is certainly something we monitor closely for,\u201d Dr. Munin says.If you feel signs of\u00a0depression, such as lack of motivation, loss of interest in things you once cared about, and ongoing grief or sadness, talk to your therapist or a counselor. The earlier you get help, the sooner you\u2019ll feel better and can continue recovering.Find more information on the\u00a0UPMC Rehabilitation Institute website.Editor's Note: This article was originally published on March 3, 2020, and was last reviewed on July 13, 2023."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"2020","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"03","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/\/03\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"Coping with Amputation, Emotionally and Physically","item":"https:\/\/share-dev.upmc.com\/2020\/03\/coping-with-amputation-50ph\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]