An above-the-knee amputation is surgery to remove your leg above the knee. Your doctor removes the leg and keeps as much healthy skin, blood vessel, and nerve tissue as possible.
Having your leg removed is traumatic. You have to learn to live with new limitations. This can be hard and frustrating. You may feel depressed. Or you may grieve for your previous lifestyle. Talking with your family, friends, and health professionals about how you feel may help. You may also find it helps to talk with a person who has had an amputation.
Even though losing a limb is a challenge, it does not change who you are. It doesn't prevent you from enjoying life. You will have to learn new ways to do things. But you will still be able to work and take part in sports and activities. And you can still learn, love, play, and live life to its fullest.
Many organizations can help you get used to your new life. For example, you can go to amputee-coalition.org for information and support.
Your doctor will tell you how much of your leg should be removed. Your doctor will leave enough healthy skin to cover the remaining part of your leg (residual limb). You may get an artificial leg. This is called a prosthesis. If you get one, your doctor will shape your residual limb for the best possible fit.
Your doctor may sew together the skin to cover the residual limb. Or your doctor may leave it open to make sure it heals as it should. In this case, the skin may be sewn together 10 to 14 days later.
After surgery, you will stay in the hospital for several days. How long you stay depends on your general health and the way your doctor does the surgery. You may spend part of your recovery in a rehabilitation (rehab) facility.
Your residual limb may heal as soon as 4 to 8 weeks after surgery. But it may take longer. You will need physical rehab. The rehab can sometimes start within 48 hours of your surgery. It may last as long as 1 year.
Surgery can be stressful. This information will help you understand what you can expect. And it will help you safely prepare for surgery.
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An above-the-knee amputation is surgery to remove your leg above the knee. Your doctor removed the leg while keeping as much healthy bone, skin, blood vessel, and nerve tissue as possible.
After the surgery, you will probably have bandages, a rigid dressing, or a cast over the remaining part of your leg (residual limb). The leg may be swollen for at least 4 weeks after your surgery. If you have a rigid dressing or cast, your doctor will set up regular visits to change the dressing or cast and check the healing. If you have elastic bandages, your doctor will tell you how to change them.
You may have pain in your remaining limb. You also may think you have feeling or pain where your leg was. This is called phantom pain. It is common and may come and go for a year or longer. Your doctor can give you medicine for both types of pain.
You may have already started a rehabilitation program (rehab). You will continue this under the guidance of your doctor or physical therapist. You will need to do a lot of work to recondition your muscles and relearn activities, balance, and coordination. Rehab can last as long as 1 year.
You may have been fitted with a temporary artificial leg while you were still in the hospital. If this is the case, your doctor will teach you how to care for it. If you are getting an artificial leg, you may need to get used to it before you go back to work and your other activities. You will probably not wear it all the time, so you will need to learn how to use a wheelchair, crutches, or other device. You will have to make changes in your home. Your workplace may be able to make allowances for you.
Having your leg amputated can be traumatic. And learning to live with new limits can be hard and frustrating. Many people feel depressed and may grieve for their former lifestyle. It's important to understand these feelings. Talking with your family, friends, and health professionals about your frustrations is an important part of your recovery. You may also find that it helps to talk with a person who has had an amputation.
Remember that even though you've lost a limb, it doesn't change who you are or prevent you from enjoying life. You'll have to adapt and learn new ways to do things. But you can still work and take part in sports and activities. And you can still learn, love, play, and live life to its fullest.
Many organizations can help you adjust to your new life. For example, you can go to amputee-coalition.org for information and support.
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