It’s not uncommon to feel lost or helpless having just experienced limb loss.
I know. I’ve been there and experienced your concerns and fears.
Patients may experience feelings of anxiety, anger (directed toward self, family or caregivers), depression, shock, denial, hopelessness, helplessness, and disconnection. Some people may report feelings of relief as their amputation was expected and resulted in freedom from pain with improved function.
Going through amputation can be a lot like being on a roller coaster ride. There can be “highs and lows” ranging between optimism to despair. The ranges of feelings you may experience are normal and expected and part of the healing process.
Having undergone amputation 29 years ago myself I’ve personally felt all of these things at one time or another. I remember the trauma to my leg, reworked and retraced all the moments leading up to the accident, thought numerous times how I might have avoided being in the wrong place at the wrong time and consequently beat myself up over it causing many of these feelings above over and over again.
Many of you with vascular disease and other medical conditions affecting your limb loss have certainly retraced your own path to limb loss and asked yourself countless times, “why didn’t I make better lifestyle choices?” to prevent my amputation.
If you’ve had these feelings you’re not alone!
Having access to a strong support system is important for coping with limb loss and for creating a positive plan to move forward with your life as an amputee.
GRE O&P is passionate about providing support to new and existing patients via hospital visits and being involved and coordinating regular amputee support meetings with Lake Health System. This type of outreach support is crucial to the well being of amputees as they begin or continue their journey to healthy active living.
As part of a strong support system at GRE O&P, I would like the opportunity to assist with your needs and concerns through shared empathy and encouragement. Please feel free to reach out to me.
And last but not least, try not to worry about others accepting your amputation. People generally interact with you with the same level of comfort that you have with yourself. It is important to cultivate a positive attitude towards yourself! After all, you’re still you. Actually, you’re a stronger more resilient you, ready to move forward!
For additional support please reach out to John at JGravino@greop.com