Hello! My name is Hugh Panton
and I am a certified Orthotist/Prosthetist.
That is a person that is a healthcare professional
that specializes
in making prosthetic limbs and orthopedic braces.
Today, I am going to share with you
what to expect after your amputation surgery.
At the VA, you are getting state-of-the-art care
by credentialized and accredited facilities.
We have a healthcare team
that is dedicated to meeting your needs
and accomplishing your goals before and after your procedure.
Your recovery has many phases
and you can expect to stay in the hospital
from several days to weeks based on your health.
Your nurse and surgical team
will manage any pain that you have
while you are in the hospital.
You may still experience sensation and/or pain
in the missing limb.
This is common and should diminish over time.
Your physical therapist will help you
to learn how to transfer and return to routine activities
and teach you appropriate strengthening
and stretching exercises.
Getting used to a missing limb takes care and patience,
so it's important for you to move safely
at all times to prevent falls. The nurse and surgical team
would take care of your surgical wound
while you are recovering in the hospital.
After your hospitalization, you will require rehabilitation.
This is typically short-term and you may recover
as an outpatient or in a skilled facility.
Our team also consists of a social worker
that will work with you to discuss your individualized plan
and provide you with short term rehab needs.
You will also have continued follow-up
with the surgical team in the amputation clinic
to determine a plan of care for your new amputation.
We have VA community programs which also provide services
once you are discharged from the hospital
and rehabilitation center.
Every person's situation is different.
Please do not hesitate to contact your primary care
social worker at any time if you have questions.
During your recovery,
your surgical wound will have sutures or staples.
Your surgical team will decide when it is best to remove them.
This usually occurs around the one-month mark.
Dressings are typically changed daily while in the hospital.
Our hospital staff will provide instructions
on how to care for your incision.
Be sure to follow instructions and ask questions
if something is unclear
to ensure that proper wound healing occurs.
Immediately report to your care team
if any of the following symptoms
as this may be a sign of infection,
redness, increased pain,
drainage at the incision site,
fever, chills
and/or foul odor at the surgical site.
After amputation, there will be an increased amount of edema
or swelling from surgery. This is normal.
Eventually, your limb will heal
and the sutures will be removed by the surgical team.
This is when volume management takes place.
This will most likely be done with the shrinker.
A shrinker is a special woven compression garment
that is sized to fit your residual limb.
Your surgeon will assess your condition
and write the order for the shrinker
once the limb us healed. The swelling will last weeks
and will be reduced with the shrinker.
This will help your residual limb
reach a stable size and shape.
You can expect your residual limb
to continue to stabilize for the next two to six months.
Once your residual limb is healed,
you will meet with your prosthetist
for a prosthetic limb.
You will be working closely with this person
over many visits over months to years.
Each prosthesis is unique to the person wearing it
and your prosthetist is trained to match your needs and goals
to the prosthesis that is made for you.
The VA also has home evaluations,
driving devices, wheelchairs and scooters.
There are things that you can do
to help your healing such as not smoking,
managing blood sugar and practicing good hygiene.
By quitting tobacco, you would decrease your risk
of heart attacks, stroke and blood clots.
If you manage your blood glucose levels,
you will improve wound healing.
Be sure to wash your hands with soap and water
before coming in contact with your wound.
Washing your hands after care of your wound
will decrease chances of wound infection.
Take special precaution with visitors.
If they are sick, ask them to reschedule a visit with you.
Inform your healthcare team
if you have any questions or concerns.
Limb loss has a significant impact on your life
which is why we have several resources available to you.
We have peer visitors who are fellow veterans
that are passionate about peer support
and want to make sure
no one goes through the limb loss journey alone.
We also have a veteran support group
that meets monthly to discuss overcoming similar challenges.
We offer individual one on one support with behavioral health
and mental health professionals.
We also have a VA caregiver support program
that is available to your family and friends
and a team of VA chaplains available
to provide spiritual support.
The Amputee Coalition is an educational resource
and support system that is available online.
There are also community support groups available.
Please let a member of your healthcare team know
if you're interested in any of these resources.
At the VA, our expert healthcare team
specializes in caring for our veterans.
We are here for you!