Patients have the option to be seen in our facility in Austin, Texas or in the comfort of their own homes.
General Information for Amputees
Losing a limb to amputation can cause many different emotions to come up. At first you may feel that you are no longer a whole person. You may fear that others will stare at or avoid you. You may be afraid to show your limb to your partner or fear that your partner will feel differently about you after your limb loss. These feelings are a normal part of the adjustment process, and they will probably pass with time. You are not alone in your recovery. Learning to walk again and care for your limb will take some time, but with the help from your doctor, your therapists and your prosthetist you will regain the independence you desire. This guide was put together to help you, the amputee, understand the process that will occur after your amputation. Additional resources are provided on the last few pages.
Timeline & What to Expect
The healing process after your surgery will vary depending on the cause of amputation and your overall health. In order to begin the prosthetic fitting process, your wound must be healed and the swelling decreased. If there are no complications, the first fitting usually occurs four to five weeks after amputation, but ultimately your doctor will decide when you are ready to begin. The fitting process may vary with different patients, but the following guide will give you an idea of what to expect.
1st Visit: Evaluation
Once your doctor has determined that you are ready for prosthetic fitting, your initial evaluation will be scheduled. At this time, your prosthetist will ask you many questions about your lifestyle, your vocation, your hobbies, your future plans, and your expectations for using your prosthesis. An evaluation of your strength and range of motion will be performed and the condition of your residual limb will be examined. We will discuss the prosthetic options available to you based on these assessments and provide a compression garment (shrinker) based on measurements of your limb if not previously provided. If your health insurance carrier requires prior approval, this will be taken care by our office staff. Some insurance carriers can take several weeks to review your case and reach a decision.
2nd Visit: Measuring and Casting
Before casting, we also take a look at your residual limb for any prominent bones, sensitive areas, and swelling. To ensure a proper socket fit, it is very important that your leg not be swollen when we take a cast. If you are swollen, you will need to wear a shrinker, provided by your prosthetist, to remove fluid from your limb and make another appointment for the casting of your residual limb.
If your prosthetist determines that you are ready for casting, he/she will take measurements and a cast of your residual limb along with measurements of your sound leg to make sure the height of the prosthesis is accurate. Once the cast is set, the prosthetist will remove it from your limb and use it as a model to fabricate, or build, your prosthesis.
3rd Visit: Diagnostic Fitting
With in 1 to5 days you will be seen for your first diagnostic fitting. A clear plastic socket will be used to allow the prosthetist to asses fit see where adjustments may need to be made. Usually only one fitting will be required but it is not uncommon for additional diagnostic fittings to be necessary to produce a well fitting, well functioning artificial limb. Your prosthetist will focus on the fit and comfort of the socket first. Next your components will be attached to this socket to ensure that everything is in the proper alignment. At the end of this appointment the prosthetist will determine whether an additional fitting will be necessary. If so, this additional fitting will be scheduled with in 1 to 5 days.
4th Visit: Dynamic Alignment
At this appointment you will need the pair of shoes that you will be wearing the most often with your prosthesis. At this visit, you will be able to stand and take steps with the prosthesis in the parallel bars. We will check for correct height and also change the alignment of the prosthesis by adjusting the angle of the foot, knee, and hip as applicable to your amputation level. Changing the alignment is meant to improve your gait (how you walk) and give you the greatest stability, comfort and optimal efficiency. Once your prostheses is dynamically aligned, your prosthetist will transfer this alignment to the finished prosthesis.
Note: Depending on the prosthesis and method of suspension, the diagnostic fitting and dynamic alignment stages may be combined into one visit.
5th Visit: Delivery
This is the day that you will receive your finished prosthesis along with a supply of prosthetic socks. Your prosthetist will make sure that you know how to operate all of the features of the prosthesis and will give you information about care and maintenance required for your device. You will be educated on the proper donning of your prosthesis and how to determine the correct number of prosthetic socks to wear. Information on proper care and use will be provided for your reference but your prosthetist is always a phone call away to help walk you through any concerns. If necessary we can schedule a follow up appointment with in 24 to 72 hours .
If this is your first prosthesis, do not expect to wear it all the time right away. We recommend a short period of time the first day and then you will gradually increase the wearing time each day. You should check the skin on your residual limb before and after you remove your prosthesis for signs of irritation and/or redness. Redness over a large area that dissipates after removal of the prosthesis is normal. If you have localized redness caused by pressure, please contact our facility for an appointment so that changes can be made.
It is important to schedule your first physical therapy appointment as soon as possible. It is also very important that you follow the safety guidelines set by your prosthetist and physical therapist.
We will automatically schedule a follow-up appointment for 1-2 weeks after you receive your prosthesis. At this time we can address any concerns or problems you are having. If you begin to experience discomfort before this appointment, call our office to schedule an earlier appointment.
If you start to experience discomfort after a period of time, remember that your prosthesis has probably not changed. It is more likely that your residual limb has undergone a physical change, causing the prosthesis to no longer fit in the same way. Often this discomfort can be relieved by adding or removing prosthetic socks.
Follow-Up
After your prosthesis is finished, occasional adjustments and minor repairs may be needed. Contact your prosthetist if you notice that your socket is fitting differently or that any parts of the prosthesis are worn or not working properly. To obtain the best results from your new prosthesis, it is recommended that you start by wearing it on a gradually increasing basis unless you have been instructed otherwise. Our office will automatically schedule 1-2 week follow up, 1 month follow up, 3 and 6 month phone calls and if needed appointments will be scheduled.
Notify our office at once if any redness indicating pressure marks lasts longer than approximately 20 to 30 minutes, particularly during this introductory period. Should you experience pain other than the normal pressure of wearing a prosthesis, discontinue wearing the prosthesis, put on your shrinker, and call immediately to schedule an appointment. Frequent changes to clean prosthetic socks will keep you comfortable, especially if you experience excessive perspiration.