Roughly 2 million Americans live with limb loss, while over 185,000 annually experience an amputation for a traumatic injury or a required surgical amputation stemming from decreased blood flow, infections, and severe skin ulcers such as diabetic foot ulcerations. Limb loss is stressful and devastating and affects every aspect of life, including relationships, career, life goals, and emotional well-being. It is common for amputees to experience grief, depression, and anxiety after a surgical amputation or traumatic event.
Patients with above-the-knee amputations (AKA), below-the-knee amputations (BKA), or amputations of other limbs may experience significant benefits from our inpatient amputation rehabilitation services. Our team assesses mobility and strength, surrounding skin condition, and the psychological adjustment from body image changes.
Let's look at our Amputation Rehab service and how our team incorporates the components of physical and psychological therapies into the plan of care. Our goal is to facilitate optimum performance during daily life activities and maximize the quality of life.
Our Physical Therapy team will work with you on strength, mobility, and balance techniques. Our team has access to advanced equipment to support you in accomplishing activities and provide prosthetic training in our state-of-the-art gym.
Our Occupational Therapists will help you with resources, training, and skill practice to take care of yourself and manage in your home or work by practicing in our home-like studio apartment.
Wound Care; Our amputation rehab team assesses your skin condition and any wounds to promote healing. Skin damage can further limit mobility and cause increased pain. Additional complications and infections from an amputation or open wound are the most significant risks to rehabilitation progress and, if left untreated, can result in severe life-threatening complications. The amputation site or any open wound requires frequent assessment and treatment, including additional topical medications, cleaning, dressing, and other advanced skin preparations and techniques to avoid irreversible damage.
Education and Support
Training and emotional support are part of rehabilitation. Our team at Indianapolis Rehabilitation Hospital's amputation rehab services aims to provide training and education to the patient and family, whether for a complex wound or an actual limb loss. We offer resources for ongoing care for the site of the amputation. If the selection of a prosthetic is being considered, we are here to talk through the options and find additional resources for you to consider. Our amputation rehab team can review how to manage life with a prosthetic and other helpful devices to live life fully. Our team understands the impact emotionally of a limb loss and supports the patient during the inpatient stay. Although living with an amputation presents challenges, positive coping strategies can help amputees find a new path in life and overcome difficult emotions. Some supports groups can also be beneficial, such as www.amputee-coalition.org and www.limbless-association.org
If you or a loved one desires more information on limb loss, amputation rehab, or complex wound topic, contact Indianapolis Rehab Hospital today to learn how our treatment team can help. Reach us at 463.333.8434 or info@indianapolis-rehab.com.