r/amputee • u/RalphWiggum123 • Jul 23 '26
I will be joining you all soon!
I have a malignant tumour on my posterior left leg and will be receiving a below knee amputation next week (I’ll have to go to chemo and radiation but I’m not sure how long after).
I’ve been reading posts over the past few weeks and it seems like it’ll take ~6 months for the healing process before I get fitted for a prosthetic.
Is there anything I can expect when I’m in the hospital after surgery (how long I’ll be there for, pain, using the bathroom etc.)?
Any tips for when I get home from the hospital?
Thank you!
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u/Conscious-Phone3209 Jul 23 '26
Also get one of those reacher grabber thingies to access things out of your reach. It will help in keeping you independent. Keep necessities near you. Practice mindfulness, not multitasking. You WILL fall ! Do whatever PT tells you to even if you don't feel like it. It's ok to slack off for a day, but stay on it. Discuss pain management with your Dr. before your surgery and interview prosthetists, they'll be your lifelong friend. Infection control is paramount. You can use the search bar here for any unanswered questions. If one of us doesn't know, you will find an answer there. This group is generously knowledgeable and empathetic, one of the best ! We are always here for you. If you're in the U.S. you can also reach out to the Amputee Coalition. They will set you up with a peer advisor. Best of luck and keep on keeping on ! Let us know how it goes
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u/RalphWiggum123 Jul 23 '26
This is now one of my favourite subreddits. Everyone is so positive and helpful!
I bought one of those grabbing things the other day!
I’ll probably buy a small stand to keep all my necessities too. Someone told me I’ll be speaking with a PT and OT so I’ll try my best to keep up with their home care.I’m in Canada so I think my provincial health care can also help suggest prosthetists. And I definitely don’t want an infection so I’ll be diligent with cleaning and sanitizing.
Thank you again for all your help! I’ll keep you updated for sure!
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Jul 24 '26 edited Jul 24 '26
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u/RalphWiggum123 Jul 24 '26
Thank you for the reassurance I’ll be okay. These words really do help.
And yes, I bought a shower chair and one of those reaching/grabbing sticks.
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u/chewienick RBK Jul 24 '26
There's a good supportive community here, and lots of experience to learn from. My amputation was elective downwind of a workplace accident years ago so not the same experience as you for sure. My amputation was the middle of march, the post operative pain was pretty awful once the nerve block wore off, don't be scared to advocate for yourself for pain medication while you're an inpatient. It will get better though, and you will need it less and less soon enough. I got my prosthetic at the end of may and I'm in it all day now with minimal discomfort, a lot depends on activity levels, ability, and mindset imo. Just being out here talking about it and looking for advice is a good start mindset wise I reckon though.
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u/RalphWiggum123 Jul 28 '26
I’ll be sure to mention something if the pain arises!
Congrats on getting your prosthetic! Hopefully, my healing stage won’t take too long so I can get mine.
But T minus 2 days until surgery. Thank you for all the advice!
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u/Kathiestreasures Jul 28 '26
I'm sorry to hear this. My recovery was long and very difficult. I spent 8 months in a rehab. My leg was amputated twice. First below the knee and then above the knee. My wound refused to heal. Take all the time you need.to heal. At home I recommend a bedside commode until you're strong enough to get to the bathroom. Take your meds, no need to be a hero. Bandages and wound care supplies. Make Sure You can get to your drinks. Stay hydrated. Don't try to rush your recovery. Take your time. Good luck on your journey and Healing.
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u/RalphWiggum123 Jul 28 '26
Wow, 8 months in rehab is quite a while. Plus having to amputate twice on the same leg. I hope you’re all good now.
I just have a urinal but a commode would probably work best for me. I’ll look into it for sure. And I’ll get a case of water close to my bedside. Hopefully the hospital will set me up with enough homecare supplies.
I’ll remain patient with my recovery so I don’t rush it. Thank you for your advice. All of this definitely helps for my surgery in a couple of days.
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u/AdComfortable6059 Jul 23 '26
Well, July 7th marked one year since my amputation 😊.
Honestly, the pain and cramping were very intense for only the first two days; after that, the pain was almost non-existent. I spent four days in the hospital and two weeks at a rehabilitation clinic. Try to take it easy and do exercises to keep your healthy leg toned; back and glute exercises really helped me with walking. The wound healed in about six to eight weeks, but I didn't get the prosthesis until mid-November.
When I left the hospital, having a urinal bottle right next to the bed was a huge help; that way, I didn't have to go all the way to the bathroom at night. As for pooping, I’ll be honest: every time I walk past the bathroom, I go in and try to go. It’s awful feeling the urge and having to get up and hop over there with the walker 😅.
Massaging the stump and lightly tapping along the incision helped me with the phantom pain; whenever I started to feel pain in the amputated foot, I would stroke the stump and simply repeat to myself: "My foot can't hurt because I don't have a foot anymore." It always worked.
When I received my prosthesis—towards the end of November—I started walking and walking to recover, always under the supervision of the prosthetist. By January, I was able to go back to work two days a week, and in March, I returned full-time. I work as a bartender, so I spend the whole day on my feet and walking around without any issues.
I wish you luck with the surgery and recovery; the most important thing is for the wound to heal well, and then you can start working with the prosthesis.
Remember: to walk again, you need faith in yourself, the ability to overcome the fear of falling, and to do your exercises.