Dr. Amanda Mayo is a physiatrist who specializes in amputee care at St. John’s Rehab. Todd Domingo is an active amputee and a certified peer visitor who offers support to other amputees. Both share insights to help you along your journey.

A life-changing event

Says Dr. Mayo, “It is important to recognize limb loss is a life-changing event. Limb loss affects how you move and many aspects of your life. It is common to go through a period of grieving after loss of a limb, and you may have a period of developing a new self image. Having a good support network of friends, family, and/or healthcare providers can help with these transitions.”

Says Todd, “When it comes to body image, keep reminding yourself that value is about who you are and what you can do – and less about physical appearance. Though it takes a lot emotionally the goal is to try to get to a point where you can say, let me make something better of this. People will always stare: it is human nature. Use it as a positive teachable moment.”

Last year Todd had to have a left below knee amputation. “Losing a limb is similar to losing loved one – believe it or not,” he says. “Everyone experiences the process of dealing with limb loss differently.”

Recovery takes time

Dr. Mayo: It is a long process to recover from amputation. Be patient with yourself. It takes time to regain your strength, emotional recovery and for the residual limb to heal.

Patients have to wait at least 4-6 weeks after amputation before being measured for their first prosthetic device by a prosthetist.

Be open to new experiences

Todd: Over time it is then good to get to know the things you can do and to remain open to new experiences. I found it helped to accept that my prosthesis was not replacing my limb. It’s a ‘tool’ to help me do things.

Don’t be discouraged

Todd:  During fittings and adjustments, try to stay positive and get to know the differences between pain, soreness, discomfort and pressure. Acknowledge and address the discomfort and find a way to trust that your device will support you.

Seek support about the financial aspects of a potential device

Dr. Mayo: Patients also often face financial stressors at this time. Talking with members of your medical team – the social worker, the physiotherapist, the occupational therapist – can help you learn more about potential device options and how to navigate assistive devices funding.

Todd: Find out what your options are, and aim for a device that can help match the activities you want to do.

Become adaptive and active

Todd: Learn what being adaptive means. Ask yourself, how am I going to do this? in a strategic way to safely do it.  For example, instead of asking, how am I going to get in my car with my leg prosthesis on since it is low to the ground? Start by thinking how you can physically get into your car. Whether that is by holding on to the car as you sit down and swinging your legs over, it is all about taking that first step. You’ll soon figure out that adapting simply means doing things in a different way, but still getting to the end goal. 

Todd: Be active and involved. Be aware of the community of amputees around you. Advocate for yourself and have good, regular exchanges with your medical team.

The post Going forward after limb loss appeared first on Your Health Matters.

Some competitors will use various types of prosthetics during the competition, so we reached out to Shane Glasford, Sunnybrook’s Team Lead of Prosthetics, Sunnybrook Centre for Independent Living (SCIL) to learn more about these devices.

How long have you been working in this field?
I graduated in 1994 so I have been working for 23 years in prosthetics.

How big is the team you oversee?
We have four technicians and five prosthetists.

What kind of patients do you see in SCIL?
We see patients that have lost a limb due to a multitude of reasons including congenital defects, trauma, and complications to diseases like diabetes.

What is the process of being fitted with a prosthetic entail?
The prosthetic treatment path has many steps. Patients first receive a thorough physical assessment, which includes how they hope to use a prosthetic in their daily lives. After that comes a cast of the remaining limb that is removed immediately and filled with plaster-of-paris. The Prosthetist then reshapes and smooths the plaster to appropriately distribute the body weight over the surface of that residual limb. After the socket is fabricated, the next step is alignment. This involves positioning the knee (where applicable) and foot in a position that ensures knee stability, and proper foot function while the patient is walking. This varies for everyone, and for new amputees, needs to be adjusted as their walking improves. During the entire process, the patient is also working with the physiotherapist to optimize their gait and prevent bad habits.

For our upper extremity amputees, the shape capture, rectification, and socket provision is very similar.

An extremely critical piece of the process is the work of the occupational therapist. No prosthesis can accomplish the range of tasks — from fine control to powerful work — our bodies can, so we work with patients to find the best compromise or a selection of devices to fulfill the patient’s needs.

In addition to the physical needs of your patients, how does your team address the psychological needs of amputees?
The prosthetists work within a multi-disciplinary team. While I have found the use of a prosthesis often improves the patient’s psychological outlook, it can also signify a major step “back” to their former lives.

Both social work and psychology experts are available at Sunnybrook to provide further support to patients if needed.

Tell me more about the customized work happening here at Sunnybrook.
Every prosthesis, be it for everyday wear or for a specific use like sport, is a custom manufactured device. Even the manufactured components – including feet, knees and adapters – are chosen from thousands of options. We try to accommodate each patient’s desires, from pictures or logos on the prosthesis to a realistic “skin”.

Are the technologies around prosthetic devices changing quickly?
We seem to be in a period of change. Some older ideas are getting a fresh spin and there are also a number of advancements becoming available. Overall, it’s a very dynamic field that continues to offer more choices to patients every year.

Will you be watching the Invictus Games?
I hope to! Many of the events are during the workday, but there are a few events on the weekend that I would like to attend.

The post How Sunnybrook’s prosthetics team helps patients return to maximum function appeared first on Your Health Matters.