SWELLING / EDEMA
In this section we will cover the following questions :
What will it be like when I see my residual limb for the first time?
Will I have swelling after my amputation?
Is swelling normal after an amputation?
What is edema?
Is swelling normal after an amputation surgery?
Whether you get a protective cast or not, the first time you see your residual limb may now catch your attention. For example, you may realize around this time that your residual limb may have also become swollen. This is normal. Your residual limb may also have staples or sutures to help close the incision line. Again, this is normal treatment as we know it today.
Your body is trying to heal itself now. When you see your residual limb for the first time after the amputation this is a new experience. We hope it is the last time you need to travel through this territory. Sometimes however revisions are required if abnormalities are found after a surgery.
You may honestly be a little shocked at how much of a change in size has happened in terms of circumference around the incision line area of the residual limb. We won’t sugar coat this, the swelling can be moderate to severe.
Hopefully, you and your medical team will consider it to be nominal. Either way, you can deal with it proactively and we will show you how many people do that shortly. Staying positive and being proactive should be a choice you try and make every day. – Nobody said this is going to be easy…
Staying Positive
It is best to try and stay positive at this time. Easy for us to say as the author of this document, I’m sure. It is a tough time. However, in our effort to help, we need to remind you to try and stay focused on the solution to your new edema challenge. Yes the problem is there, but the solution is around the corner as well. Please also try to remember that most of the time this swelling is temporary. That can help you mentally deal with this change in size.
In the medical field, you will hear the prosthetist, doctor, therapist, nurse, CNA and / or other medical professional not call it swelling so much. You may or may not have heard the term before, but most medically trained people will refer to this swelling more so as “edema”. Edema = swelling, in our experience.