Advice for Caring for Your Amputated Leg and New Prosthetic
If you have recently had your leg amputated, it's very important for you to make sure to care for it daily. Not caring for it properly can lead to irritation, inflammation and infection. Anytime you worry that there may be a problem with your limb, you want to get in to see the doctor as soon as possible. However, following the tips offered in this article will help you to avoid dealing with these problems.
How to Care for Your Prosthetic Limb
You want to make sure you clean your prosthetic limb before you put it on. You want to clean it with a washcloth with hot water and antibacterial soap on it. Rinse it off well and make sure it is completely dry before you put it on. If you were provided with a wrap or sock to use with your prosthetic limb, be sure you use it each time.
How to Care for Your Skin
Inspect the area: Every time you take your prosthetic limb off, you want to make sure you examine your limb. If you are unable to see the entire area then you want to use a mirror to get a complete view of all areas. Look for any changes to your skin including redness, rashes, bumps, inflammation, sores or bruising. If you see any of these, then you should contact your doctor and make them aware of the situation.
Keep the area clean and dry: Keep your skin clean and dry. Use a washcloth, hot water and antibacterial soap to gently and thoroughly clean it each day. Rinse it well to get any soap residue off and dry it well. After you dry it with a towel, you should still allow it to air dry some more. If you find you sweat a lot, then you want to compensate for this by washing it more often.
Don't do anything that can irritate the area: Do not use any skin care products on your limb that haven't been preapproved by your doctor. Let your doctor know about the areas that take on the most pressure when you walk so they can make adjustments to the prosthetic to avoid the development of sores.
How to Get Used to Your Prosthetic Limb
It can take a while to get used to your artificial limb. When you first get it, you want wear it a little bit at a time and make sure you don't overdo it. Take any medications provided exactly as instructed by your doctor and don't stop taking them before they are all gone. Practice moving around different ways so you can learn which ways are the easiest on you.
By following the advice here, you will have a better time getting used to your new prosthetic limb and you will decrease the chances that you will need more treatment. If you have any questions about getting a prosthetic limb, consider contacting a local specialist, such as Cotton Orthotic and Prosthetic.
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