Above knee amputation how long in hospital

Watch for sores or wounds that appear on your residual limb. And call if you fall or receive a blow to your limb. Physical therapist if you have trouble walking, doing exercises, or if you experience stiffness. Prosthetist if your prosthesis feels loose, rubs, or pinches your residual limb. Social worker if you need home assistance or help with insurance. Psychologist or peer counselor if you could use more emotional support.

All rights reserved. This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.

Sign up here! Yes, I agree to the privacy policy. Wellness Library. The questions you should be asking your doctor during your annual wellness exam.

By Cynthia Alexander, MD. Mount Nittany Physician Group. Lanadelumab injection. Cocaine topical solution or spray. Methadone tablets.

Zileuton tablets. Search Wellness Articles. You may have already started a rehabilitation program rehab. You will continue this under the guidance of your doctor or physiotherapist. You will need to do a lot of work to recondition your muscles and relearn activities, balance, and coordination.

Rehab can last as long as 1 year. You may have been fitted with a temporary artificial leg while you were still in the hospital. If this is the case, your doctor will teach you how to care for it. If you are getting an artificial leg, you may need to get used to it before you go back to work and your other activities. You will probably not wear it all the time, so you will need to learn how to use a wheelchair, crutches, or other device.

You will have to make changes in your home. Your workplace may be able to make allowances for you. Having your leg amputated can be traumatic. And learning to live with new limits can be hard and frustrating. Many people feel depressed and may grieve for their former lifestyle. It's important to understand these feelings. Talking with your family, friends, and health professionals about your frustrations is an important part of your recovery.

You may also find that it helps to talk with a person who has had an amputation. Remember that even though you've lost a limb, it doesn't change who you are or prevent you from enjoying life. You'll have to adapt and learn new ways to do things. But you can still work and take part in sports and activities.

And you can still learn, love, play, and live life to its fullest. Many organizations can help you adjust to your new life. For example, you can go to www. This care sheet gives you a general idea about how long it will take for you to recover. But each person recovers at a different pace. Follow the steps below to get better as quickly as possible. Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse call line if you are having problems.

It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take. Call anytime you think you may need emergency care. For example, call if:. Call your doctor or nurse call line now or seek immediate medical care if:. Watch closely for any changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse call line if you have any problems.

Author: Healthwise Staff. Care instructions adapted under license by your healthcare professional. If you have questions about a medical condition or this instruction, always ask your healthcare professional. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information.

Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. It looks like your browser does not have JavaScript enabled. Removing one limb can place extra strain on the remaining limb, so it's important to look after the healthy limb. It may also inlude a psychological assessment to determine how well you'll cope with the psychological and emotional impact of amputation, and whether you'll need additional support.

There may be an assessment of your home, work and social environments to check if any changes will need to be made to help you cope. You'll also be introduced to a physiotherapist, who will be involved in your post-operative care. A prosthetist a specialist in prosthetic limbs will advise you about the type and function of prosthetic limbs or other devices available.

If you're having a planned amputation, you might find it reassuring to talk to someone who's had a similar type of amputation. A member of your care team may be able to arrange this. Amputations can be done under general anaesthetic where you're unconscious or using either an epidural anaesthetic or spinal anaesthetic both of which numb the lower half of the body.

The choice of anaesthetic can depend on what part of your body is being amputated. Most amputations involve removing a section of a limb rather than the entire limb. Once the section of the limb has been amputated, additional techniques can be used to help improve the function of the remaining part of the limb and reduce the risk of complications.

These include shortening and smoothing the bone in the remaining section of the limb so it's covered by an adequate amount of soft tissue and muscle. The surgeon then stitches the muscle to the bones to help strengthen the remaining section a technique known as myodesis. After the amputation, your wound will be sealed with stitches or surgical staples.

It will be covered with a bandage and a tube may be placed under your skin to drain any excess fluid. The bandage will usually need to be kept in place for a few days to reduce the risk of infection. After surgery, you'll usually be given oxygen through a mask and fluids through a drip for the first few days while you recover in a ward.

A small flexible tube urinary catheter may be placed in your bladder during surgery to drain urine. This means you will not need to get out of bed to go to the toilet for the first few days after the operation. You may be given a commode or bedpan so you can also poo without having to get up to use the toilet. The site of the operation may be painful, so you'll be given painkillers if you need them. Tell a member of your care team if the painkillers are not working, as you may need a larger dose or a stronger painkiller.

A small tube may be used to deliver local anaesthetic to the nerves in the stump to help reduce pain. Your physiotherapist will teach you some exercises to help prevent blood clots and improve your blood supply while you're recovering in hospital.

You'll notice swelling oedema of the stump after surgery. This is normal and it may continue after you've been discharged. Using a compression garment will help with swelling and the shape of the stump. It may also reduce phantom pain pain that seems to be coming from your missing limb and help support the limb. You'll be fitted with a compression garment once your wound has healed.

It should be worn every day, but taken off at bedtime. You should be given at least 2 garments, which should be washed regularly. Physical rehabilitation is an important part of the recovery process. It can be a long, difficult and frustrating process, but it's important to persevere. After rehabilitation, you may be able to return to work and other activities. Your rehabilitation programme will be tailored to your individual needs and will aim to allow you to do as many of your normal activities as possible.

You'll work closely with physiotherapists and occupational therapists who will discuss with you what you'd like to achieve from rehabilitation so that some realistic goals can be set.

Your rehabilitation programme will usually start a few days after your operation. It may begin with simple exercises you can do while lying down or sitting. If you've had a leg amputation, you'll be encouraged to move around as soon as possible using a wheelchair.

You'll also be taught "transfer techniques" to help you move around more easily, such as how to get into a wheelchair from your bed. Once your wound has started to heal, you may start working on an exercise programme with a physiotherapist in the hospital to help you maintain your mobility and muscle strength. If you have a prosthetic limb fitted, your physiotherapist will teach you how to use it.

For example, how to walk on a prosthetic leg or grip with a prosthetic hand. The length of time it will take before you're ready to go home will depend on the type of amputation you've had and your general state of health. Before you're discharged from hospital, an occupational therapist may arrange to visit you at home to see if your home needs to be adapted to make it more accessible. For example, you may need a wheelchair ramp or a stairlift. If these types of modifications are needed, the issue can be referred to your local social care and support services.

Find out more about walking aids, wheelchairs and scooters and assessing your care and support needs.