Hello all,
I am about to have an amputation... Today in 2 weeks to be precise. Now, of course, I am plagued by questions upon questions.
What will happen to me? What will it be like after the amputation?
The right hand will be amputated. I've already read up a lot, but now that the date has been set, it's a bit different. I hope for help or experiences!
Response 1:
I found that it hurts, especially in the first weeks and months, that it looks rather stupid and that it is impractical.
After a while you get used to the fact that it hurts in the long run, you find other people who feel the same, and at some point it is no longer so extremely impractical. It goes away by itself over time, you don't even have to do much.
You can see if you want a prosthesis; a cosmetic/passive prosthesis doesn't break very often, doesn't look too stupid, but can't do very much. The one I wear most often is a cable prosthesis with a special gripper that can grip very strongly (TRS Prehensor) and lasts a good long time; it looks stupid in its own way. You usually don't get much out of a more expensive electric prosthesis if you really want to work hard with it or sweat a lot, the modern hand prostheses neither grip particularly well nor do they last particularly long, they are massively expensive and of course also look kind of stupid.
But at first you don't have to do anything - buying, installing, etc. First find out where you have problems and then you can write them here for help. Most things can be fixed or you can ask someone else for help.
Frequently asked questions:
- Riding a bicycle - yes, there are things to attach to prostheses.
- Tying shoes - a question of practice; I wear Lock Laces (sliders for shoe laces).
- Opening cans - you just have to do it ; )
- Hanging up laundry, ironing, folding - no problem, just maybe a bit exhausting
- cleaning, cleaning the floor - no problem, just maybe a bit exhausting
- buttering bread - if the butter is very hard, put it in the microwave, or not in the fridge
- Jars with vacuum lid that does not open - make hole in lid with a drill, cordless screwdriver or awl : ) : ) works great
- Cut fingernails - I take a shower or bath first, then the fingernails are wet and soft, then I file them with a normal large DIY store metal file, it's extremely quick and comes out perfectly.
- Getting dressed - depending on what
- Zippers - they are stupid anyway, you will get them out, it just takes time.
- Cutting meat or food - put fork on meat so that it presses down, fix fork with broken arm
- Putting the cover on your duvet - google "Duvet burrito method" : ) works great; otherwise use hardware store clamps, it's cheap and works well.
- Dental floss - just take 70 cm more and wrap it around the broken arm, that works well
- Push-ups - maybe wait 2-3 years, start carefully, then you can even do them on a wooden floor.