Taking an active role in your medical care, recovery, and rehabilitation is important to stay healthy. You need to take care of your health to prevent problems after a limb amputation. If you’re not sure how to do this, talk to one of your healthcare providers.
Smoking
Smoking can cause poor blood flow (circulation) and is also a risk factor for limb amputation.
If you smoke, try to smoke less or quit. You can talk to your doctor or join a program to help you quit smoking (called a smoking cessation program).
Learn more at albertaquits.ca.
Eating
Having good nutrition will help your limb heal and improve your energy levels.
Ask your healthcare team to speak with a dietitian if you have any concerns about your nutrition.
Other health conditions
Work with your healthcare providers to manage other medical conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
Mental health
Recovering from a lower limb amputation is a journey, and you will probably have lots of different feelings. If you are concerned about your mental health or need support, speak to your doctor and or therapist.
The following resources may also provide peer support networks and programs that can help you:
Pain control
You may get a prescription for pain medicine when you are discharged from the hospital. You can start to take an over-the-counter pain medicine such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) as you have less pain. Follow the directions on the package or follow your doctor or surgeon’s advice for how to take the medicine.
