Foreword After bilateral below knee amputations, leaving inpatient rehabilitation and returning home to try and find a new normal, can be very scary, intimidating, daunting, tiring and an emotional roller coaster. What I found really helpful was having the support from the same case manager throughout. My case manager co-ordinated the services I needed from health professionals, access to the resources as well as assisted me with realistic expectations. Also having a good working/communication style with your prosthetist is invaluable, as you will need to explain how your prosthesis “feels”. This enables a comfortable and high functioning personalised fit of your prosthesis. Having the support through all of the phases after an amputation is a crucial part of the healing process to creating routine and rhythm with daily activities. The support workers both paid and unpaid, family, friends and co-workers all help you get through days when you really feel and think that you just CAN’T cope and it’s ALL too much. The guidance document is extensive and patient/individual focussed. I encourage you to share the guidance as much as possible. The timing of support and a multi- disciplinary approach is essential. The resources and advice contained in it is important for many health care professionals attending amputees. There are also useful resources and links in the guidance which are helpful for the person with a limb amputation. Some of the topics, the language, the extent of the information and the many references may be a little daunting for some people, but others like myself will be excited by the content.
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Elizabeth Ellen Cass Lived Experience
© icareTM | Insurance and Care NSW 2021
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icare Guidance for people with a limb amputation 2021
