Tips for Amputees

These are just things in my experience have worked well for me, after trial and error.

1.Ingrowing hairs - I have not had any problems with ingrowing hairs I think because I use a gentle exfoliating sponge and shower gel to wash my stump every day but only if the skin is not broken.

2. Cuts, Blisters, Abrasions - I never use blister plasters on my stump after learning the hard way, with the heat and moisture in the socket they dissipate into a sticky gooey that sticks to the hair and needs to be cut out. Bloody nightmare!!!

3. Dressings I have found good - Tackerderm and Opsite are okay, they are both clear post op dressings and stretch with the skin but I still find that with the friction of the socket become dislodged. The best thing I have found is a product called invisible protection plasters by Elastoplast, you can get them in most super markets or chemists. They are completely clear, you stick them on then peal the surface off make sure to smooth them over well but I find even in the socket they will stay on.

4. Prevention is better than cure - When ever there is redness from friction there is always a chance of the skin breaking which in the liner and socket can take ages to heal. Vaseline will help a little but does tend to dissipate but is better than nothing. If it is in an area that you can put an elastoplast on then I would do so as it will eleveate the possible skin brake and might be fine after the plaster comes off.

5. Sockets - Always tell your prosthesitist if you are not happy with your socket as they want you to be as comfortable as possible. I do find though that I need a couple of days to get used to a new socket sometimes they don't feel very comfortable straight away, always give your prosthesitist lots of feedback it is in both your interests.

6. Skin problems - Because of the stump being in a gel liner the sweat and heat can cause skin problems, dry skin patches can be fungal infections some times so get the doctor to look at them. I have had these and they do just look like dry patches but the anti fungal cream is put on then just put your liners on as normal it healed up with in two days.

7. Cleaning - The stump liners need cleaning every day, my ones with soap and water and I also wash the suspension liner every day which again is easy because it is gel lined. The stump liners I take into the shower with me and just wash them under the shower then hang it to dry usually drys within a couple of hours. With the gel liner attached to my prosthesis I just wash over with a sponge as I cant shower it off.