In her 1969 book "On Death and Dying," Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross outlined the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Though originally used to describe the way people deal with terminal illness or the death of...
You may need a foot amputation, or surgical removal of a foot, if one of your feet suffers any serious injury, infection or tissue death. Once you are out of surgery, a comprehensive rehab program can help you heal properly and aid you in training...
A leg amputation is the removal of the leg due to complications from different diseases or trauma. According to Medline Plus, reasons for having an amputations include severe trauma, poor blood flow to the leg, infections, tumors, severe burns or...
A hip amputation, most commonly referred to as a hip articulation, is a surgical procedure that removes one lower limb through the hip joint. Because this amputation results in removal of a portion of the pelvis, the rehabilitation process is long...
Gangrene is the result of severely impaired blood flow to part of the body. In some cases, the affected part of the body must be surgically removed to prevent further medical problems. Amputation is a last-resort treatment for gangrene, but it can...
Leg amputation is a last-resort treatment for a leg that causes you extreme pain and threatens your health because of infection, according to VascularWeb.org. Amputation usually results from peripheral artery disease, although there are other...
According to the Amputee Coalition of America (ACA), one out of every 10 healthcare dollars is spent on diabetes in the United States. Diabetes is a disease in which high levels of blood sugar affect small blood vessels in the body. These effected...
Diabetes can lead to amputation of limbs from poor circulation and nerve damage, known as neuropathy. Several common foot and leg problems associated with diabetes makes amputation a leading cause of limb loss in the United States. According to...
Diabetes is a disease affecting multiple systems of the body. A long history of poor compliance with diabetes management, lack of education, alcohol abuse, smoking, social isolation, foot deformities, limited mobility, delays in seeking or...
Besides the emotional effects of leg amputation, you have to learn how to get around with your amputated limb and possibly prepare for using a prosthetic limb. Post-amputation exercises help restore range of motion in your lower limbs and improve...
According to the American Diabetes Association, people with diabetes are prone to developing various foot problems. The most common causes are from reduced circulation, changes in the shape of the feet and toes and/or nerve damage, also known as...
If you have had an amputation, your body will have to adjust its caloric needs to meet you new total body mass. However, that doesn't mean that you should drastically change the way that you eat or that you should stop eating the foods that you...
Shortening of the muscles and ligaments in your hips and knee is a common complication of transtibial amputation. Prolonged sitting in a wheelchair results in flexed hip and knee contracture. Active participation in your rehabilitation is...
Vascular Surgery New Zealand defines distal amputation of the foot as the removal of the far portion of the lower limb, such as the foot or the toes. It is different from below-the-knee amputation because the legs are kept intact. This is usually...
A below-the-knee amputation, where the lower portion of the leg is removed, may be performed because of disease or severe injury that eliminates the function of your lower leg. Rehabilitation following such an amputation is a long process that...
Although amputees may need up to 25 percent more calories than normal immediately following their surgery, in the long run their caloric needs will be decreased, as will their ideal body weight. Dietitians use segmental limb weight percentages to...
Above the knee amputations often result from sever trauma to the knee or lower leg, infections that fail to heal, poor blood flow, tumors, severe frostbite or severe burns. The time it takes to recover from an above the knee amputation varies...
Exercises after undergoing an above knee, or trans-femoral amputation are primarily designed to prepare you for using a prosthetic device. In order to use a prosthetic device, hip motion must be optimized and maintained through stretching and...
A below-knee amputation is the loss of your lower leg from the top of your tibia (shinbone) down to your foot. Below-knee amputations usually occur as the result of trauma, infection, tumor, severe burns, frostbite or poor blood flow to the limb,...
Diabetes brings complications. Wounds or cuts on the foot of a diabetic might not heal quickly, if at all, leaving some people dealing with infection. In cases where infection in a foot sore or wound refuses to heal and sepsis or infection carried...
An amputation of your lower leg below your knee is called a trans-tibial amputation but is commonly referred to as BK (below knee) amputation. Rehabilitation after this type of surgery involves physical therapy, occupational therapy and working...
People lose limbs for a variety of reasons. Traumatic injuries are often the first cause to come to mind, but you may need an amputation as a result of circulation problems associated with diabetes, arterial damage stemming from atherosclerosis,...
Exercise and keeping your body active is important even if you have endured the amputation of a limb. Amputations of a part of the leg or foot may be necessary due to peripheral vascular disease and diabetes, which hinders blood flow to the lower...
A transtibial amputation occurs below the knee and is one of the most frequent major limb amputations performed, according to Amputee Coalition of America. Successful transtibial amputees have use of their knee joints, which allows them to lift...
According to the Amputee Coalition, 187,000 people lose a limb each year. Below the knee amputations require intensive postoperative care and physical rehabilitation. Along with physical and emotional healing, patients learn to walk with a...
Exercising after a below-the-knee amputation adds flexibility and strength, allowing for better coordination and balance when ambulating with a prosthesis. Exercise also benefits your cardiovascular system, and prevents your hips and knees from...
Following an exercise regimen after a transtibial amputation is essential, even after you are discharged from treatment, according to East Kent Hospitals University. Home exercises can help stretch and strengthen your muscles to help promote...
A unilateral transtibial amputation is the amputation of one leg below the knee. Trauma due to accidents, as well as diabetes and peripheral vascular disease, are the leading causes of lower-extremity amputation. Amputation does not mean the end...
If you've recently undergone a below-knee amputation, a well-balanced rehabilitation program will help you return to your life as seamlessly as possible. As part of your rehabilitation, a physical therapist will consider your overall health, your...
Diabetes effects circulation in the body. Learn how poor circulation and diabetes can increase the chance of amputation in this free video from a nutritionist specializing in diabetic diets.
Bone infections are caused by bacteria and can be treated with antibiotics, get expert tips and advice on medical treatments in this video.
Soft tissue sarcoma is a cancerous tumor that can easily spread to other organs and the rest of the body. Learn about the different causes, symptoms, and treatments for soft tissue sarcoma in this video.
Following a mastectomy, many women choose to have breast reconstruction surgery. This surgery attempts to restore breast to a normal shape, appearance, and size. Learn about the process of breast reconstruction surgery in this video from a...
Bone infections, or osteomyelitis, are infections in the bone or bone marrow caused by bacteria. Learn more about bone infections, including treatments, in this health video.
