The first two weeks: the wound
The surgeon and the ward team look after the wound first. Keep dressings clean and dry, take pain medicine as prescribed, and rest. Call the surgeon at once if you see spreading redness, heat, discharge, a bad smell, the wound opening, or if you develop a fever.
Controlling swelling
Swelling is normal after surgery, and bringing it down is the first step towards a socket. When your surgeon allows compression, a shrinker sock worn most of the day and night is usually simpler and safer than elastic bandage wrapping, which is easy to get wrong.
Keeping the joints straight
The biggest avoidable problem in these weeks is a knee or hip that stiffens in a bent position. It feels comfortable to put a pillow under the knee or sit with the leg bent for hours, but a joint that will not straighten makes walking on a leg much harder. Lie on your front for a while every day, and after a below knee amputation keep the knee straight when sitting, for example on a board across the chair seat.
Staying strong
Strong arms help with crutches, a walking frame and getting in and out of bed. A strong other leg carries you until the artificial leg arrives, and a strong hip on the amputated side will control the leg later. Simple daily exercises, done as your surgeon or physiotherapist advises, keep you ready. Be careful on bathroom floors and at night; falls in these weeks can damage the healing wound.
The mind and the family
Losing a leg is a loss, and feeling low, angry or anxious is common. Feeling the missing leg, even pain in it, is normal too; our guide to phantom limb pain explains why. Talk to your family and your doctor, and tell your doctor if your mood stays very low. Most people find their outlook improves once they are standing again.
When to book the first fitting
When the wound has closed and the swelling is settling, send us a photo of the stump on WhatsApp. We will tell you whether it looks ready and book the free assessment. If the stump is still shrinking, a temporary leg can get you standing sooner.