How does it feel to not have a limb?

The amputee may feel very strongly that the phantom limb is still part of the body. People will sometimes feel as if they are gesturing, feel itches, twitch, or even try to pick things up. The missing limb often feels shorter and may feel as if it is in a distorted and painful position.

What can I expect after amputation?

Your doctor removed the leg while keeping as much healthy bone, skin, blood vessel, and nerve tissue as possible. After the surgery, you will probably have bandages, a rigid dressing, or a cast over the remaining part of your leg (remaining limb). The leg may be swollen for at least 4 weeks after your surgery.

What does phantom pain feel like?

It may feel like a quick zing or flash up your limb. Or it may feel more like burning, twisting, cramping, or aching. When this happens, it’s called phantom pain. Persistent phantom pain is far less likely to happen than phantom sensation.

Do phantom pains ever go away?

Phantom pain does eventually go away with time. Many people find their pain has decreased by about 75 percent or more within two years after amputation surgery. If it does return, talk to your doctor. There may be an underlying problem — such as a neuroma (nerve overgrowth) — triggering the sensation.

What does hospital do with amputated limbs?

The limb is sent to biohazard crematoria and destroyed. The limb is donated to a medical college for use in dissection and anatomy classes. On rare occasions when it is requested by the patient for religious or personal reasons, the limb will be provided to them.

What is amputation and how does it work?

Amputation is the surgical removal of all or part of a limb or extremity such as an arm, leg, foot, hand, toe, or finger.

Is it legal for a doctor to do an amputation?

Nor is there a doctor in the U.S. (or anywhere in the developed world, for that matter) who openly conducts illegal voluntary amputations. As such, the BIID subreddit serves as a de facto tutorial for best practices on self-amputation, using a tourniquet and saw, or more commonly, dry ice.

How long does it take to recover from amputation surgery?

Practice with the artificial limb may begin as soon as 10 to 14 days after surgery. Ideally, the wound should fully heal in about four to eight weeks. But the physical and emotional adjustment to losing a limb can be a long process. Long-term recovery and rehabilitation will include: UAB Medicine: “Amputation.”

What can a doctor prescribe for amputation pain?

The doctor prescribes medications to ease pain and help prevent infection. If the patient has problems with phantom pain (a sense of pain in the amputated limb) or grief over the lost limb, the doctor will prescribe medication and/or counseling, as necessary.