Psychological Factors of an Amputee

4043 Words17 Pages
Table of content 1. Introduction Pg. 1 2. Body Pg. 2 - 7 2.1. Rehabilitation Process Pg. 2 2.2. Body Image Pg. 4 2.3. Area of Special Considerations Pg. 5 - 7 2.3.1. Depression, Anxiety, Schizophrenia and Suicide Pg. 5 2.3.2. Pain, Phantom Limb Pain and Sensation Pg. 7 3. Discussion Pg. 8 4. Conclusion Pg. 9 5. References Pg. 10 Introduction In working with patients who have suffered any type of amputation, prosthetists must be aware that the limb loss are only one of several morbidities with which the individual will need to cope and live with. Amputation is a triple threat. It involves loss of function, loss of sensation, and loss of body image. The wonder of it is that so many adapt so well, thanks to their resilience and the ingenuity and dedication of those who care for them. Other frequently encountered challenges include phantom-limb pain; pain within the residual limb; additional pain symptoms affecting the neck, shoulders, back, and sound-side limb; overuse syndromes; elevated anxiety rates and depression; and a compromised quality of life. The thought of losing an anatomical part, is devastating to most people. When it happens, amputation causes a threefold loss in terms of function, sensation and body image. The amputee is no different than any other human being that is confronted with a crisis situation, in that he must adapt rather than succumb to the handicapping condition. Difficulties encountered are often due to misperceptions of what life for an individual labelled "amputee" is actually like, and consequently, great problems in rehabilitation result. Ideally, the rehabilitation process should begin preoperatively. After an accident where someone lost a limb, it is a confusing situation where one has to ask where to start with the process of trying to move

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