My brother is 23 and just had an above the knee amputation due to an accident. I am just trying to learn all I can about the process of healing phyicaly and emotionally. Any info would be greatly appreciated.
2006-09-21 15:29:50 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Injuries
They feel apprehensive about being pitied.
Help as much as necessary with the goal of rehabilitating into extended activities of daily living.
Adapting to a changed self-image takes time, for instance if he is not married, then whoever is going to marry him is going to be a very special type of human being.
Learning to cope psychologically without a leg where he previously had a leg may take more than five years, because there are many small issues to address before these small solutions, one at a time, day by day, year by year, are going to make him strong enough to function as a complete human being again. The grieving process doesn't necessarily follow E. Kubler-Ross's sequence and all the steps are not necessarily there, because E. Kubler-Ross got some of her information at seances from demons. Accidents leading to limb amputation can be traumatic enough to lead to Post-traumatic stress disorder, or more commonly a traumatic crisis reaction.
If he is a Christian then he should learn to thank God for everything, because everything works together for good to those who love God, to those who are the chosen according to God's purpose (Eph. 5:20, Rom. 8:28).
2006-09-21 16:05:57 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am sorry that your brother has this problem. He is going to be upset and unhappy for quite a while. Be there and love him. Give him all the support he can use.
If this helps, I had an uncle not to long ago that had an amputation just above the knee. This gentleman could polka with the best of them. Tell your brother not to give up.
2006-09-21 22:39:08 · answer #2 · answered by kny390 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You can help but be careful. Don't let your "Help" become his crutch. He will have to learn how to deal with it in his own way. He will take spills, make mistakes, and get mad at himself and the world. These are normal happenings. He will get over all of it and come out ready to cope. The best thing you can do is be supportive and let him find his own way.
Be prepared for weird things physically. Phantom pain or itching are not uncommon. My brother, who lost his leg in a motorcycle accident, had them all. They will go away as soon as his brain figures out that the leg is missing. In my brothers case, he found that rubbing a spot above his hip helped relive the itch.
My brother works 10 to 12 hours a day in a factory. The loss of his leg slowed him down very little. Your brother can do the same with your support.
2006-09-21 22:48:10 · answer #3 · answered by Scott E 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
First of all let me preface this by saying that I am about to suggest a great book on the process of adjusting to a loss (and am not suggesting that your brother is dying-don't take it that way, please). That said, I recommend to you Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross' book "On Death and Dying." There are five stages of grief that we go through and this is a significant loss for all of you. Counseling would also help in adjusting to this new life/style. Best wishes.
2006-09-21 22:38:25 · answer #4 · answered by Rhonda 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i would let him talk about it and,be behind him and show him support in healing. it is a long road but keep encouraging him to be strong.tell him he can do anything that he sets his mind to.and it ok to be sad but keep him going on with life.validate his feelings and help him work through the greiving process..
2006-09-21 23:39:27 · answer #5 · answered by tim l 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Don't call him "stumpy". That kind of thing seems funny at first, but then they end up very upset later.
2006-09-22 12:50:17 · answer #6 · answered by christophermalachite 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋