After the Procedure:

The end of your leg, or stump, will have a dressing and bandage that will remain on for 3 or more days. You may have pain for the first few days. You will be able to take pain medicine as you need them.

You may have a tube that drains fluid from the wound. This will be taken out after a few days.

Before leaving the hospital, you will begin learning how to:

• Use a wheelchair or a walker
• Stretch your muscles to make them stronger
• Strengthen your arms and legs
• Begin walking with a walking aid and parallel bars
• Start moving around the bed and into the chair in your hospital room
• Keep your joints mobile
• Sit or lay in different positions to keep your joints from becoming stiff
• Control swelling in the area around your amputation
• Properly put weight on your leg. You'll be told how much weight to put on your leg. You may not be allowed to put weight on your leg until the stump is fully healed.

Fitting for prosthesis, a manmade part to replace your limb, may occur when:

• Your amputation wound is mostly healed
• Your stump is no longer tender to the touch

Outlook (Prognosis):

Your recovery and ability to function after an amputation depend on many things. Some of these are the reason for the amputation, whether you have diabetes or poor blood flow, and your age.