Getting Help With My Leg

Regardless of why you needed an artificial limb, you are going to go through an adjustment period when you first start to wear it. You will have some emotional issues to deal with as well as physical problems. Here are a few tips to help you adjust to wearing and using an artificial foot.

Stay Positive

While it is easy to say and much harder to do, it is important that you remain positive about your new foot. Find other people with artificial limbs and talk with them about how they got over the depression and anger. While the situation is far from perfect, no one who loses a limb is glad about it, the new foot will give you the opportunity to regain your normal mobility. Try to focus on that and not the loss.

Remain Patient

You are not going to be able to jump out of bed and go for a run the first time you wear the foot. It is gong to take time to learn to use it properly and comfortably. You will need to work with a physical therapist for a while before you start walking alone. It is going to be frustrating at times, however, you need to remain patient. Set small goals for yourself and work toward them. Celebrate each goal.

Wear the Foot Everyday

There are going to be times when you just want to sit and read or watch TV, not getting up for anything more than a trip to the bathroom. You may think you can just ignore the new foot and take a day without it. Don't give in to this temptation. You need to wear the artificial limb every day. The more you wear it, the sooner you will become accustomed to it, how it feels, and how it moves.

Report Discomfort

Any time your artificial foot starts to feel uncomfortable you need to tell your doctor and have it checked. It doesn't matter how slight the discomfort, it needs to be checked and taken care of before the situation can turn into something serious. 

The more you use your artificial limbs, the more it will become natural to you. While it may seem like it will take forever to get used to it, there will come a day, not too far in the future, when you forget it is not your natural foot you are walking on. The only difference you will notice is that it doesn't hurt when you accidentally kick the stool in the middle of the living room.