Amputations

Sometimes amputations happen immediately after an accident. Sometimes people live with chronic pain until it becomes unmanageable and elect to have an amputation.

Either way, the challenges are often the same.

Prosthetics

If you have sustained an amputation, the quality of the prosthetics you can obtain – and how often they can be replaced – will have the biggest impact on your independence and the quality of the life that you can lead.

Typically, the NHS will provide you with one multi-purpose leg and replace it at regular intervals. However, if the leg breaks or your residuum swells or alters shape, or the socks/sleeve wear out or lose shape, you will have to ‘make do and mend’ until the next scheduled change.

These disruptions can leave you housebound or wheelchair bound for prolonged periods, without the independence you have fought so hard to achieve.

Shaping the environment around you

Even with the best prosthetics, they are not in use 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.  With residuum pressure, blistering and soreness, it is estimated that amputees can be off their prostheses for about six weeks per year. In order to maintain independence, you will need to have environments which can accommodate you during these periods.

Our worlds are not always designed for wheelchair users: our houses, public buildings and transport systems are all designed around being able to stand and walk easily.  Even when using a wheelchair part time, you and your family will quickly encounter challenges that you may never have anticipated.  Worse still is having to cancel family plans or events at short notice because you wake up with residuum pain and have no other way to get around.

The more difficult the environment around you, the more you will rely on others to support you – which is why changing the environment around you is key to you keeping as much of your independence as possible.

Care and support

Following an amputation, you will become a specialist in stump care to minimise swelling, blistering and pressure sores, which can keep you off your prostheses. Having the right support to manage these issues is vital towards minimising health complaints and re-admissions.

Where we can help

Our experienced solicitors have been working with amputees for over 20 years. They can usually access funds from insurance companies and work with specialist prosthetists to secure the best fitting limbs on the market.

Provision can be made for spare limbs to be ready in case the main one is damaged, dirty or wet. Additional specialised prostheses can also be provided for activities like swimming, cycling or athletics.

Importantly, the prosthetist is guided by what you need rather than what is available – enabling you to explore different fits, and even consider osseo-integration or robotic prostheses if they are needed.

We work closely with Architects and Occupational Therapists to create an environment that fits your needs. They can design and build bespoke and stylish housing solutions designed to minimise your challenges without highlighting them, as well as make adaptations to vehicles to accommodate you and whatever equipment you need.

This personalised support is identified and funded at the level that you need in order to ensure that your hospital time is as limited as possible.

Most importantly, our team are able to find and secure funding for specialists to help you to plan days out and holidays so that you do not spend your time worrying whether you can find an environment that allows you to enjoy your time away.

Exploring new technologies

The path to new technologies for prostheses is constantly evolving and improving – and the specialists we put you in contact with will keep reviewing and considering your needs, and whether new devices can better meet your needs.

Our solicitors can make sure that you have the money you need to replace lost income and fund your future needs, aids and equipment. Members of our team have secured more than £120m in damages over the last decade to help seriously injured clients, so you can be certain that you’re in safe hands.

If you or a loved one has suffered an amputation, and you would like to discuss making a claim, please contact our team on 03333 058375 or email to [email protected] today. We’re here to help you.

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