The leg amputation is usually necessary when the blood supply in your leg is very poor and this supply is not enough to keep your leg into the decent condition. The leg amputation must be done when the arteries are blocked or are so narrow that your leg is not alive. When the necessary blood flow cannot be renewed this means that the leg amputation should be performed.
The types of the leg amputation are the amputation below the knee, the amputation above the knee and the amputation above the thigh. The height of the amputation depends on the blood supply of the leg. The worse leg blood supply is the higher the amputation must be done. Sometimes there can be a partial foot amputation performed.
Before to decide that the amputation is obligatory the doctor usually prescribes an arteriogram and when it shows that the blood supply cannot be renewed then the amputation becomes a necessity.
If you are going to be operated you will have to come to hospital a few days before the operation to get prepared for it. The preparation for the operation includes passing the blood tests, x-ray examination and the other necessary kinds of examining to find out that there are no contradictions or adverse reactions to the operation.
Before the operation itself the patient is given general anesthetic. Then during the operation the blood pressure and the other important indicators of organism functioning are watched. When the operation is finished the stump is closed with the help of the stitches. After the operation the anesthetic can also be used to make the pain after the operation easier.
After the operation the patient is usually fed through the tubes that deliver fluid food through his veins until he feels good enough to eat on his own. This operation is difficult and the patient that underwent amputation needs time to renew his energy and get the necessary psychological condition. To renew your movement you will have a physiotherapist who will teach you special exercises for renewing your physical activity. If you are not able to move with the artificial limb, for example if you had a hemipelvectomy you will be able to use the wheelchair.
The physiotherapist will show you the necessary activities and will give you special training to avoid the possible problems with the physical activity in the future.
After the operation you will still need the help of various doctors to avoid complications like inflammation of the stitches or something like that. You will have to visit a physiotherapist to help you get used to your new life and new way of moving. If you need an artificial limb it will be quite easy to get used to walking with it as the modern artificial limbs are made with the regard of all the conveniences. Sometimes you can feel the pain in the limb that has been removed and this is called a phantom limb pain. This will disappear quite quickly.
If you have this kind of the operation the doctor will tell you all the details and help you to solve all the problems connected with your new life and new way of moving. These days with the help of modern medicine, you will be able to lead almost the same way of life as the other people do and feel comfortable in all situations.