Noticing an odour?
Have you been regularly washing your residual limb and your prosthesis? Wash your limb with a mild soap without fragrance and rinse and dry well. Your socks should be washed regularly with a mild detergent. Every night, the socket (and/or liner) should be wiped with a soft cloth and mild soap. Your prosthesis should not be submerged in water.
Is your skin reddened?
Does the redness go away within 20 minutes without the prosthesis on? If the redness does not resolve within 20 minutes, reduce the wearing time. If the redness continues, stop wearing the prosthesis and call your prosthetist for an adjustment. It is important to regularly use a hand mirror to check your entire residual limb for any changes before you put your prosthesis on.
Getting yourself back on track
One of the most important things for many people is getting our lives back to the way it was prior to amputation. Obviously some changes will need to be made and you may experience daily challenges, but in most cases these can be overcome in time. Remember, you don't have to go through this experience alone, support is available. Make sure you ask for assistance if you need it, whether it's at the start of your journey, several months later, or years down the line.