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Life After An Amputation
Traumatic amputations significantly impact the lives of affected service members and their loved ones. Amputations can occur at home as a result of events such as motor vehicle crashes, or during deployment combat missions.1 Limb amputations combined with behavioral risk factors such as tobacco use, sedentary behavior, poor nutrition, and uncontrolled stress can delay recovery, impede rehabilitation, and contribute to chronic physical and psychological illnesses. In fact, addressing lifestyle behaviors to reduce the risk of chronic conditions is even more important among wounded, ill, or injured individuals than for those who are not physically and psychologically stressed.2 HPW resources can help prevent comorbid conditions, minimize the impact of trauma on your overall health, and help prevent or delay the development of chronic medical problems frequently encountered in the amputee population, such as diabetes, heart disease, cancer, and obesity.3
Coping with Limb Loss
Staying Active
Additional Information and Tools
[1] Amputations of Upper and Lower Extremities, Active and Reserve Components, U.S. Armed Forces, 2000-2011. MSMR. 2012;19(6):2-6. http://timemilitary.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/pages-from-msmr-june-2012-2.pdf. Accessed April 28, 2014.
[2] Heaston S, Richards-Myles C, Romeo-Davis L, et al. Health promotion and wellness resources to assist wounded, ill, and injured Sailors and Marines with traumatic amputations. http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/nmcphc/Documents/Wounded-Ill-Injured/HPW-Resources-to-Assist-WII.pdf. Published October 17, 2013. Accessed April 24, 2014.
[3] Bowers R. Preventing and caring for the secondary conditions of limb loss. http://www.amputee-coalition.org/military-instep/secondary-conditions.html. Published September 18, 2008. Accessed April 28, 2014.
Bureau of Medicine and Surgery 7700 Arlington Blvd. Ste. 5113 Falls Church, VA 22042-5113 This is an official U.S. Navy website This is a Department of Defense (DoD) Internet computer system. General Navy Medical Inquiries (to Bureau of Medicine and Surgery): usn.ncr.bumedfchva.mbx.bumed-general-inquiries@health.mil