The amputation of a hand is a highly traumatic experience. Sometimes it’s done to prevent the spread of infection or disease to the rest of the body. Other times, it’s done because the hand is too damaged and injured to be repaired.

No matter the reason for amputation, it can cause numerous physical, practical, and psychological issues.

Our certified hand therapists in Freehold, NJ, have compiled some information to help people adjust to life after amputation:

The Early Reponses

Immediately after losing a hand, people typically experience a feeling of shock.

This feeling can take some time to subside and may be eventually replaced by sadness, grief, frustration, and even anger, as they instinctively try to use their hand as before but are unable to.

It’s important for amputees to process these feelings by expressing them in any way that they’re comfortable doing.

Some might prefer talking to a family member, friend, or loved one. Others may need the support of a professional.

What’s essential is that such emotions should not be suppressed, as it can lead to long-lasting psychological issues.

Grieving the Loss of a Hand

The process of grieving looks different for different people, but everyone who loses a hand needs to go through it.

The grieving process is critical for people to get closure, accept their new physical reality, and take steps towards moving on with their life.

Some amputees might need space during this time, and others may want to lean on their family and friends.

While you should respect someone’s need for space as they process their amputation, you should also ensure that they aren’t deliberately isolating themselves.

Phantom Limb Syndrome

Experienced by 80 to 100% of people that have undergone an amputation, the phantom limb syndrome can set in shortly after the amputation surgery.

When the brain and spinal cord can no longer detect any input from an amputated hand, they often respond by sending signals to the area.

These sensations may sometimes be painless, but are usually quite painful, in which case they’re known as phantom pain.

Phantom limb syndrome is one of the earliest challenges a person with an amputation has to face, as its onset happens before they’ve even had the time to fully process their loss.

A smiling young woman with a prosthetic hand

Practical Challenges

There are still a lot of practical difficulties for people to overcome as they start living without a hand.

For people whose dominant hand has been amputated, these difficulties are twofold. First, they have to get used to doing everything with one hand. Secondly, they also need to train their non-dominant hand to function as well as their dominant one.

Basic tasks — such as eating, bathing, and getting dressed — will present the first obstacles to a person with an amputation.

With a lot of patience and practice, many individuals learn how to write legibly using their non-dominant hand.

Those who opt to be fitted with a functional prosthetic hand will need to undergo training and education for its use.

At Able Hands Rehab, our certified hand therapists in NJ offer hand physical therapy, hand pain therapy, and occupational hand therapy in Freehold, NJ.

Find out how we can help you or a loved one by getting in touch with us today.