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Mental Health After an Upper Limb Amputation

Amber Henson
by Amber Henson
Sep 30, 2025

“I can tell you right now there were days where I was not a very pleasant person during my recovery. I was terrible about it. I would say out loud, ‘I don’t have no hands, I’m worthless. What is the point of me being here?’ There were times where I wish the good Lord took me when I had my accident, so I wouldn’t have to face the difficulty of the rest of day. I look back and I think, ‘Well, He knew more than I did, because now I’m glad I’m still here.’”

-Our patient Gerry, who had a bilateral amputation in 2015

In addition to physical health struggles, some of our patients are very open about the mental health struggles they experienced, while others are less willing to talk about them. Some of our patients have agreed to speak with us about their mental health struggles for us to use in a blog article like this one and had to cancel because they weren’t in a good place, mentally. Mental health is a journey we are all on, and the difficulties that come with a traumatic amputation can sometimes seem insurmountable.

Achieving prosthetic success is much easier when a person is supported holistically, that is, their whole being – physically, mentally and socially. Our clinical teams and everyone on the Arm Dynamics team wants to make sure our patients are in a good place holistically so they can best use their prostheses. Why is that? Because when our patients can confidently use their prostheses, they can achieve their goals. Our team participates in prosthetic care because we are passionate about helping people, and we have learned over the years that supporting our patients’ mental health is crucial.

GerrySawListing
Gerry on his farm in 2023

When we first meet with our patients after their amputation, a lot of them are in a rough place. They have been through a lot and may have more battles to face, like revision surgery. There are probably a lot of questions in their mind: Can I go back to work? Can I still help with my kids? How can I continue doing the things I love? Our goal in those initial meetings is to give them a bit of hope and help them see glimpses of their future, so that they have something to hang on to as they go through the process of prosthetic rehabilitation. We can offer hope by connecting our patients with any services we think they may find useful. We do this by offering a patient screening tool called the Wellness Inventory. This survey asks various questions about our patients’ personalities, their support systems and how they are feeling. Based on the answers, our clinical teams can connect patients to various services. 

“After I lost the majority of my dominant hand in a traumatic off-roading accident, everything in my world shifted. In those early days sitting in the hospital, all I could think about were the things I wouldn’t be able to do anymore. The fear was heavy, the anxiety overwhelming, and I felt completely lost. I was confused, heartbroken, and unsure of what my life would look like moving forward.”

-Our patient Angie, who had her amputation in early 2020

Our prosthetists and clinical therapy specialists understand that they are part of a larger care team, with the patient at the center and the support of other team members including physicians, the patient’s family and mental health professionals.

Alex Krueger with his family in Wisconsin
Our patient Alex with his family

It's the combination of mental health services and a prosthesis that can really turn things around. Our patient Raymond was struggling with being as active as he was before his work accident and amputation. “But with talking with my counselor, and having my new device, I’m starting to get out a little more, getting back to doing things.” Family is also crucial. Our patient Ashley, who lost a finger in a work accident, was also feeling challenged. “I struggled with my self-worth. Not wanting to live and thoughts like that. I spoke with my therapist a lot — they were so helpful. One thing that really helped was my boyfriend, who kept telling me my hand is beautiful. That helped my self-esteem. Or my dad, he said, ‘Oh, I don’t even notice.' My dad was the first person to say that, and it made me cry happy tears.”

It's important for anyone going through a traumatic amputation to allow themselves time to grieve for their body that now looks different, and a life that may be different from how they planned. It can help to understand that there will be frustrations ahead – but that these frustrations are to be expected and part of the process. Many patients find that giving themselves space to figure out what life looks like going forward can help reshape their outlook. It’s important have patience for themselves and for others.

How can someone get where they feel that they are doing well, mental health-wise? The support types mentioned above are key, but another piece of the puzzle is their fellow amputees. The value of peers is priceless. Our clinical therapy specialist in Maple Grove, MN, tells her patients, “You just joined a club that you never knew you would join.” Being able to speak with, meet with, or even simply watch their peers can allow someone to rethink what is possible – we are often told by our patients that the patient profile stories on our site are inspiring. Part of the reason amputations can be so terrifying is because many people haven’t known an amputee before their amputation. The unknown is scary. But when a new amputee meets a person who has experienced limb loss, they can start to wonder what their own life could look like. In the left photo below, you can see our patient Jason (left) with Gerry. After Gerry's amputation, Jason was there with advice on being a bilateral amputee. In the photo on the right, you can see Gerry giving advice, years later, to our patient Chris.

Gerry-Jason-Chris

Self-advocacy can also help a lot. When people push for the prosthesis they want and need, they’re saying, “I am worth it. I am worth the difficulty I am going through.” To quote an excellent disability blogger, “Becoming a self-advocate means taking pride in who you are."

Our patient Angie, quoted above, wasn’t sure what her life was going to look like. But in the article she wrote for us, she followed up the above paragraph with this:

“But even in that darkness, I knew I had two choices: I could let this loss define me, stop me from living fully, and keep me in fear … or I could push through the pain and uncertainty, adapt, and find strength in a new version of myself. I could either hide from the world or show it what I’m capable of. 

I chose strength.
I chose resilience.
I chose to love myself — completely and unconditionally, even through the hardest parts of my healing.”

We understand that it’s not always a choice for our patients. Sometimes choosing to be strong just is not an option. But we do hope that anyone out there who is struggling will make the choice to ask for help from their family, friends, physicians, and our Arm Dynamics team. Our clinical teams offer more than just prosthetic rehabilitation – they offer a path to a place where more is possible.

Angie 3
Angie climbing Via Ferrate in Colorado in 2024

If holistic prosthetic care is something you, or someone you know, would like to learn more about, please contact us to schedule a complimentary consultation, either in person or via video chat.

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