Self-Worth and Upper Limb Loss

For our patient, John, he found support in a friend at church. His wife, Deb: “Our old Sunday school teacher, Ed, who we dearly love — he’s retired. He would come in and check on John a couple of times a week, just to talk. They used to meet at a restaurant and play chess.” Just spending time with others, especially people outside our family, can remind us of the joy that life brings, increase our positivity and our feelings of self-worth.

Support can also come in the form of fellow amputees. Our peer support network is offered to all our patients, and that can be a game changer. Speaking with someone who has been through what you’ve been through can make you feel understood. Interacting with a peer who has had their prosthesis longer than you can help you imagine what your future might hold. Even just watching other amputees through media can make a difference.

When it’s possible to get back to work, that is another way to grow self-worth. Our patient Xavier, pictured below, was in a workplace accident and has a below-elbow amputation. “It’s really hard when you first get hurt. You go from having something to do every day to your life just stopping. A lot of times you lose hope. A lot of times you’re mentally broken down. You really don’t know where your life is going or what you’re going to do next.” After receiving his prosthesis, Xavier was able to return to the paper mill where he was injured, though to a different position. “In the beginning I was a little scared to go back to work, because I didn’t know what to expect. But, getting back to work really helped me mentally. My psychologist called it ‘having a purpose’ — going back to work gave me a purpose. It helped me know that I could be successful as an amputee.”