Other amputees are the greatest help in dealing with limb loss

EDITOR — Maguire and Parkes describe some of the physical and psychological problems following limb amputation and suggest techniques to prevent, recognise, and treat the difficulties that arise.1 In concentrating those who have suffered leg amputations in a specialist rehabilitation unit, we have discovered that the greatest resource is the patients themselves. Although we have a dedicated counselling and psychology service, this has been rendered near redundant by the spontaneous development of a therapeutic community. Our patients have developed a group identity and call themselves the “Hopping Mad Club.”

They encourage each other in their rehabilitation, but they also inspect each other's wounds, discuss issues such as phantom pain, and are able to advise each other on many other aspects both directly and indirectly related to their amputations. Patients who are anxious and low in mood are taken into the fold and soon become part of the group. The group insists on being heard and has even picketed the catering manager's office to successfully achieve changes in the menu. The patients have also become, to some extent, a self policing group, and unacceptable behaviour such as sexual harassment of nurses rapidly leads to instruction on appropriate demeanour and behaviour.

The group is self sustaining as many of the discharged patients continue to meet at the hospital on a monthly basis and provide further mutual support. Our team has been delighted to relearn that our most powerful resource is the patients themselves.