Last post Fri, May 23 2008 9:03 PM by ErgoMan. 29 replies.
For all amputees, I would really appreciate your input on a topic about "what to call it". During my residency in Rehab we were told that we should no longer refer to someones "remaining leg or arm" as a "stump", but instead we should refer to it as a "residual limb". I used "residual limb", but patients would come in and tell me to called it a stump. Now some may say that we should not talk about it as something separate, but we as physicians do have to address this area of the anatomy because we are talking about specifics such as phantom sensation, pain, skin problems, etc.
What does everyone perfer? Have you had a doc say residual limb?
My doctors and physical therapists have simply referred to it as "the limb," to differentiate it from "the leg." I'm not really big into political correctness, so I refer to my own "stump" from time to time, although I will refer to others' "limbs," for instance when I'm with my support group.When I found out I was finally going to get my prosthesis, I said, "I'm so happy, my stump is jumping."Non-amputees just kind of vaguely murmer and wave a hand in the general direction of my limb. Children, of course, are more direct, but they say "leg."
All the medical professionals I've met refer to is at residual limb, and most non-medical professional call it a Stump. I prefer stump, I find the residual limb term odd, its almost like mocking whats left it's not residual its my leg, my stump. I find most younger kids call it a numb.
After 30 years I have always referred to it as my "Stump". Most professionals usually refer to it as my "Limb". Don't believe I've ever heard the term "Residual Limb" use by anyone. I would probably be somewhat confused if a Doctor asked to see my "Residual Limb"???? What? You want to see who? Where would I find that to show it to you? Anyway, stump to me, my family and friends is the general preference.
Jack
The Drs. and nurses I've been involved with over the years have always called it a stump. Like the others, I've never heard of residual limb. When talking to the kids they call it my little leg. I'm just used to calling it my stump, but mostly my little leg. I'm not offended, whatever a Dr. wants to call it, that's fine with me.
Hey there ya'll. I'm not an amputee, but I've been working with amputees for a few years now. I'm designing a prosthetic foot, so I spend a lot of time with amputees and a lot of time with people who've never really met amputees, so maybe I can bring a different perspective to this converation.
Residual limb - this is what you see all over the scientific journals and rehabilitation journals. I've never heard an amputee say it.
Stump - Everyone who has one calls it this, but most people who don't have one get freaked out when I say 'stump'. I've seen people act like I just dropped the F-bomb when I say it. It's like it is a reminder that it could happen to them, and they just don't like to think about their own fragility and mortality.
So, I could see where you might feel like "residual limb" is insensitive and depersonalizing, because, well, that's kind of why they say it. Kind of like on the "well-meanies" thread, the whole thing just makes them uncomfortable.
anyway... my 2 cents.
hi tens pro, nice to meet you. are you just designing a foot or a leg also for ak? i wore my prostetic only one time, and it was the day i bought it because the people where i got it from helped me put it on. i am also paralyzed and it is so difficult to put it on, i don't bother with it. the knee sticks out a little too far and it's too high. i was just wondering if you had an easy ak leg. thanks
Hi Debbie, right now it's just a foot. i've got plans for a knee, but first things first. I need to get a product to market so I can stop eating tuna and ramen noodles every meal. My cat doesn't complain, but I'm a little tired of it. ;-)
Still, the foot does have a lot to do with a how an AK limb works. If the foot is too stiff, then you have to put in a lot of effort to make the limb walk. Without a working knee, you've only got a short lever (aka stump) to use to make it bend. The AKs who've tried it with the knee on their old proshtetsis and they liked it better than their other feet for walking.
I can understand wny you'd find putting the leg on difficult. I've seen it done by people who weren't paralyzed and it was still a real hassle for them. Still, some systems are easier to use than others though. It may be worth a visit to a prosthetist and asking them if you've got the easiest system to use. Also, if it is too tall, they should be able to fix that. A leg that is too talk can be hard to use and damaging to your spine. And you gotta be careful with what you've got left...
Hi all,
Can I add something here too?
I´m in a wheelchair already, and so know about people having all kinds of trouble referring to disability-things, and I´m also expecting the amputation of my leg.
I´m not really hot on political correctness, because I think it´s mostly about creating issues where there are none, but I can understand that people would refer to stumps as residual legs.
I myself find the word stump just awful. It used to make my stomach lurch, and it never came properly out of my mouth. But I tackled that issue a while ago, and brought myself to say it. Over and over again.
By now it sits quite well with me. Like the word "amputation".
Only things we are unfamiliar with can scare us.
But I have to say I love the term "Little leg"
Daisies
Hi Daisies,
I saw your post in the welcome area and was going to direct you to amputations. I had a feeling you would find it yourself and I'm glad you did. Of course you should feel free to join in anywhere you like on Disaboom; in the discussions (forums), chat, or a journal or essay type post that may be read by everyone (write a blog, web log). This site is still in it's infancy and growing, so the input we give in the Give Us Your Feedback section, will help make Disaboom what we users want it to be.
As someone with no direct experience of amputations, I can at least relate the word stump to "I'm stumped" meaning at a loss. Residual conjures images of residue, meaning leftover or waste, not the most positive or accurate description.
My disability is psychological (anxiety/phobia) and my wife's is Cerebral Palsy, she uses a permobile motorized chair. You might find some useful information in the Health articles section under Health > Adult Amputations, if you haven't discovered that area yet.
Well, a belated welcome and see you around Disaboom.
Bruce
DISALIFE
I've been an amp for over 10 years now and don't really deal with doctors much but as a rule most of the old timers call it a stump, new Dr's want to be un insulting of some sort. Politically correct. It's the same as saying it preciptating, or raining. It's the same thing and if some one is insulted with stump, I'm sure you meant to say the residual.......
Anyway I was mulling around the garage a while back and ran across a bottle of 'Stump Remover' and it made my skin crawl, as I laughed. (It's used to remove old tree stumps)
hmm..course I've got really no say in this because I'm not an amputee but I do notice that one term refers to the part AS IS (stump) and the other focuses on what IS NOT there (residual limb) or kind of what's remaining....there's also obvious differences between the formality of the words-maybe that's why the medical profession is looking for a more updated term.
Sorry I'm facinated by terminology and how it fits in with the disabled experience.
Residual limb? Been an amputee for 43 years and that is a new one for me. I too like Debbie have called my left leg my "little leg" cause it's little. I have also used "Stump" but for the residual limb... first thought is ask the doctor who took it! LOL Hope that this helps you come to some sort of conclusion.
Stump. Definitely. It's honest (would you talk about the 'residual trunk' of a tree?). Despite the fact that in hospital when doctors or nurses used the term I felt sick. But getting used to a new vocabulary, describing what we have/are, is part of accepting it for ourselves. Had the words amputation or amputee or prosthetic ever crossed your lips? I'd never used crutches or a wheelchair - or stitched up the leg of my jeans! But now, along with the vocabulary, it's part of my life, part of who I am. And I have one leg and one stump. And I don't walk, I crutch.
Every body in a position of authority seems to want to be politically correct by using phrases that do not seem to be harsh like "residual limb" instead of "stump". I don't care what it is called and I don't mind if some one says I am handicapped instead of disabled. Using different words does not change what is nor does it soften the truth which lies before us. The world has a hard time accepted life as it is and seems to be in a race of denial by trying to change what is into what they believe it should be with certain phrases. "I am not handicapped, how dare you, I am a disabled person". It doesn't change what is. I have heard it said that we are a people with "limb diffrerences", what is that? You see what I am trying to say? Stump or residual limb? Hmmmmm, which will I use today. I want to be elite, so I will call my stump a residual limb...it's still a stump. It's like putting lips on a chicken, it still can't smile no matter how hard it tries. I don't think it matters what it is called Doc, most people with any real sense are not going to be offended in any way.
