Over 2.7 million Americans are living with limb loss today, and by 2050 that number is expected to double. Throughout the month of April, Innovative Wound Care Specialists is participating in Limb Loss Awareness Month to recognize the resilience of people living with limb loss and increase awareness about the importance of early intervention and preventative measures.

When it comes to limb loss, wound care centers like Innovative Wound Care Specialists can provide advanced treatment options that can help prevent or manage limb loss.

What is Limb Loss Awareness Month?

Dating back to April of 1989, Limb Loss Awareness Month was started by the Amputee Coalition, which is a nonprofit group dedicated to providing support to individuals affected by limb loss. It was established to create an opportunity to educate the public about the causes of limb loss and advocate for prevention.

Throughout Limb Loss Awareness Month, the goals are to:

  • Reduce stigma surrounding amputation and prosthetic use
  • Increase public understanding of limb loss and its underlying causes
  • Promote prevention strategies
  • Empower amputees through advocacy, peer support, and access to resources

During Limb Loss Awareness Month, you can show your support by wearing orange, attending events, and utilizing social media to share stories and information.

Understanding the Risk of Limb Loss

A woman touching her prosthetic arm.

Despite what you may believe, the majority of amputations occur due to chronic medical conditions rather than trauma. Around 45% of amputations are caused by trauma due to accidents or injuries compared to 55% of amputations from chronic medical conditions that develop over time. You can greatly reduce your risk of limb loss by taking steps to prevent and treat chronic conditions such as:

  • Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD): PAD is a circulatory condition where blood flow is reduced to your extremities due to narrowed arteries. It commonly occurs in your legs and feet, and can cause wounds or ulcers to form if left untreated. These injuries can lead to infection or tissue death, which increases your risk of limb loss.
  • Diabetes: High blood sugar levels caused by diabetes can cause damage to blood vessels and nerves throughout your body, most commonly in your legs and feet. Due to the loss of sensation, people with diabetes may not notice wounds or ulcers that form on their legs until they are already infected. If the infection progresses too far, it can lead to a necessary amputation.
  • Cancer: Bone cancer and soft tissue sarcomas can sometimes require an amputation to prevent your cancer from spreading. Talk to your doctor about what treatment options are available to you to try and prevent losing a limb.

In addition to these conditions, people who smoke, have high blood pressure or high cholesterol, or are over the age of 65 have a higher risk of losing a limb. With all of these factors, it is crucial to go in for your routine medical screenings to catch any complications early. If you have any of the conditions or risk factors listed, talk to your doctor about how to manage and improve your health to reduce your risk of limb loss.

How Outpatient Wound Care Centers Help Prevent Limb Loss

A man walking with a prosthetic leg.

Our healthcare providers at Innovative Wound Care Specialists can help you take action through advanced wound care techniques to prevent complications that could lead to limb loss. The most common complication that leads to limb loss is chronic, non-healing wounds that can occur due to health conditions.

Chronic wounds heal differently than an injury like a minor cut or scrape. For non-healing wounds, it is important to monitor the wound site closely to keep an eye out for infection or tissue death, which can lead to limb loss if left untreated. At Innovative Wound Care Specialists, we work with you to create a personalized treatment plan to encourage wound healing. Our advanced treatments include:

By using an advanced wound treatment, or a combination of wound therapies, wound care centers like ours can help you treat your chronic wounds and significantly reduce your risk of amputation.

Raising Awareness and Taking Action

A woman looking at her phone.

Spreading awareness and encouraging early care throughout Limb Loss Awareness Month can help prevent unnecessary amputations and improve lives. There are a few steps you and your loved ones can take to decrease the risk of limb loss, including:

1. Schedule a Wound Assessment

Seek out a healthcare professional to evaluate any wound that hasn’t improved in two weeks, or hasn’t healed within six weeks. Don’t wait for a wound to become painful or show signs of infection before seeking advice from a doctor. Conditions like diabetes can cause nerve damage that can make it difficult to register pain.

2. Practice Preventative Foot and Wound Care

Take time to examine your legs and feet daily for any color changes, blisters or cuts. Make sure your shoes fit properly and wear them regularly to reduce injury. You can take care of your feet by regularly trimming your nails and keeping your feet clean and moisturized. These simple tasks can help you catch issues early on before they become a significant problem.

3. Learn About Advanced Treatment Options

Due to the reality that most amputations can be prevented, it is important to be familiar with what advanced wound therapies can do to help lower your risk of limb loss. Advanced wound therapies can help expedite the healing process for chronic wounds by encouraging new tissue growth and lowering risk of infection.

4. Spread Awareness

Take time to share information with your families and friends, and encourage them to attend any regular doctor appointments. If any of your friends and family have a chronic condition, encourage them to talk to their doctor about treatment options. You can also share stories and information online to further spread awareness and encourage people to seek medical attention sooner.

Partnering in Prevention: Our Commitment

At Innovative Wound Care Specialists, we are committed to providing cutting-edge wound care solutions to help our patients maintain their mobility and improve quality of life. This Limb Loss Awareness Month, we reaffirm our mission to prevent amputations through education, early intervention, and advanced care options.

In order to keep amputation as a last resort, our specialists at Innovative Wound Care can help provide:

  • Access to the latest treatment technologies
  • Comprehensive wound evaluations
  • Early identification of at-risk patients
  • Ongoing patient education and support

By spreading awareness and providing treatment and education resources, we can empower patients with the knowledge, tools, and confidence to recognize warning signs that could lead to limb loss.

Wound Healing With Innovative Wound Care

With our specialists at Innovative Wound Care, we can help evaluate your wound and determine if advanced wound therapy is a good option for you. We can help ensure your treatment is compatible with your medical history and mobility. Let us guide you through every step of your wound healing journey, from preparing your wound to learning how to use wound dressings.

At Innovative Wound Care in Flint, Michigan, we proudly offer treatments for:

We also offer some of the top treatment options for wounds, such as:

Allow our providers to properly assess your wound to expedite your healing journey. You should not have to suffer in silence when you have options available to treat and manage chronic wounds.

Contact us today to learn more about our options, and the next steps you can take for further healing. We look forward to hearing from you.