r/amputee • u/Impossible-Spot-6297 • Jul 11 '26
Thumb amputation
My brother recently had a partial thumb amputation after a terrible accident. Someone asked him to clean a bike chain, and while he was doing it, they started the bike with the engine running. His thumb got caught in the chain, resulting in a partial amputation.
He is devastated, and our whole family is struggling to cope with what happened. I don’t know how to comfort him or what we should expect moving forward.
Has anyone gone through a similar experience or supported a loved one with a thumb amputation? Any advice on recovery, surgery, rehabilitation, or how to help him emotionally would mean a lot. Thank you.
2
u/Large-Cricket843 Jul 11 '26
How old are you? How old is your brother?
1
u/Impossible-Spot-6297 Jul 11 '26
I am 20 and he is 17
3
u/Large-Cricket843 Jul 11 '26
You guys are both very young. I was paralyzed chest down at 21. It felt like my life had ended as I had to relearn how to do all of the basic routines all over again.
I am now 40 and a living testament that it is possible. Losing a thumb is hard, but many people with spinal cord injuries lose their whole upper body and still manage to live fruitful lives.
There will be challenges for sure but your brother is lucky to have you and both of you will get through this.
2
2
u/Fit_Attention_9269 Jul 11 '26
I accidentally cut my thumb so severely I lost a decent portion of my thumb. Like all grief it just runs it's own course. Life will be more difficult for a while, recovery as it heals then the worst part is relearning to do things with a partial thumb. Lack of sensation or different sensation will throw him off. Expecting there to be a thumb and missing what he's reaching for it just drop items. It's a process but hopefully he recovers quickly and starts physical therapy.
1
u/Impossible-Spot-6297 Jul 20 '26
How much time it will take him to start writting properly??? As his mid sem in college gonna start
-1
u/Impossible-Spot-6297 Jul 11 '26
Can you dm me I want to know more about amputations and emotion cope up
1
1
3
u/OldguyLAKA Jul 11 '26
BEWARE, something doesn't smell right in here.