Living with limb loss: Everyday experiences of ‘good’ and ‘bad’ days in people with lower limb amputation

Purpose: To provide an understanding of the everyday experiences of individuals with a limb amputation. Method: Twenty-two participants (14 female, 8 male) with a mean-age of 42 years (SD = 10 years) were recruited to take part in two focus groups. The participants reported a range of lower-limb amputations (i.e., congenital, acquired, transfemoral, trantibial, unilateral, and bilateral) and on average were 5 years post-surgery (SD = 7 years). Each focus group comprised of 11 participants and was moderated by either the first or second author. The moderator asked participants to discuss their everyday experiences of life with an amputation using Charmaz’s good day/bad day approach. Focus groups were transcribed verbatim and analysed using an inductive thematic analysis. Results: Four themes were identified: pain, organization and planning, the embodied experience after amputation, and interactions with others. Conclusions: These themes provide a key resource for understanding daily fluctuations in physical, social, and psychological functioning.