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1d. Not giving in
The notion of refusing to give in to the possible limitations of loss of a limb was also reported.
“But I'm not willing to be a non person, that is just not going to happen, the
wheelchair is a means of conveying me, just like my legs are, a means of
conveying me so as far as I'm concerned but people do they have, they think oh
that’s it, wheelchair, you can't do this, you can't do that, you can't do the other but
outside of dancing there isn’t anything I can't do basically because I'm
advantaged because I still have a good leg,” (Respondent 2)
2. Psychological adaptation
Coming to terms with loss is commonly described in the literature, particularly in the context of
grief. Whilst respondents occasionally expressed regret (see Emotional Impact, below), their
account of adapting to the limb absence did not carry this sense. On the contrary, limb absence
was seen as a challenge which, whilst not welcome, had to be faced.
2a. Positive mental outlook
Most respondents describe the need for this, although the character of their descriptions was
very varied, from matter-of-fact stoicism, as in this account of difficulties wearing necklaces:
“It doesn’t bother me that much that I can't wear it, I don’t weep every night
thinking oh I want to wear a diamond.” (Respondent 6)
to highly developed statements of an enduring attitude to life:
“Yes if you’ve got barriers up in your head that’s it you will not move, and you will
be that person in that wheelchair and I just can't do it. Get on your leg and get
walking for heavens sake, you’ve got nothing wrong, there's absolutely nothing
wrong with you, there's nothing wrong with me. Like I say the barriers are up in
your head.” (Respondent 4)
2b. Confrontation / Getting on with it
Avoidance of activities was almost always regarded as negative.
“Yeah. I see people at the artificial limb centre that have got less off than me,
they’ve just got the foot off and they're walking around on crutches, oh I need
help, oh I need, oh I've got to have these, I can't wear the leg, it's too painful.
What, pain if you do and pain if you don’t. I can't get my head round that.”
(Respondent 4)
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