inMotion Magazine

March | April 2020 18 Living with Limb Loss and Limb Difference  Sweat … a stinky mess. Have you ever had to take your prosthesis off because you’ve accumulated too much moisture underneath your liner or socket? Have you ever felt your socket slip, move, or twist on you while wearing it? Have you or your loved ones ever been grossed out by the odor of your limb or prosthesis when you take it off? Have you ever struggled with skin sores or rashes that reoccur? If you have, then excessive sweating may be at least partially responsible for these problems. Excessive sweating, or residual limb hyperhidrosis , is an extremely common condition affecting most amputees to at least a mild degree. Unfortunately, it is often a problem that goes unreported to healthcare providers, and thus undertreated. As a doctor who treats individuals with amputation, it has been my impression over the years that many patients don’t bring this problem up with their healthcare providers. This may be for several reasons, including: • lack of awareness of the problem • assuming that this is just part of life as an amputee and to just “deal with it” • not recognizing that sweat can contribute to the development of other problems like skin rashes or sores • not understanding that there are options to treat the problem In our experience, sweating can be a problem for any amputee, regardless of the level of amputation or how long it has been since the amputation surgery. So, let’s explore some of the issues and most common questions that people have. What is residual limb sweating? Residual limb sweating simply refers to an excess buildup of sweat that occurs on the residual limb. It may affect any individual at any age who wears a prosthesis. What causes it? The primary factor that causes excessive sweating is the prosthesis itself. The liner materials, combined with RESIDUAL LIMB SWEATING:  How to Manage it By Colby Hansen, MD Sweating can be a problem for any amputee, regardless of the level of amputation or how long it has been since the amputation surgery.

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