fundamentals
Rehabilitation After Limb Amputation
Pain
After an arm or a leg amputation, people may feel pain that seems to be in the amputated limb ( Residual Limb Pain ). The pain is real, but the location is wrong. Phantom limb pain is more likely if pain before amputation was severe or lasted a long time. Phantom limb pain is often more severe soon after the amputation, then decreases over time. For many people, phantom limb pain is more common when the prosthesis is not being worn (for example, during the night). If a spinal anesthetic and a general anesthetic are used during surgery, the risk of having this pain is reduced. Some people experience phantom limb sensation, which is not painful but feels as if the amputated limb is still there. When people with an amputated leg have this sensation, they may stand up (and thus fall back down). This experience usually occurs at night when people wake to use the bathroom. Phantom limb sensation is more common than phantom limb pain. The residual limb itself may be painful. Massaging the residual limb sometimes helps relieve this pain. The pain may be due to infection or wearing away of the skin (skin breakdown). In such cases, people may need to see a doctor. 