Welcome to our health education library. The information shared below is provided to you as an educational and informational source only and is not intended to replace a medical examination or consultation, or medical advice given to you by a physician or medical professional.
Managing Pain After Amputation Surgery
Describing the location and nature of your pain helps your healthcare team decide how best to treat you. No matter what kind of surgery you have, pain is always a concern. As with any surgery, pain after amputation can be controlled. This can help you stay more comfortable. People react to pain in different ways. So learn how to describe your pain to your healthcare team. This means explaining where the pain is, how it feels, and how bad it is. This lets the healthcare team know how best to treat your pain.
Types of Residual Limb Pain
Pain in your residual limb can be coming from different places. The following are the most common sources of limb pain after amputation:
Skin can be very sensitive after amputation. Pain from your skin can feel sharp or irritating.
Nerve pain can range from tingling to feeling like an electric shock. The source of nerve pain may be a neuroma. A neuroma results when the ends of cut nerves grow into a painful ball under the skin.
Muscle pain can feel like aching and cramping.
Bone pain can occur if the end of the bone presses against the socket of your prosthesis. This may cause deep or sharp pain.
Explaining Your Pain
Only you know how your pain feels. After surgery, your goal is to get better. Pain relief plays a big part in your recovery. Be honest when a doctor or nurse asks about your pain. On a scale of 0 to10 (if 0 means no pain, and 10 is the worst pain), how does it feel? Also mention the type of pain. Is it aching, burning, sharp, twisting, dull, or does it feel like an electric shock? Be sure to say how often the pain is happening.
Treating Pain
Your doctor may need to try different medications or dosages. This can help find the most effective way to treat your pain. The most common pain medications used after surgery are opioids (narcotics). Opioids block pain signals on their way to the brain. This means they can control even severe pain. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may also be used. Like opioids, NSAIDs block pain signals on their way to the brain. Your doctor may also try antidepressants or anticonvulsant medications. They are commonly used to treat depression and seizure. But they have proven effective at relieving pain related to amputation. There are other things your doctor may recommend if medications do not help control your pain. Here are some common examples:
Acupuncture
TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation)
Biofeedback
Hypnosis
Meditation
The Pain Is Telling You Something!
Pain is your body's way of pointing out a problem. So don't try to "tough it out." If your pain is not lessening after treatment, say so. Don't act brave or worry about being a pest. Medications and other treatments can be adjusted to meet your needs. Remember that the goal of amputation is to help restore function. Pain can be a barrier to your recovery. Finding what works for you is what really matters. Work with your amputation team to resolve pain issues as they occur during your recovery.