Phantom limb, residual limb, and back pain after lower extremity amputations

This study describes the sensations and pain reported by persons with unila teral lower extremity amputations. Participants (n = 92) were recruited fro m two hospitals to complete the Prosthesis Evaluation Questionnaire which i ncluded questions about amputation related sensations and pain. Using a vis ual analog scale; participants reported the frequency, intensity, and bothe rsomeness of phantom limb, residual limb, and back pain and nonpainful phan tom limb sensations, A survey of medication use for each category of sensat ions also was included. Statistical analyses revealed that nonpainful phant om limb sensations were common and more frequent than phantom limb pain. Re sidual limb pain and back pain were also common after amputation. Back pain surprisingly was rated as more bothersome than phantom limb pain or residu al limb pain, Back pain was significantly more common in persons with above knee amputations, These results support the importance of looking at pain as a multidimensional rather than a unidimensional construct. They also sug gest that back pain after lower extremity amputation may be an overlooked b ut very important pain problem warranting additional clinical attention and study.