(^544) Medical-Surgical Nursing Demystified
NURSING INTERVENTIONS
- Relaxation.
- Biofeedback.
- Acupuncture.
- Protect feet—loss of sensations will make injuries undetectable.
- Exercise.
- Remove pressure from affected limbs.
- Heat/cold application.
Phantom Limb Pain
Pain, mild to severe, felt in the area where an extremity has been amputated, is
called phantom limb pain.WHAT WENT WRONG?
The nerve endings at the surgical site continue to relay pain signals to the brain. The
missing limb could be the result of surgical amputation or trauma.PROGNOSIS
Some patients experience little or no phantom pain. Other patients’ pain dimin-
ishes with time. Poor prognosis is associated with ongoing pain for 4 to 6
months.HALLMARK SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
- Pain distal or proximal to the amputation
- Itch
- Cramps
- Tingling
4