Six weeks after an above the knee (AKA) amputation, a patient returns to the outpatient office for a routine postoperative check up. During the nurse's assessment, the patient reports symptoms of phantom pain
What would the nurse correctly tell the patient to do to reduce the discomfort of the phantom pain?
A) Apply hot compresses to the area of the amputation.
B) Avoid rehabilitation exercises until the pain subsides.
C) Comfortably increase their level of activity.
D) Assess for a pulse in the extremity of the amputation every 4 to 6 hours.
Ans: C
Feedback: Keeping the patient active helps decrease the occurrence of phantom pain. Early intensive rehabilitation and stump desensitization with kneading massage brings relief. Hot compresses should be avoided, as the extreme heat can compromise the tissue integrity of the area of healing. It is not necessary for the patient to assess a pulse in the affected extremity every 4 to 6 hours if experiencing phantom pain, as the cause of the pain is unknown.
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