Veteran Perspectives on Phantom Limb Pain and Non-Drug Interventions

Figures & data

Table 1 Participant Demographic Characteristics

Demographic Variables	Participants (n=50)
Average Age (y)	66
Range (min, max)	34, 87
Sex (male/female)	48/2
Median time since amputation	6 years
Range (min, max)	4 months – 53 years
Amputation Level
Unilateral BKA	41 (82%)
Bilateral	9 (18%)
Phantom Phenomena Questionnaire
Presence of PLP (%)	40 (80%)
Presence of Residual Limb Pain (%)	38 (76%)

Notes: Characteristics were identified using portions of the Trinity Amputation and Prosthesis Experience Scales-Revised (TAPES-R) and the Phantom Phenomena Questionnaire. Data are described using frequency count (%) for categorical data. The 9 individuals with bilateral amputations reported amputations at differing levels (eg, BKA on one side, partial foot or above knee amputation on the other side).

Abbreviations: BKA, Below knee amputation; PLP, phantom limb pain.

Table 2 Other Medical Issues Contributing to General Pain

Self-Reported Medical Issue	Frequency (% of Sample Reporting Additional Issues)
Arthritis	8 (35%)
Musculoskeletal pain
Back	5(22%)
Chest pain (ie, pulled muscle in chest wall)	1(4%)
Shoulder	6(26%)
Wrist	2(8%)
Hand	1(4%)
General soreness (ie, soreness from falls in the last week, healing from broken bones)	2(8%)
Headache	1(4%)
Open sore	1(4%)
Nerve damage or neuropathy (eg, diabetic neuropathy, carpal tunnel syndrome)	4(17%)
Acid reflux	1(4%)
Skin hypersensitivity along a scar	1(4%)
Intermittent claudication	1(4%)

Notes: A total of 48 participants reported other medical issues contributing to pain. Of the 23 participants reporting additional medical issues, several participants reported >1 medical issue.

Figure 1 Self-reported number of non-drug phantom limb pain treatment methods tried in the sample of 50 Veteran participants per self-report.