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A client who is recovering from a lower extremity amputation complains of tingling and "shooting" pain in the amputated extremity. The nurse knows that which of the following is true about this type of pain?

A.

The pain comes from severed blood vessels in the residual stump.

B.

It is psychosomatic pain that the patient is just imagining.

C.

It is often treated with adjunct medications such as antiepileptics and antidepressants.

D.

It is somatic pain that always responds well to opioid medications.

Answer and Explanation

The Correct Answer is C

A. The pain does not come from severed blood vessels in the residual stump. Phantom limb pain is not caused by the stump itself but rather by the brain’s perception of the missing limb.  
B. Phantom limb pain is not psychosomatic. It is a real phenomenon where the brain continues to receive signals from nerves that were previously connected to the amputated limb.  
C. Phantom limb pain is often treated with adjunct medications such as antiepileptics (e.g., gabapentin) and antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline), which help modify the way the brain processes pain signals.  
D. While opioid medications can be used for pain management, phantom limb pain often does not respond well to opioids. It typically requires a combination of other treatments, such as those mentioned in C.  
 


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Related Questions

Correct Answer is {"dropdown-group-1":"C","dropdown-group-2":"A"}

Explanation

  • Fall precautions: The client is disoriented, which significantly increases their risk of falls. Addressing this is the immediate priority for client safety.
  • Antibiotic therapy: The client is febrile and has foul-smelling urine, indicating a likely urinary tract infection (UTI). While important, initiating antibiotic therapy is secondary to ensuring the client's immediate safety from falls.

Correct Answer is B

Explanation

A. Administering oxygen is important, but the priority is reversing the opioid-induced respiratory depression with naloxone. Oxygen alone will not address the underlying cause of the decreased level of consciousness.
B. Administering naloxone (Narcan) is the priority intervention because it is an opioid antagonist that will reverse the effects of morphine and other opioids, improving respiratory function and consciousness.
C. Opening the airway is important, but the primary issue here is opioid overdose, which requires naloxone administration for reversal of respiratory depression.
D. Placing the patient in the shock position is not indicated in this scenario. The focus should be on reversing opioid toxicity, not on positioning for shock.

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