Pain Support for Adults with a Diabetes-Related Lower Limb Amputation: an Empirical Phenomenology Study

Chronic pain after lower extremity amputation surgery has been reported in up to 80% of patients. Amputations are among the most debilitating chronic complication of diabetes with a variety of consequences including depression, inability to perform daily activities, and change in quality of life.

This study sought to understand the lived experience of chronic pain support among those who have undergone a diabetes-related lower limb amputation.

Researchers used a qualitative empirical phenomenology design. Private, semistructured interviews were conducted on a purposive sample (N = 11). Codes were identified for each participant separately and then across participants for common themes.

Three major themes emerged from the research: (1) Phantom pain is nontreatable pain; (2) support systems were nonempathetic; and (3) participants experienced identification of a new normal. Participants did not understand that neuropathic (phantom) pain was part of the total pain experience. Further, they felt that there was no help from family or providers for alleviation of this pain.

Phantom pain was identified as something the participants had to tolerate when it occurred. They did not feel that family or providers understood their pain. Further, they wanted a means of controlling their pain using nonpharmacologic therapies.