It’s not unusual to have back pain after leg amputation. In fact, many studies have identified back pain as a problem for people who have had lower limb amputation. Few studies, however, have determined how the frequency, pattern, length of time, and intensity have affected and interfered with activities of daily living.

As part of an ongoing effort to learn more about back pain for amputees as well as other aspects of phantom and residual limb pain, two Seattle hospitals undertook a study involving 255 participants aged 19 to 86 years.

Their reasons for amputation varied from traumatic injury (53 percent) to diabetes, infections, ulcers, and vascular disease. Prosthetic users accounted for 83 percent, with an average daily use of their artificial limb for 13 hours. A little over half of the participants experienced back pain that was bothersome and persistent with only a small number recalling back pain before amputation.

This study supported others’ findings that back pain is common among patients with lower limb amputation, regardless of the location of the amputation. A quarter of the participants reported back pain severe enough to interfere with activities of daily living. The authors suggested the use of a prosthetic might result in a different walking pattern, which may cause pain in the back, hips, and the normal leg – a possible area for future research, and concluded that back pain may, in fact, be a secondary disability for some amputees.

For further information: “Back pain as a secondary disability in persons with lower limb amputations,” D. Ehde, PhD; D. Smith, MD; J. Czerniecki, MD; K. Campbell, RN, BSN; D. Malchow, RN, MN; L. Robinson, MD, Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Vol 82, Issue 6, p.731-734, October 2001.

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If you're an amputee and have depression, your depression symptoms could be making your phantom pain worse. For more information, see Amputees Experience Phantom Limb and Back Pain, Worsened by Depression.

See Pain May Continue after Lower Limb Amputation if you've experienced chronic pain after a lower limb amputation.