If you are an amputee, you may find that you’re continuing to have pain or strange sensations in the vicinity of the leg that was amputated (also known as phantom limb pain) or in the portion of the leg that remains after amputation (residual limb or "stump" pain).

But you may also have pain in your back, hips, or in the leg that wasn't amputated. If so, you belong to a large group of fellow amputees who are dealing with the same challenge, according to a study published in August 2000.

Where Does Phantom Limb Pain Come From?
The brain appears to be the source of phantom limb pain and sensations. Although part of your leg has been disconnected from your body, the brain doesn’t recognize the disconnect. Pain pathways that served that leg are still active, and they're telling you that it hurts in a body part that isn't even there anymore. This is especially true if you had a lot of pain prior to the amputation.

Phantom limb pain can be the result of an ill-fitting prosthesis, damage to nerve endings, or a number of other causes. Pain in areas of the body other than the amputated limb can also be from walking differently or having to perform activities of daily living in a new way.

Phantom Limb Pain: What the Research Shows
A 2000 study sought to define how often an amputee might expect to deal with chronic phantom limb pain after amputation. Questionnaires were sent to people who had undergone lower limb amputation at least six months prior to filling out the survey. The majority of the respondents were males. A large number of them were young and had amputations as a result of trauma.

More than 70 percent of the sample reported experiencing non-painful phantom limb sensations and phantom limb pain after their amputation. Phantom limb pain was reported by 70.5 percent; this type of pain was reported as being worse than any pain at any other site surveyed.

Back pain was reported by 52 percent, a higher rate than experienced by the general population. Non-amputated limb pain, buttock/hip pain, and neck/shoulder pain were also reported by a notable number of participants. Although pain is common after amputation, the majority of participants reported it as being intermittent and not particularly bothersome or disabling. However, up to 25 percent reported that their pain was highly bothersome and disabling.

For further information, refer to: "Chronic Phantom Sensations, Phantom Pain, Residual Limb Pain, and Other Regional Pain After Lower-Limb Amputation," Ehde, D PhD; Czerniecki, J MD; Smith, D MD; Campbell K RN BSN; Edwards W MD PhD; Jensen, M PhD; Robinson, L MD; Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, August 2000, Volume 81(8).

See Related Articles
Try yoga to help relieve pain and increase flexibility for your amputation or prosthesis.  For more information, see Yoga for the Lower Limb Amputee: Breathing Exercises.

If you've experienced back pain after a lower limb amputation, see Back Pain for Amputees: A Secondary Disability? to find out why and what to do about it.