Question

A patient with a right below the knee amputation complains of severe pain in the right foot 1 day after surgery. What do you do?

A. Tell him the foot is not present and therefore, not painful.
B. Administer narcotic analgesic.
C. Give him 800 mg of ibuprofen.
D. Provide a mirror to see the foot is missing.

Answer 1

The patient is experiencing phantom limb pain, a common phenomenon among amputees. Administering ibuprofen may be considered for mild pain, but a medical assessment is necessary.

Step-by-step explanation:

The patient with severe pain in the right foot 1 day after surgery is experiencing phantom limb pain. This is a common phenomenon experienced by amputees where they feel pain in a missing limb.

Option A is incorrect as it disregards the patient's pain. Option B may be appropriate if the pain is severe, but it should be based on a medical assessment of the patient. Option C, administering ibuprofen, may be considered as a first-line treatment for mild pain. Option D, providing a mirror, is not directly related to addressing the pain but may be used in some cases to help the patient understand the concept of phantom limb.