Which group is most likely to experience phantom limb pain?

• A. Residents with diabetes
• B. Residents with amputations
• C. Residents with stroke
• D. Residents with arthritis

Answer: (B)

Phantom limb pain happens when a person feels pain in a limb that has been amputated. The nerves that used to serve that limb can keep sending signals, and the brain’s body map may interpret those signals as coming from the missing limb, producing real pain despite the limb no longer being there. That makes residents with amputations the group most likely to experience it. Conditions like diabetes can cause painful sensations in intact nerves (diabetic neuropathy), and stroke or arthritis cause pain or sensation changes in existing parts of the body, but they don’t create phantom sensations in a limb that’s been removed. Recognizing this helps caregivers support the resident, assess intensity and triggers, and consider appropriate comfort strategies.