Chronic phantom limb pain: the effects of calcitonin, ketamine, and their combination on pain and sensory thresholds

Understanding amputation

Approximately 134,000 amputations occur annually in the United States, resulting mostly from peripheral vascular disease. The risk of amputation increases with age, peaking among those 85 years of age and older. As a lifesaving and life-defining procedure, amputations result in physical and emotional changes affecting quality of life. Phantom pain is problematic for many patients, and agents approved by the Food and Drug Administration for phantom pain are nonexistent. Pharmacists should be knowledgeable about weight-based dosing as well as patient education guidelines.