Application of Leech Therapy in Alleviating Residual Limb Pain Following Distal Foot Digit Amputation: A Case Report

Residual Limb Pain (RLP) poses a significant challenge in post-amputation care and often necessitates multimodal pain management. Here, a 55-year-old male patient with RLP was managed with Jalaukavacharan (leech therapy). The patient had previously undergone amputation of the terminal fingers and toes of the right foot and had inadequate pain relief with Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs), prompting him to seek Ayurvedic treatment. Leech therapy was administered daily to the amputated area for seven days, and follow-up assessment was conducted on day 14 using the Visual Analog Scale (VAS). The patient’s VAS pain scores decreased significantly, from 8/10 at baseline to 0 on day 14, underscoring the potential of Jalaukavacharan as an effective complementary approach for pain reduction in RLP. The clinical implication of this case lies in demonstrating the feasibility and impact of Jalaukavacharan for managing persistent post-amputation pain, offering an alternative that aligns with the patient’s comfort and preferences. This report contributes to the limited evidence supporting Ayurvedic treatments in pain management and underscores the need for further studies with larger sample sizes to evaluate its broader applicability and effectiveness.