Experiences of coping with and adjusting to phantom limb pain : An interpretative phenomenological analysis

This study explored the psychological sense-making of people with amputations towards their phantom limb pain. Interviews with eight participants were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Four themes were developed: (1) ‘Everybody just thinks you’re some kind of freak’: Making personal and social sense of phantom limb pain; (2) ‘If you talk about them, they seem to come’: Perceiving phantom limb pain as an externalised threat; (3) ‘The sooner you accept things, truthfully accept things, then life becomes better’: Achieving acceptance; and (4) The unrecognised role of psychology in managing phantom limb pain. The findings indicate the importance of: (1) education and validation for those who experience phantom limb pain, (2) education around the role psychology can have in managing with the pain, and (3) psychological interventions being available and offered to those with phantom limb pain.