A client who is recovering from a lower extremity amputation complains of tingling and "shooting" pain in the amputated extremity. The nurse knows that which of the following is true about this type of pain?
The pain comes from severed blood vessels in the residual stump.
It is psychosomatic pain that the patient is just imagining.
It is often treated with adjunct medications such as antiepileptics and antidepressants.
It is somatic pain that always responds well to opioid medications.
The Correct Answer is C
A. The pain does not come from severed blood vessels in the residual stump. Phantom limb pain is not caused by the stump itself but rather by the brain’s perception of the missing limb.
B. Phantom limb pain is not psychosomatic. It is a real phenomenon where the brain continues to receive signals from nerves that were previously connected to the amputated limb.
C. Phantom limb pain is often treated with adjunct medications such as antiepileptics (e.g., gabapentin) and antidepressants (e.g., amitriptyline), which help modify the way the brain processes pain signals.
D. While opioid medications can be used for pain management, phantom limb pain often does not respond well to opioids. It typically requires a combination of other treatments, such as those mentioned in C.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. A client with heart failure and crackles in the lungs is more likely to have fluid volume excess rather than deficit.
B. A client with renal failure and pitting edema is typically at risk for fluid retention and overload, not deficit.
C. Being NPO for 4 hours is unlikely to cause significant fluid volume deficit, as this is a short period without oral intake.
D. A client with Crohn's disease experiencing diarrhea is losing significant fluids and electrolytes, placing them at high risk for fluid volume deficit. Diarrhea is a common cause of dehydration and requires close monitoring.
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
A. Administering a hypotonic solution would not be appropriate in this case. Hypotonic solutions can lower the blood pressure further and worsen the patient’s condition.
B. Administering a vasoconstrictor medication may increase blood pressure, but it is not the first-line treatment for dehydration or volume loss, which seems to be the cause of the patient’s symptoms.
C. Administering an isotonic solution intravenously is the most appropriate intervention. The patient is likely experiencing dehydration and hypotension due to fluid loss from exertion in the sun (possibly heat exhaustion). Isotonic fluids such as normal saline or lactated Ringer's solution are typically used to restore circulating volume and improve blood pressure.
D. Administering a hypertonic solution would be inappropriate, as it could increase the osmolarity of the blood and worsen dehydration, potentially causing fluid shifts that could lead to complications such as cellular dehydration.
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