ECG's and Stump Pain?

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Specializes in Emergency.

I am a new grad working in ICU- I had a cardiac patient being monitored that progressively began complaining of pain in her BKA (2006). I did some research and only found one article (without reference) that cardiac monitoring can result in pain of the stump nerves due to 'outside' electrical current. Is this common knowledge? Would really appreciate it if someone could fill me in! My clinical nurse educator had never heard of it.

Up Vote Up Vote ×

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but the leads on a cardiac monitor don't send electricity through the leads, it measures the electrical impulses of the heart as they travel from the atria to the ventricles, etc. So I don't know how cardiac monitoring could cause pain.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency.

More about the situation:

Was wondering if it could be due to the proximity of the electrical monitoring for the duration. She did not start experiencing this pain until approximately 18 hours after being in HDU. I know she is exposed to electrical impulses at home but in HDU other factors such as how close the monitors are to her bed, the bed being metal.....

Just throwing things out- any thoughts....

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Anesthesia.
I am a new grad working in ICU- I had a cardiac patient being monitored that progressively began complaining of pain in her BKA (2006). I did some research and only found one article (without reference) that cardiac monitoring can result in pain of the stump nerves due to 'outside' electrical current. Is this common knowledge? Would really appreciate it if someone could fill me in! My clinical nurse educator had never heard of it.

What were they admitted for? What is usually their routine at home? Are they on a hospital bed at home? Has their activity been severly restricted since they were admitted? Do they usually sit up for most of the day and now are lying down most of it? Did their medications change? Do they dress their stump usually everyday &/or wear prosthetic device?.......just thoughts I am not expecting you to answer them...lol

Any of these things could be the cause of pain, but I have never heard of EKG monitoring causing pain. Would you provide the name of the study so I can look it up?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Emergency.
What were they admitted for? What is usually their routine at home? Are they on a hospital bed at home? Has their activity been severly restricted since they were admitted? Do they usually sit up for most of the day and now are lying down most of it? Did their medications change? Do they dress their stump usually everyday &/or wear prosthetic device?.......just thoughts I am not expecting you to answer them...lol

Any of these things could be the cause of pain, but I have never heard of EKG monitoring causing pain. Would you provide the name of the study so I can look it up?

Usual routine at home, bed, walker and wheelchair. Prosthetic leg worn a few hours most days. She was originally admitted with #NOF (on the same side as the existing BKA). Had not experienced anything out of the ordinary as far as stump pain since being admitted/surgery and transfer to HDU. Admitted to us with chest pain-STEMI. She was rating the pain in her stump as an 8/10.

Thanks for the thought provokers-- does any of that information greater assist you in brainstorming efforts? I really appreciate it, has me really wondering....

Found the article in NURSING 2007 Banishing Phantom Pain. It stated that researchers speculate that external electromagnetic impulses irritate nerve endings and trigger phantom pain. There is a source study that believes that a stump stocking would block the impulses. source: Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, October 2006. The study was management of phantom pain with a textile, electromagnetically acting stump liner.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Anesthesia.
Usual routine at home, bed, walker and wheelchair. Prosthetic leg worn a few hours most days. She was originally admitted with #NOF (on the same side as the existing BKA). Had not experienced anything out of the ordinary as far as stump pain since being admitted/surgery and transfer to HDU. Admitted to us with chest pain-STEMI. She was rating the pain in her stump as an 8/10.

Thanks for the thought provokers-- does any of that information greater assist you in brainstorming efforts? I really appreciate it, has me really wondering....

Found the article in NURSING 2007 Banishing Phantom Pain. It stated that researchers speculate that external electromagnetic impulses irritate nerve endings and trigger phantom pain. There is a source study that believes that a stump stocking would block the impulses. source: Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, October 2006. The study was management of phantom pain with a textile, electromagnetically acting stump liner.

I feel silly for asking but what is #NOF and HDU?

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in ICU.
I feel silly for asking but what is #NOF and HDU?

#NOF is Fractured Neck Of Femur, and HDU is High Dependency Unit, aka Intensive Care Unit.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
Specializes in Anesthesia.

I think it probably has to do with the injury/surgery (at worst maybe a blood clot there).

It is just a thought, but it could be referred pain as a result of the surgery/healing process r/t to an incomplete nervous system on that side.

Up Vote Up Vote ×
+ Add a Comment