Which symptom is considered a normal experience for patients after a BKA?

Phantom limb sensation is a common and normal experience for patients who have undergone a below-knee amputation (BKA). This phenomenon occurs when the brain continues to receive signals from nerves that originally carried messages from the amputated limb. As a result, individuals may feel sensations that seem to originate from the missing limb, such as tingling, itching, or even pain. This misunderstanding between brain signals and physical reality is part of the body's complex response to the loss of a limb.

In the context of recovery following a BKA, while symptoms like difficulty sleeping, severe pain at the incision site, and chronic fatigue are possible, they are not considered normal or expected reactions. Difficulty sleeping can arise from various factors, including pain or psychological stress, while severe pain at the incision site may signal complications or poor healing. Chronic fatigue can be attributed to multiple causes, including changes in physical activity levels or emotional effects after amputation. In contrast, phantom limb sensations are an anticipated and often reported experience, highlighting the brain's adaptation to the amputation.