What is Phantom Limb Pain?

After you have your arm or leg amputated, there’s a chance you could feel pain in the limb that’s no longer there aka Phantom Limb Pain. The limb is gone, but the pain is real.

It can feel like a variety of things, such as burning, twisting, itching or pressure. It is often felt in fingers or toes. About 80% of amputees worldwide have experienced this kind of pain.

The length of time this pain lasts differs from person to person. It can last from seconds to minutes, to hours, to days.

Don’t worry that your doctor will think you’re imagining the pain. It’s common among people who’ve lost a limb. You can limit it if you tell your doctor about it early on so you can get treatment. Yes, there is treatment!!!

What Causes Phantom Limb Pain?

Researchers don’t know exactly what causes phantom limb pain. One possible explanation: Nerves in parts of your spinal cord and brain “rewire” when they lose signals from the missing arm or leg. As a result, they send pain signals, a typical response when your body senses something is wrong.

What Phantom Limb Pain Feels Like

phantom limb pain is not the same for everyone.

Burning

Shooting

Like “pins and needles”

Twisting

Crushing

Like an electric shock

Aside from pain, you may also sense other feelings from a body part that’s no longer there:

Movement

Temperature

Pressure

Vibration

Itch

Treating Phantom Limb Pain

Check out Amputee Coalition’s Treatment options here.

Non-Medication Treatments for Phantom Limb Pain Alternative/complementary therapies can be helpful for the reduction of PLP. These include: Acupuncture

Massage of the residual limb

Use of a shrinker

Repositioning of the residual limb by propping on a pillow or cushion

Mirror box therapy

Biofeedback

TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation)

Virtual reality therapy

Imagery

Music

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