Condition in which a person that has lost a limb, be it an amputation or due to other causes, experiences sensations and pain in the removed member. It is estimated that an 80% of amputees experience some kind of sensation in the phantom limb.
The exact cause is unknown, but it is believed that the brain might still be receiving signs from the phantom limb.
Symptoms include tickling, a burning sensation, itchiness or pain in the lost limb. Some people can feel that the phantom limb is in an uncomfortable position or that it is moving.
Diagnosis is based off of the patient's clinical history and the progression of the symptoms.
The treatment includes physical therapy, medication for pain and relaxation techniques. In some cases, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) or mirror therapy helps reduce the symptoms.
- Flor, H. (2002). Phantom-limb pain: characteristics, causes, and treatment. Lancet Neurology, 1(3), 182–189. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1474-4422(02)00074-1
- Nikolajsen, L., & Christensen, K. F. (2015). Phantom Limb Pain. En R. S. Tubbs, E. Rizk, M. M. Shoja, M. Loukas, N. Barbaro, & R. J. Spinner (Eds.), Nerves and Nerve Injuries (pp. 23–34). Elsevier.
- Subedi, B., & Grossberg, G. T. (2011). Phantom limb pain: mechanisms and treatment approaches. Pain Research and Treatment, 2011, 864605. https://doi.org/10.1155/2011/864605
