Phantom limb syndrome is the perception of sensations, usually including pain, in a limb that has been amputated. Patients with this condition experience the limb as if it were still attached to their body as the brain continues to receive messages from nerves that originally carried impulses from the missing limb.
The exact cause of of phantom limb syndrome is unknown. Presumably, the sensations are due to the brain’s attempt to reorganize sensory information following the amputation. The brain must essentially “rewire itself” to adjust to the body change.
The following factors increase the chance of developing phantom limb syndrome:
Symptoms occur in people who have had a limb removed and people who are born without a limb. The symptoms are perceived in a limb that does not exist.
Symptoms include:
Following an amputation, it is important to tell your doctor if you experience pain or other sensations. Earlier treatment generally improves the chances of success.
There is no medical test to diagnose phantom pain. Your doctor will take a medical history, do a physical exam, and especially want to know about the signs, symptoms, and circumstances that occurred before and after the removal of the limb.
Fortunately, most cases of phantom limb following amputation are brief and infrequent. For those patients who suffer from persistent pain, treatment can be challenging.
Selected medications used to treat phantom limb pain include:
There is evidence to suggest that stimulating the nerves or regions of the brain involved in the pain may help some patients. Examples include:
RESOURCES:
Amputee Coalition of America
http://www.amputee-coalition.org
Amputee Resource Foundation of America
http://www.amputeeresource.org
Amputee Resources
http://www.prostheticdesigners.com/amputee.htm
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
http://www.ninds.nih.gov
References:
Carlson N. Physiology of Behavior . Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon; 1998.
Flor H, Nikolajsen L, Jensen TS. Phantom limb pain: a case of maladaptive CNS plasticity? Nature Reviews Neuroscience . 2006;7:873-881.
Phantom pain. Mayo Clinic website. Available at: http://www.mayoclinic.com . Accessed August 5, 2005.
Sekuler R, Blake R. Perception . 4th ed. NewYork: McGraw-Hill Inc.; 1994.
Last reviewed November 2008 by Rimas Lukas, MD
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