Phantom Limb Pain
Phantom pain is pain that feels like it’s coming from a body part that’s no longer there. Virtually every person who undergoes an amputation feels sensation that seems to come from the missing limb. It is disturbing at first, but patients tend to get used to it over time.. It cannot yet explain what causes phantom limp pain. After the amputation almost all amputees still feel sensations from the arm or leg; many cannot tell that the limb is gone. Forty to fifty percent experience pain similar to what they felt before surgery. The source of their pain is gone, and yet they still feel the pain. People who have experienced it describe the pain as burning, cramping, stabbing, shooting, aching or throbbing.
Finding a treatment to relieve your phantom pain can be difficult. Treatment is usually determined based on the person’s level of pain, and multiple treatments may be combined. Some treatments include:
Medications
- Tricyclic antidepressants include amitriptyline and nortriptyline relieves the pain by damaged nerves.
- Anticonvulsants such as gabapentin, pregabalin and carbamazepine are used to treat nerve pain.
- Beta-blockers and sodium channel blockers
- Narcotics such as codeine and morphine
- Injecting pain-killing medications — local anesthetics, steroids or both into the stump can provide relief of phantom limb pain.
Nerve stimulation – In a procedure called transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), a device sends a weak electrical current via adhesive patches on the skin near the area of pain.
Electric artificial limb – A type of artificial limb called a myoelectric prosthesis has motors controlled by electrical signals that occur during voluntary muscle activation in the remaining limb. Using a myoelectric prosthesis may reduce phantom pain.
Mirror box –This device contains mirrors that make it look like an amputated limb exists. The mirror box has two openings — one for the intact limb and one for the stump. The person then performs symmetrical exercises, while watching the intact limb move and imagining that he or she is actually observing the missing limb moving.
Acupuncture – In acupuncture, sterilized stainless steel needles are inserted into the skin at specific points on the body. It stimulates your central nervous system to release the body’s natural pain-relieving endorphins.
Spinal cord stimulation – Your doctor inserts tiny electrodes along your spinal cord. A small electrical current delivered to the spinal cord can sometimes relieve pain.
Deep brain stimulation– Deep brain stimulation is similar to spinal cord stimulation except that the current is delivered within the brain.
Homeopathy – It is worldwide popular as safe natural and effective pain management remedy. There are a number of medicines for both acute and chronic pain and are used depending on the type of painful condition. It is very suitable for long term management.
