What is phantom limb pain?
Phantom limb pain is pain felt in the area where a limb has been amputated. Phantom limb pain can be mild to extremely painful. In some cases, phantom limb pain can be disabling and can lead to a lifelong struggle with chronic pain. Phantom limb sensations usually will disappear or decrease over time. When phantom limb pain continues for more than six months, the prognosis for spontaneous improvement is poor.
What causes phantom limb pain?
Although the limb is no longer there, the nerve endings at the site of the amputation continue to send pain signals to the brain that make the brain think the limb is still there. Sometimes, the brain memory of pain is retained and is interpreted as pain regardless of signals form injured nerves.
What are the symptoms of phantom limb pain?
In addition to pain in the phantom limb, some people experience other sensations such as tingling, cramping, heat, and cold in the portion of the limb that was removed. Any sensation that the limb could have experienced prior to the amputation might be experienced in the amputated phantom limb.
How is phantom limb pain treated?
Successful treatment of phantom limb pain is difficult. Treatment is usually based on the amount of pain the patient is feeling, and multiple treatments might be combined. Some treatments include:
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Heat application
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Biofeedback to reduce muscle tension
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Relaxation techniques
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Massage of the amputation area
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Surgery to remove scar tissue entangling a nerve
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Physical therapy (Usually, the best approach is to combine multiple treatments.)
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Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) of the stump
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Neurostimulation techniques such as spinal cord stimulation or deep brain stimulation
In some instances, medicines might need to be administered in combination for optimal pain control. Medicines that are used to diminish and control phantom pain, include:
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Analgesics
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Neuroleptics
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Anticonvulsants
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Tricyclic antidepressants
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Beta-blockers
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Sodium channel blockers.
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This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: 12/1/2004
