Management of Phantom Limb Pain

Phantom limb pain.

Phantom pain is experienced by 60% to 80% of patients following limb amputation but is only severe in about 5% to 10% of cases. The mechanisms underlying pain in amputees are not fully understood, but factors in both the peripheral and central nervous system play a role. Treatment of phantom pain is not successful; a recent study on prevention of phantom pain showed negative results. The future...

24 Phantom Limb Pain

OVERVIEW Phantom limb pain can be a devastating consequence of an amputation. It is often a chronic, disabling condition. This chapter reviews the etiology, pathophysiology, prevention, and treatment of phantom limb pain and discusses known risk factors for this condition. Even though many physicians have been frustrated by the inability to control phantom limb pain, promising new therapies are...

Methadone for phantom limb pain.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this case series was to determine if severe phantom limb pain could be reduced with oral methadone. DESIGN Four cases of phantom limb pain refractory to multiple treatment modalities were treated with oral methadone. SETTING Pain clinic at a major university medical center. PATIENTS Four patients with severe, intractable phantom limb pain. INTERVENTION Oral me...

Nursing Management and Mirror Therapy for Phantom Limb Pain

Motor correlates of phantom limb pain

Following amputation, individuals ubiquitously report experiencing lingering sensations of their missing limb. While phantom sensations can be innocuous, they are often manifested as painful. Phantom limb pain (PLP) is notorious for being difficult to monitor and treat. A major challenge in PLP management is the difficulty in assessing PLP symptoms, given the physical absence of the affected bo...