Relieving phantom limb pain with multimodal sensory-motor training

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...

Electrical Stimulation-Based Sensory Feedback in Phantom Limb Pain Treatment Electrical Stimulation-Based Sensory Feedback in Phantom Limb Pain Treatment

Training with virtual visual feedback to alleviate phantom limb pain.

BACKGROUND Performing phantom movements with visual virtual feedback, or mirror therapy, is a promising treatment avenue to alleviate phantom limb pain. However the effectiveness of this approach appears to vary from one patient to another. OBJECTIVE To assess the individual response to training with visual virtual feedback and to explore factors influencing the response to that approach. M...

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...