BACKGROUND Phantom limb and complex regional pain syndrome type 1 (CRPS1) are characterized by changes in cortical processing and organization, perceptual disturbances, and poor response to conventional treatments. Graded motor imagery is effective for a small subset of patients with CRPS1. OBJECTIVE To investigate whether graded motor imagery would reduce pain and disability for a more gener...

OBJECTIVE To determine the frequency of phantom limb sensation (PLS) and phantom limb pain (PLP) in children and young adults suffering landmine-related amputation. MATERIALS & METHODS All youths with amputation due to landmine explosions participated in this study. The proportions of patients with phantom limb sensation/pain, intensity and frequency of pain were reported. Chi square test was...

Recent studies of amputees reveal a remarkable diversity in the qualities of experiences that define the phantom limb, whether painless or painful. This paper selectively reviews evidence of peripheral, central and psychological processes that trigger or modulate a variety of phantom limb experiences. The data show that pain experienced prior to amputation may persist in the form of a somatosen...

Using hypnosis, two main approaches to modifying phantom limb pain experience can be identified: ipsative imagery, which makes use of the patient’s own imaginative interpretation of how the pain is generated, and a simulated movement approach. The latter approach shares many similarities with the ‘mirror’ technique recently advocated and used by Ramachandran (in non-hypnotic settings) to create...

OBJECTIVES The objective was to examine the evidence to determine the optimal management of phantom limb pain in the preoperative and postoperative phase of amputations. METHODS Trials were identified by a systematic search of MEDLINE, review articles, and references of relevant trials from the period 1966-1999, including only English-language articles. Included trials involved a control grou...

Early treatment of phantom limb pain in patients after amputation reduces the incidence of chronic pain sensations from 60 85 % to 10 20 % [1]. A 33 year old patient with osteosarcoma of proximal humerus developed a burning pain VAS 7-8 (Visual analog scale 0-10) of the left hand and fingers three days after amputation of the left arm in the shoulder joint. Treatment with calcitonin, amitriptyl...

Phantom limb pain is a painful sensation that is perceived in a body part that no longer exists. To control this pain, many methods have been used such as medication, physical treatment, nerve block, neuromodulation, surgical treatment and mirror therapy. However, until now, there effects have been uncertain. We report the successful reduction of phantom limb pain using mirror therapy when othe...

Patients usually experience phantom limb pain after amputation but it may also occur following resection of other parts of the body, such as the breast and internal organs like the rectum. The causes are complex and patients require careful assessment to ensure they receive appropriate care. This article describes the causes of phantom limb pain and discusses assessment strategies.

Psychological distress and postamputation pain were investigated in a sample of 582 males with long-term limb amputations (mean time since amputation 639.3 months, standard deviation 166.1; range 240-784 months). Prevalence of significant depressive symptoms (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale [HADS]-D score > or = 8) was 32.0%, and 34.0% of respondents met the screening criterion for clinic...