Phantom Pain
Causes of Phantom Pain
o Causes is unknown o Spinal cord and brain lose input from the lost limb o Re-Mapping o Damaged Nerve Endings o Scar tissue at the site of the amputation o Physical memory of pre-amputation pain in the affected area
Treatments
o Medications Antidepressants- modify chemical messengers that relay pain signals Anticonvulsants- quieting damaged nerves to slow or prevent uncontrolled pain signals o Non-invasive therapies Nerve Stimulation Electrical artificial limb Mirror box- tricking your brain Acupuncture o Minimally invasive therapies Injections Spinal cord stimulation Intrathecal delivery system • Pump that's attach to your spine that goes to your abdomen o Surgery Brain stimulation Stump revision or neurectomy (Last Option in Phantom Pain)
Phantom Pain
the pain amputees feel coming from part of the body they no longer have (it is not unusual for people who had their leg amputated to say that their "knee" hurts)
Healing Process
there are an enormous amount of chemical reactions around the proximal ends of sensory neurons that can depolarize them The "stump" may be healed on the outside, but it could take several months - year for the inside to heal