Phantom limb pain is a chronic condition that can affect patients who have undergone an amputation. This condition is generally neurological in nature and causes the patient to feel pain sensations in their missing limb. For most patients with an amputated limb, these pain sensations disappear or decrease over time. However, if a patient’s pain continues for more than six months, it’s likely their prognosis for improvement is poor, which may render the need for pain management treatment. At Tulsa Pain Consultants, our pain management doctors can work with patients who experience phantom limb pain to help relieve their symptoms.
Phantom limb pain is caused by damaged nerve endings at the site of the amputation that misfire pain signals to the brain. The brain becomes confused by these signals and produces pain symptoms that are perceived by the patient as coming from the missing limb. Experts also speculate that the memory of pain becomes engrained in a person’s brain, which means damaged nerve endings may have little to do with the sensations the patient it feeling. Nevertheless, phantom limb pain is caused first and foremost by the amputation of a limb or other extremity, such as a breast, tongue, or eyeball.
Pain is the most common symptom associated with phantom limb pain, but the condition does produce other symptoms as well. For example, it is quite common for patients to experience other sensations such as tingling or numbness near the amputation site; muscle cramping, and sensitivity to heat or cold. If patients suffered from pain in the affected limb prior to the amputation, it is likely they will experience pain after the limb or extremity is amputated. Again, this goes back to damaged nerve endings causing patients to feel discomfort from their amputated limb.
Fortunately, there are things patients can do to treat their phantom limb pain. For example, conservative therapies such as heat packs, biofeedback, relaxation techniques, and massage can all help alleviate pain symptoms. If the pain is relatively moderate or severe, it may be helpful to visit Tulsa Pain Consultants. Our pain management professionals can administer interventional therapies such as injections, nerve blocks, TENS units, spinal cord stimulation, and pain medications to help ease phantom limb discomfort. A referral for physical therapy or surgery to remove scar tissue may be necessary to combat incredibly severe cases of phantom limb pain.
